Is my rental Car Covered in the event of an accident?

Many drivers don't think about their insurance coverage until after they have an accident and call their insurance company to file a claim to help pay for car repairs, a rental car and other expenses.

Unfortunately, many insured drivers are surprised to find out that their auto insurance does not automatically cover the cost of a replacement rental car after an accident. In most states, if you have Collision and Comprehensive coverage on your own auto AND have complied with the terms of the rental contract, damage to a rental car would be covered by your own policy, subject to the same policy deductibles.

Therefore, additional damage coverage for the rental car would not be necessary.In a few states, Collision and Comprehensive coverages are not necessary, as the laws in those states mandate that any damage to a rental car is paid under the Property Damage Liability coverage on your policy.

Since the average car is in the repair shop for two weeks after an accident, it can cost as much as $500 to rent a replacement car. But, some insured drivers pay little or nothing to rent a car because of an inexpensive but often overlooked option known as rental reimbursement.

Rental reimbursement coverage is available for only $1 or $2 a month with almost every auto insurance policy, but it is bypassed frequently by those who believe they will not have a car accident or those shopping only for the lowest cost premium. The cost of a rental replacement car adds up fast, so even if you don't have an accident for eight or nine years, the coverage pays for itself when you need it most.

Sometimes working out the details of a claim with the auto insurance company can take time. Even if the accident is the other driver's fault, you may have to wait several days or longer to get the other insurance company to agree to pay for a rental car. With your own coverage, there is no waiting.

Generally, your own policy covers you while driving a non-owned auto as long as you have the owner’s permission. In some cases, there is other insurance that covers the auto already, in which case your MetLife Auto & Home policy would be secondary to that other insurance. In other cases, your policy would pay first. This depends on individual state law, so you should check your policy to be sure.