Last Updated on August 22, 2023 by Kristin
Does Liberty Mutual car insurance cover rental cars? Before you pick up a rental a car, it’s always a good idea to find out whether you need additional rental coverage to avoid overpaying. If you have Liberty Mutual auto insurance, you are also covered for rental cars. The caveat is that the coverage extends to the same limits of your personal auto policy.
Your Liberty Mutual auto insurance should cover your rental as long as the vehicle is of similar value to the one you already own. But if you own a Chevy Spark with 230,000 miles on it and rent an upscale SUV, you may be underinsured.
Liberty Mutual Car Insurance Covers Rental Cars
Does your Liberty Mutual car insurance cover rental cars? It should cover your rental car up to the same limit as your regular vehicle. So, if you have an older car that has racked up a ton of miles, you may not have sufficient coverage for a full-size or luxury rental car.
If you didn’t do any homework before you rented the car, you may want to opt for the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the counter to be safe—or better yet, save money by purchasing inexpensive insurance from a third-party provider before driving off the rental car lot.
If you had an accident in a rental car, you would pay the deductible on your auto insurance policy before the car rental insurance kicks in and covers the rest. Also, you may be able to use a credit card with secondary insurance coverage to help cover any extra charges.
Buy Collision Insurance For Less Than What You’ll Pay at the Rental Counter
6 Reasons to Buy Rental Car Insurance
Even when you have a good level of coverage, sometimes it’s better to purchase additional rental car insurance. Such circumstances include:
You don’t want to pay the deductible in the event of an accident. If the deductible on your auto insurance is high, it would apply to your rental car, too. It may give you peace of mind to just fork up for car rental insurance and know you won’t pay end up on the hook for more than that amount.
You don’t want to make a claim on your personal insurance. Maybe you recently had a claim and don’t want your premium to explode. Two claims in one year can raise your insurance rates significantly, so you may want to err on the side of caution and buy insurance.
Report a Claim with Liberty Mutual
Your own coverage is spotty. If your Liberty Mutual auto policy isn’t comprehensive, you might want to buy the CDW. You might want to pick up personal accident insurance if you have skimpy health insurance. If you don’t have liability coverage, you may want to buy that.
Your coverage limits are low. If you’ll be driving in an unfamiliar area or bad weather and nervous about possible damage to the vehicle, you might consider either raising your coverage levels or picking up additional coverage from the rental car company or a third-party provider.
You’re renting an expensive vehicle. Remember, your Liberty Mutual auto insurance will only cover up to the limit of your own vehicle’s policy. You may want to beef up coverage for a luxury rental. Always be sure to check your coverage limits.
You’re renting in another country. With Liberty Mutual, you’re covered for rental cars in the US and Canada. If you’re traveling outside these two countries, you’ll need to purchase supplemental insurance. (Mexican rentals require extra insurance anyway.)
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