Rental car insurance when renting a vehicle in Tampa or in another city.

Most people wait until after they are in a Tampa car accident to look at the rental car insurance that they purchased. Unfortunately, after a Tampa auto accident is the wrong time to understand the policy you bought or the coverage you have. This article addresses several key aspects to rental car insurance that you will want to think about before driving your rental car off the lot.

Interestingly, while most states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of coverage on their own cars, no such requirement exists for rental vehicles. That's very surprising, particularly when you consider the percentage of rental cars that cause or are involved in accidents. Rental car drivers may be more prone to being in an accident because they are unfamiliar with the roads in Tampa or they are from Tampa and driving unfamiliar territory somewhere else. Or perhaps rental car drivers take more liberties because they know that they are not in their own vehicle. Regardless, you should realize that several years back the federal government decided that the rental car companies would have no liability for injuries that were caused in any car accident involving one of their rental vehicles. This too is surprising, since owners of vehicles that are not rented are considered to have what’s known as vicarious liability.  That means that the owner of a vehicle can be held responsible for an accident even when they aren’t in the car.  That’s because cars are considered to be dangerous instrumentalities. So it is more important than ever, whether you are renting a vehicle in the Tampa Bay area or elsewhere, that you know and understand what to look for with regard to rental car insurance.

Rental car agencies typically offer optional coverage for an additional fee, but before purchasing this usually expensive coverage you should know whether your existing auto insurance policy extends coverage to include rentals.

If you are renting a vehicle and want to avoid a hassle and potential liability in the event you are involved in a Tampa car accident, Tampa injury law firms  would share with you the following tips:

First, realize that your personal auto insurance will often cover you in the event you are involved in a car accident whether in Tampa, Florida or elsewhere in the United States.  If the policy does apply to your rental vehicle, it would only cover you to the extent of your personal auto insurance coverage limits.   So for example, if you don’t have collision insurance on your own vehicles and you damage the rental car in a Tampa car accident, the damage will not be covered by your insurance company.  You can check with your insurance agent to find out exactly what coverage you have.  And once you get this information you’ll want the agent to direct you to the policy language to confirm that information.   After all, if you're in a Tampa car accident, only what the policy language says that you purchased will be binding on the auto insurance company and not the conversation you had with the agent. Also, realize that the policy may cover you in the United States, including Canada and Mexico, but may not cover you for rental cars overseas.  Again, check with the policy language to find out.

Also, consider whether your credit card company will cover you for any damages to the vehicle if you use the credit card to pay for the rental car.  If you are involved in a Tampa accident auto, you may be able to use your credit card as the primary source of insurance, especially if you don’t have personal auto insurance coverage that applies.  But make sure that you get this credit card benefit in writing or otherwise you might be surprised.  You’ll want this information in writing also because you’ll want to know the exact coverage and limitations of your credit card before you drive the rental car off the lot.  But note that more often, this credit card coverage plays a secondary role to your own personal auto insurance coverage and the rental car company’s auto insurance coverage that you purchased.  Also be aware that although your credit card if used to rent the vehicle may cover damage from a Tampa car accident, it generally will not cover for things such as reimbursement for your injuries and income loss.  For that, you generally would have to rely upon your own auto insurance coverage if it provides for that sort of thing. Also, if your spouse is going to drive the rental car, be sure that he or she is listed as a driver on the rental agreement. Note that credit card companies often require specific rules be met in the event of a Tampa car accident or they may not pay a claim, so check with your credit card representative for the specifics.

And while you generally can use your own insurance policy or credit card to cover you for accidents that occurred in a rental car, it may be worthwhile to purchase the rental car companies insurance if you're traveling from overseas. And be sure to know who exactly the policy covers so that if you have additional drivers or passengers in the car you can get their medical bills paid for if they are injured in an auto accident in a foreign country. And don't forget that you may face deductibles if you are involved in a Tampa car accident or auto accident outside the area. Sometimes, these deductibles can run as much as $1000 each for both collision and theft.

By preparing in advance, you'll know how to proceed when the car rental agent asks if you want to purchase rental car insurance. . By doing your research, you will be able to enjoy your rental car experience and your travels without the worries that a Tampa car accident will ruin both your plans and your budget. If you have any questions, you're always welcome to call to speak with one of our Tampa car accident lawyers about rental car insurance.  All of us at our Tampa auto accident law firm wish you safe travels.