Avis Car Rental is one of the world's leading car rental companies, with a presence in over 5,000 locations across 165 countries. The company prides itself on offering customers a wide range of vehicles to choose from, including luxury cars and SUVs. But before you book your rental car, you should learn the ins and outs of Avis car rental insurance so that you know exactly what to expect when you hit the open road!
Closer Look at Avis Car Rental Insurance
Avis seems to offer many optional insurance plans, which are available for an additional daily charge. When you try to book a rental car on the Avis website, you’ll be given the option to avail of different insurance options including:
Loss Damage Waiver
Avis offers a protection and safety package that includes Cover the Car (LDW) or loss damage waiver. You can add this to your rental car booking for an additional $9.00 per day. With an LDW, Avis waives your financial responsibility and assumes the loss or damage to the rental car. You should be aware, though, that the LDW will only cover up to the amount specified on your rental document. This means you could still be charged for all other losses or damages that are not indicated - so make sure to read the fine print!
Liability Insurance
Aside from LDW, Avis also offers Cover My Liability (ALI) or additional liability insurance for $14.55 per day. ALI is supplemental liability insurance coverage that provides up to $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 in damages to a third-party for death, bodily injury, or property damage. Bear in mind though, that ALI won’t apply in cases arising out of any “prohibited use” of your rental car.
Personal Accident Insurance
Avis also has personal accident insurance (PAI) called Cover Myself. This insurance policy offers coverage for injuries sustained by the driver or passengers in an accident, ranging from minor cuts and bruises to more serious injuries requiring hospitalization or even death.
You can add PAI to your rental car agreement for $3.50 per day. Once you do, you’ll be covered the maximum benefits for accidental bodily injury that includes:
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment up to $175,000 (renter) and $25,000 (passenger)
- Accident Medical Expenses up to $10,000
- Hospital Accident Benefit of $500 per day up to 30 days
Note that the hospital accident benefit is not available in New York. Make sure to read the fine print before you sign anything.
Personal Effects Insurance
In addition to PAI, Avis also offers personal effects insurance called Cover My Belongings (PEP). This insurance covers the loss or damage of personal items that are left inside the rental car during the rental period. The coverage applies to items such as phones, laptops, cameras, and other personal belongings.
Avis currently charges an additional $1.00 per day for PEP coverage for the renter and passengers riding with the renter and any authorized additional driver whose name is on the rental agreement. PEP maximum coverage period is 30 consecutive days, with a maximum limit of $3000 for all items in the rental vehicle.
Emergency Sickness Protection
If you’re renting in another country, Avis has an Emergency Sickness Protection (ESP) that covers emergency medical expenses, trip interruption benefits, and personal assistance services in case you or your passengers fall sick during your rental period.
This protection plan is available for purchase at select Avis locations across the globe and can be added to any rental booking online or over the phone. For $5 per day, you can travel with confidence knowing that you are covered in case of unexpected sickness or injury while on the road.
Before purchasing any additional coverage from Avis, it's important to check if your personal car insurance or credit card offers any coverage for rental cars. Many car insurance policies and credit cards offer some level of coverage for rental cars, so it's important to review your policy or contact your credit card company to confirm what coverage is available.
Additional Coverage You Might Need
Note that if you’re from California, Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Texas, you may not need to buy LDW coverage from Avis if you have existing personal car insurance or any insurance coverage for motor vehicle damage issued in these states. This is because these states have mandatory laws that make LDW duplicative of damage coverage.
When it comes to liability insurance, on the other hand, you should note that Avis provides only secondary coverage, which means your personal liability insurance will be used first. It would be a good idea to get Renter’s Contingent Liability Insurance (RCLI) if you don’t have a personal auto insurance policy. You can also consider getting Supplemental Liability Insurance to ensure that you’re fully covered. This is especially important if you’re traveling to an unfamiliar place, where you don’t know the roads and driving conditions well.
Get Coverage from a Third-Party Provider
Before renting a car from Avis, it's essential to determine if you need any additional coverage beyond what you may already have. If you have car insurance, your policy may already cover liability and collision damage.
However, it's important to check with your insurance provider to confirm this. If you don't have car insurance, you may want to consider purchasing damage and liability coverage from Avis. Additionally, if you're traveling with valuable items, personal effects coverage may be a good option to consider. Be sure to carefully review all of Avis's coverage options and ask questions if you're unsure about anything.
If you’re hesitant about getting insurance from Avis or want to get a better deal, you can purchase coverage from a third-party provider like Bonzah. Third-party insurers often offer lower premiums, allowing you to escape the hassle of pricey insurance upsells when you book your rental car.