Empire Fleet Solutions

There are generally two possible ways under which you may be covered by car hire insurance.  The first is from auto insurance agents in your local area which sell auto insurance, but which can also be used as car hire insurance.  The second car hire insurance option is through the credit card that you have used for the car hire.  It is a good idea to find out more about these two possibilities if you are looking to obtain car hire insurance.

If you already have auto insurance on your own vehicle which you took out from your local auto insurance agent, chances are good that this auto insurance policy extends to serve as car hire insurance as well.  Generally, if you are traveling in another part of the country, your auto insurance policy will serve as car hire insurance once you hired a car at your destination.  However, you should note that any gap in your auto insurance coverage will also apply to your car hire insurance.  For example, if you do not have comprehensive coverage for your own vehicle, then your hired vehicle will also not have comprehensive car hire insurance. 

Some credit card companies also offer car hire insurance packages for vehicles hired using their credit cards.  Car hire insurance offered by credit card companies may vary from one company to the next. Due to credit card companies revising car hire insurance policies so often, you should make sure that you are aware of the most current car hire insurance policies when hiring a car.  You should also enquire whether the car hire insurance only cover physical damage to the hired vehicle, or if it extends to include theft, personal injury, liability, etc. as well.  Car hire insurance offered through your credit card company should be considered as supplemental car hire insurance, and not primary car hire insurance. 

Ultimately, if you do some research ahead of time, you will know exactly what car hire insurance coverage is provided by your own auto insurance policy, as well as by your credit card company.  This way you will know what, if any, additional car hire insurance you may need.