Car insurance guide: when you rent a car, you must purchase car insurance, even if you do not own the vehicle. That’s because you must meet the minimum auto insurance standards, wherever you are, as well as any additional requirements imposed by your lessor – such as comprehensive coverage and collision insurance. These additional requirements can make renting a car more expensive than expected.
REQUIREMENTS BY THE STATE
When renting a car, coverage is mandatory; you cannot leave the field without it. Since auto insurance requirements are set at the state level, the amount of coverage you need depends on the state where your car will be registered. Your leasing company may also have some insurance, and some models will be more expensive to insure than others.
In addition, you must indicate the leasing company as additional insured and beneficiary. This means that the lessor, as the owner of the vehicle, receives payment from the insurance company for any damage to the insured vehicle.
Automobile insurance requirements may vary from state to state. The most common is liability insurance, which takes two main forms:
- Liability coverage for personal injury: This covers medical expenses for injuries to persons other than your own, resulting from an accident. A minimal sum worth $25,000 for each person and $50,000 for each accident case is a typical instance.
- Liability Coverage for Property Damage: This covers damage to the property of others in the event of an accident. A minimal sum worth $10,000 per accident is a typical instance.
Some less common requirements are coverage of uninsured/underinsured motorists and injuries. Here you will find the minimum requirements for auto insurance in your state.
REQUIREMENTS BY THE LESSOR
Leasing companies will often require that any damage caused to a rented vehicle be covered by your auto insurance policy. Therefore, they will often require:
- Collision cover: This covers damage to your car caused by a collision with an object or other vehicles.
- Full coverage: This covers damage to your car that is not caused to an object or other vehicles. These are often called “acts of God” events, such as theft, damage from falling objects, and damage caused by natural disasters.
Some lessors also require that your insurance policy provide higher limits for liability insurance than the minimums set by the state. As a general rule, leasing companies require coverage of USD 100,000 per person and USD 300,000 per accident, as well as USD 50,000 in property damage insurance. In addition, your lessor may require insurance or a maximum deductible – say $ 500 to $ 1,000 – in the event of a collision and full coverage.
INSURANCE GAP FOR A CAR IN LEASE
The gap insurance covers the difference between the amount due and the actual value of a vehicle, which can be requested by your lessor. It is useful primarily for new vehicles that depreciate quickly once out of the dealer lot and usually makes no sense if you rent a used car. There is often a limit to the maximum benefit you can receive from gap insurance; It can range from $ 30,000 to $ 125,000, depending on your policy.
The gap insurance offered by your lessor may consist of additional monthly fees or a one-time upfront fee. If you purchase auto insurance, the cost of coverage is added to your monthly premium.