How Does Car Rental Reimbursement Work?
This optional coverage may help cover your rental car costs if your vehicle is stolen or in a crash.
If something happens to your vehicle, you might end up without wheels for days, maybe even weeks. How do you get around in the meantime? Car rental reimbursement coverage—referred to as a standard transportation expense or an enhanced transportation endorsement on your car insurance policy—puts you back on the road quickly by making it easy to borrow wheels at little or no cost to you.
What is car rental reimbursement insurance?
After a collision, a damaged vehicle can sometimes spend several weeks in the shop. Renting a car while your own vehicle is being repaired can get expensive.
A standard auto insurance policy won’t reimburse you for rental car costs. But an optional enhanced transportation endorsement coverage called rental car reimbursement will—as long as your vehicle’s repairs are being paid for by your collision or comprehensive insurance coverage. (Rental reimbursement is only available in Arizona, Nevada, and some other states if a vehicle has been stolen; it does not cover damaged vehicles in those states.)
How does car rental reimbursement work?
While carriers vary, you typically can rent from any car rental agency with car rental reimbursement insurance. For your convenience, ask your insurer whether it has a preferred agency that bills directly so you can avoid paying out of pocket. Otherwise, you’ll typically pay for the rental car with your own money and then submit receipts to your insurer for reimbursement.
What does car rental reimbursement cover?
Car rental reimbursement insurance pays rental car or public transportation costs when your vehicle:
- Has been stolen
- Has a collision with another vehicle
- Crashes into something
- Has been vandalized
What doesn’t car rental reimbursement cover?
Car rental reimbursement insurance usually does not cover:
- Fuel costs
- Car rental security deposits
- Car rental costs while your vehicle gets routine maintenance
- Car rental costs while you’re traveling
What are the limits of rental car reimbursement coverage?
Though it varies by carrier, policies typically have a daily limit ranging from $25 to $50. So, if your policy reimburses up to $30 a day and your rental car costs $45 a day, you’re responsible for paying the $15 a day difference. Check with your agent for your policy’s limits.
How long does insurance pay for my car rental?
Rental coverage often has a limit of 14 to 30 days, depending on your policy. If your car is totaled, your car rental coverage may end as soon as a settlement is reached. It won’t necessarily continue until you buy a new car.