SPECIAL ARTICLE BROUGHT TO YOU BY HEINER’S INSURANCE CENTER

By: Lisa D. – Acuity

When renting a car, you probably have extra things on your mind, like getting used to the vehicle and navigating a new area. Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were involved in an accident with a rental car?

The steps are similar to what you would do if you had an accident with your own vehicle, but there are some additional considerations.

Here are some steps to take if you have an accident with a rental car:

• Make sure everyone is OK. Pull over to the side of the road if it is safe to do so and check for injuries and damage.
• Call 911 to report the accident. Wait for police officers to arrive and fill out a report. You will need the police report for the rental car company and your auto insurance company.
• Take pictures and/or videos of damage. Documenting the vehicles involved, the location of the accident, and how the accident happened will help with the insurance claim.
• Exchange contact and insurance information with all involved drivers, including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, insurance companies and policy numbers, and license plates. Gather contact information for any witnesses as well. Be cautious when interacting with others. It may be best to wait for the police to obtain their information.
• Call the rental car company to notify them of the accident. Find out what coverage they provide and ask about next steps.
• Contact your auto insurance company. Your auto policy may provide coverage before or instead of coverage from the rental company. Discuss setting up a claim and if you are responsible for paying a deductible.

Before you rent a car, check what coverage your own auto policy provides. This will help you decide if you need to purchase any coverage from the rental car company. When you get your rental car, inspect it and take pictures of any damage before driving. Do the same when you return the car back to the car rental agency.