Mark Ling : Thanks Kamlesh, that was a good explanation on rental car insurance. However, I have another question – what happens if there is a property damage?

Response : This is a very intersting question and a much debated issue even in our insurance world. The comparison of car rental insurance for physical damage is interesting, however I would like to talk about the present version of this coverage. Let is compare auto insurance coverage on rental car.
As per the prevaling car insurance regulations, if you have physical damage coverage or PAP coverage on one auto than when you rent a car it would cover the physical damages but you will have to pay the deductible amount on this which is as per your PAP – auto insurance policy. Presently the coverage for nonowned cars moved back to physical damage (where it still is today), thus requiring PAP insureds to carry such coverage on at least one car and to pay their own deductible in order to have physical damage coverage for a nonowned car. The insurance company is not happy with this since their exposure has doubled. They are liable for the car you own and also the non-owned car you drive. The rental companies no longer carry physical damage on their fleets, the PAP insurer is now responsible for the difference between the insured’s deductible and the amount of damage to the rental car—up to the value of the car.
In 1989, an exclusion regarding damage to rented cars was added to the PAP. That exclusion removes coverage (including coverage for loss of use) if the rental company is not allowed by state law or the rental agreement to collect for a loss. Under previous editions of the PAP, the rental company could collect under the named insured’s PAP even if the insured was not legally responsible for the loss, such as in the case of hail damage to the rented car. This exclusion was added to prevent the rental company from collecting under the named insured’s PAP in such situations.
The golden nugget for you here is that you should compare auto insurance coverage and see that you are covered under your auto insurance policy for the physical damage and this will follow you when you drive a rental car. So review car insurance coverage and as long as you have all the coverages, do not worry.

Happy holidays.

Thanks.
Kamlesh

Mark Joyner : If I’m driving a rental car and have an accident where I hurt someone, am I covered?

Response : A very good question on auto insurance. The holiday season is coming and people will be travelling and so this will help all of them and you also. The personal auto insurance policy will provide coverage once a liaility coverage is there. All you need to do is to compare auto insurance coverage and limits and incase you so desire, increase your auto insurance liability limits if you have just taken minimum limits and the state which you are visiting has very high compulsory limits.

Let us assume that you and your wife went for holiday to Los Angles from New York and you and your wife both have auto insurance policy which has coverage for liability, medical payments, uninsured motorists, collision, and other-than-collision. As per the agreement arrangement of the auto insurance policy ” the named insured and his or her family members have coverage for the “ownership, maintenance, or use of “any auto or trailer.”
“Any” is the operative word here. Of course, there are some exclusions, but those come up in rare cases. We will be dealing with the typical, vacation car-rental situation—where the PAP named insured rents a car for a week or so of vacation fun. At Los Angles you rent a car at the hotel from the auto -rental company there. On the way back to the hotel, you miss the traffic red light and hit another car. You and your wife are unhurt, but the teenaged driver of the other car must be taken to the hospital. If that injured driver sues John over his injuries, John’s PAP will provide him with liability coverage and a defense. Your liability coverage will certainly provide you the coverage and your insurance company will pay for the medical expense, defense of any other liability to the teenager. The important thing to remember is that your PAP with liability coverage, you have full liability coverage when driving any auto.

The rental insurance company usually want to make money and will ask you if you want to pay for the insurance or the liability will be yours. Do not worry about this. Check your auto insurance policy, compare auto insurance coverage and your policy limits. Read the condition on rental car insurance under your car insurance policy. Infact, you can make a telephone call to the auto insurance company and seek their advice on what your auto insurance coverage are.

It would be a pleasure answering any of your questions.

Thanks.
Kamlesh