When signing your rental car agreement, we fully endorse the advice given by all responsible insurers. Read the small print carefully, and fully understand what you are engaging with before signing. Would you report to hospital with a medical issue and then blindly sign all disclaimers? Naturally, you would not and the same applies to liability insurance on car rentals.
Better the Devil You Know
Car rental companies desperately want you to buy their collision damage waiver (CDW), not to mention other add-on cover, which is basic at best. This is because they will go to great lengths to make you pay for even the slightest damage if you refuse their in-house cover options. Looking behind the veil, here is what you need to know about rental car and liability insurance.
Know What You Are Up For
When you accept a rental car in North America, your liability translates to your default deductible in terms of personal liability. If an incident occurs during the rental, you could be liable for costs amounting to as much as the commercial market value of your rental car, prior to damages.
You are not legally bound to accept mandatory third party liability in certain states in the US and Canada, and this aggravates any potential claim. This places the onus of responsibility firmly on the driver of the rental car in the event of an incident. Moreover, this could extend to liability for any property damage, as well as any third party individuals directly involved. Potentially horrendous!
Covering The Bases
In case you are not aware, Bonzah offers car rental insurance options for responsible drivers about to sign a car rental agreement. Our product provides you, the driver, peace of mind that will cover you for damage or loss that is out of your control up to the amount insured. Of course, we assume you drive within the rental T&C’s. Click here and better understand the options that will provide effective cover in tricky claims territory.
Bonzah provides affordable and primary rental damage insurance when compared to that on offer at the rental desk. This gives you the freedom to travel ‘almost’ anywhere - except Ireland and Jamaica - with your rental car, knowing that you can safely decline the expensive and complicated rental car company insurance offerings.
What Does Cover Cost?
The good news is it is very affordable. For example, the Basic Policy costs US $7.99 per day and the Premium Policy (including roadside assistance) costs $10.98 per day. Let’s get serious, who among car renters cannot afford this, if they can meet the lofty cost of a car rental vehicle?
Choose What Is Best For You
Review your normal auto insurance carefully, you may find your insurer offers built-in umbrella cover for rental car situations. Even if they do, you will avoid a deductible and potential premium hike (if you needed to claim) by taking up the peace-of-mind offered from Bonzah.
Image: Car Meets House: Todd Dwyer BY CC 2.0