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Who Pays For Rental Car After An Accident Happens? Explained

Renting a car has become one of the easiest and most independent means of transportation. It not only gives ease to travelers as they can avoid learning the local transportation network of every location they visit, but it also helps business persons when traveling to different locations for meetings.

While rental cars have become much more common, there are still many doubts a person faces when renting a car, especially the first timers. One of the most common doubts or queries among them is who pays for a rental car after an accident happens. If you are also thinking about the same, let's find out the answer.

What To Do If your rental car Get into An Accident?

The last thing that you ever want on a vacation is meeting an accident while driving a rented vehicle. Since you are driving through unknown roads, you cannot ignore the possibility of a car crash. In most cases, responding to an accident in a rental car is pretty much similar to responding to one in your own car. However, there are certain things you need to be prepared for.

See That Everyone Is OK

Even though it may sound obvious, it is important to confirm that everyone inside the vehicle is okay. Check whether there are other vehicles involved. Like with any motor accident, you must get to the safer side of the road. If the accident is more severe or anyone is hurt, don’t hesitate to call for help.

Check Your Insurance Policy For Rental Car Insurance

You must see whether you have rental car insurance. For that, you need to check your insurance plan. To know the details of your insurance, get access to the Declarations page of your policy via a hard copy or a mobile app. The page has all the details about your insurance plan

Report The Accident To Your Insurer

It is important to inform your insurer about the accident. As per many car accident policies, reporting car accidents within a valid period is mandatory. The officials will later open up the case and start investigating.

Obtain A Claim Number

After notifying your insurer and reporting the accident, your agent will open a claim, and you will get a claim number and a case manager. Your insurer will not notify you as they undergo the claims procedure. The procedure may include an investigation of the accident, an examination of the wreck, and an evaluation of the vehicle’s worth.

What Should A Renter Know After An Accident?

After a mishap like a car accident, many get confused and panicked. But, it is wise to keep calm when such a situation occurs. Following are a few things you should know:

  • If the damage occurred due to a rear-end collision, there are fewer chances of disputes over faults. A rear-end collision or a rear-ending happens when the car driver hits another vehicle from behind. This can result due to adverse weather, road defects, or careless driving.

  • Generally, the insurer of the at-fault driver will immediately assume liability for the rental car accident. But, they may challenge their liability. This can result in delays in the payment of the rental car expenses. You can say that they may not agree to pay for the rental car costs right away.

  • Does your auto insurance cover rental car expenses? Then, you have all the right to file a claim with your insurance company to cover the cost. If the accident was not your fault, you may still obtain rental car reimbursement from the at-fault driver's insurer.

  • You can take legal action against the insurance company of the at-fault driver if it does not cooperate. There can be hurdles between you and the reimbursement that you deserve. Thus, it is wise to take the advice of an attorney.

There are times when your own insurer does not provide coverage for the accident. So, you may have to count upon the at-fault driver’s car insurer to pay for your rental car.

Also Read: How Does Rental Car Insurance Work? Is It Important To Have?

What Is All There In A Car Rental Coverage?

Whether your current insurance policy covers a car rental depends on your plan. You should always know what your plan covers before renting a vehicle. This will keep you safe from paying any additional cost. You must speak with your insurance agent or adjuster to know what your insurance policy covers.

Who Will Pay For The Rental Fees?

You may have no transportation after a collision damaging your vehicle. The vehicle may be totaled or is under repair. While waiting for your car, you’ll need an option to move around. The cost of rental cars may even become too expensive as you need to continue renting the car for a few weeks. If the accident happened because of the other driver, their insurer must cover the rental vehicle costs until your vehicle is repaired.

Moreover, the insurer of the at-fault driver must pay for the rental costs for a car similar to the damaged or totaled vehicle.

Let’s assume you were driving an SUV. In such instances, the insurer cannot get away with just covering the cost of renting a compact car.

What If The Insurer Refuses To Pay For Rental Car?

Even if the other driver is responsible, many insurance providers refuse to enable car rental for accident victims. It may be difficult if you rent one vehicle. You can contact the insurance division of your state.

The insurance division may not proceed with your complaint aggressively, but will investigate it. In some instances, it may be enough to get the insurer to agree to pay for the rental costs.

How To Get Reimbursement For a Rental Vehicle If The Accident Was Not Your Fault?

If you were not responsible for the accident, you could encounter various options for seeking reimbursement for rental costs. You can file a claim with the insurer of the at-fault driver. If the insurer admits blame and settles to pay the rental costs immediately, they will either challenge liability or take time to decide.

Conclusion

There may be lots of stressful experiences you will likely see when you get in a motor accident. It may be more stressful and confusing when you are driving a rented car. A vehicle will go under repair or replacement following an accident.

Many times, the insurance company of the at-fault driver will pay for the rental car costs. But there are a few things that determine whether you will get a reimbursement and how much it will be.

Want to hire a rental car for your trip? Bon Voyage Car Rental is the right destination. We are among the most reputable car rental companies fulfilling the transportation needs of travelers. Get all the desired comforts and amenities from us. Call 202 696 6487 or mail your query or click here to book your ride now