Las Vegas Office: (725) 900-9000 Washington Office: (360) 200-0000
Van Law Firm
  • About Us
    • Attorneys
    • Sandy Van
    • Angela J. Campos
    • Burke Huber
    • Annual Scholarship
    • Refer Clients
  • Practice Areas
    • Motor Vehicle Accident
    • Slip and Fall
    • Wrongful Death
    • Casino Injury
    • Mass Torts
    • Uninsured And Underinsured Accidents
    • Personal Injury
    • Product Liability
    • Bad Faith Insurance Claims
    • Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
    • Nursing Home Abuse
    • Las Vegas Defective Drugs and Medical Devices
    • Sexual Abuse
    • Truck Accident
    • Swimming Pool Injury
  • Testimonials
  • Blogs
    • FAQs
    • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Locations
    • Las Vegas Office
    • Washington Office
    • View All Locatoins
Get My Free Consultation
(725) 900-9000

Home » Blogs » Insurance » The Basics of Rental Car Insurance and Liability

The Basics of Rental Car Insurance and Liability

Americans love to travel, especially now that we’ve reached the heart of summer.The first stop for many visitors once they get to their destination is the rental car kiosk at the airport. No matter which dealer you go through, you will almost certainly be asked whether or not you want to purchase rental insurance. Most people see this merely as an “upsell”–indeed, a recent study found that 8 percent of the entire industry’s revenue comes from these sales. However, it can certainly come in handy down the road.

For a free legal consultation, call (725) 900-9000

Most rental car contracts–at least the ones we’ve come across–hold the renter expressly responsible for damages sustained to the vehicle, regardless of who caused it. Therefore, by purchasing rental insurance, you can protect yourself from having to pay steep repair or total replacement costs if an accident does occur. 

Is Rental Insurance Required? Are There Other Coverages? 

Sometimes renters don’t even need to purchase dedicated rental insurance because they are covered by their personal automobile insurance policy. A good percentage of policies already extend coverage to the policyholder when a rental car is being used. However, this obviously varies widely depending on the insurer as well as the state, so it’s best to go through your policy details or call your agent to double-check before your rent. 

Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today

Another lesser-known option for rental coverage is actually available through your credit card company. Most major card companies will include coverage if you pay for the rental using their brand of card. Broadly speaking, card companies offer secondary coverage, meaning that they will only cover any remaining costs that your personal car insurance policy will not. Additionally, most of these secondary policies are designed to replace the coverage offered by the rental company, not add to it. So, in other words, if your card company offers coverage, you should consider using it instead of purchasing separate insurance that will override it. 

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now

Lastly, you can also purchase a dedicated rental policy from a specialized renters’ insurer. In most cases, these policies are cheaper and more flexible than what is offered at the rental counter. However, most people view this as unnecessary, especially if they don’t use rentals very often. 

Is There a Minimum Amount of Coverage I Need to Purchase?

State laws regarding minimum coverages vary. For our purposes, we will use our HQ state Nevada as an example. In Nevada, all car owners must carry a minimum of $15,000 for injuries or death to one person, $30,000 for two people (same accident), and at least $10,000 for property damages. Most rental companies in the state offer more than minimum coverage, although again, you should always check or ask. The last thing you want to do with regards to rentals is assume anything. 

When determining the amount of coverage you want, you should consider medical expenses first before property damages. Even mild medical attention can blow past the limits of rental and standalone policies. At the end of the day, it really is up to you as far as what level of risk you’re willing to accept–just remember that the higher the coverage, the higher the costs. 

What Happens if a Car Hits Me? 

With regards to car accident liability, litigation will differ depending on state law, specifically whether the state is classified as a “fault” or “no-fault” jurisdiction. “Fault” states (such as Nevada) enable accident victims to collect compensation directly from the guilty party after a crash, whereas “no-fault” states require victims to go through their own insurer first before pursuing a claim. If you’re travelling to a new state and plan on renting, it’s a good idea to ask either your personal agent or the renter’s agent about your destination’s laws. 

Speak With Rental Car and Car Accident Attorneys Now 

If you’ve suffered injuries in any kind of car accident, whether it involves personal cars, rentals, or rideshares, consider contacting Van Law Firm as soon as possible. As the best rental car and car accident attorneys in the country, we will do everything possible to recreate the accident, argue your case, and recover full compensation. With over 500 5-star reviews online, you won’t want to go anywhere else. Call our office nearest you now for more information.

No obligation consultations are always free.

Let Us Help You! Call Now: (725) 900-9000
We are available 24/7

Recent Posts

  • Breaking Down the Insulin Pricing Scheme Puzzle
  • EzriCare Eye Drop Recall
  • Search Engine Optimization and AI Bots
  • A Day of Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors
  • Tesla Auto Accidents

Categories

  • Accidents & Lawsuits
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Auto Accidents
  • Baby Formula Lawsuits
  • Bankruptcy
  • Burn Injuries
  • Bus Acciidents
  • Camp Lejeune
  • Defective Medical Devices
  • Drowning Accidents
  • Drunk Driving Accidents
  • Elmiron
  • Heating Pad Injuries
  • Insurance
  • Legal Alerts
  • Mass Torts
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • News and Updates
  • Nursing Home Abuse
  • Paraquat Lawsuits
  • Park Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Sexual Assault
  • Slip and Fall Accidents
  • Swimming Pool Accidents
  • Swimming Pool Injuries
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Truck Accidents
  • Truvada
  • Whiplash Injury
  • Workers Compensation
  • Wrongful Death
  • Zantac

FAQs

What is a Short Sale?

faq thumb

Buying a home After a Short Sale

faq thumb

What is a Deficiency and Why Should I Be Worried?

faq thumb

Find Yourself a Passionate Lawyer Now!

  • Bellingham Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Boulder City Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Centennial Hills Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Henderson Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Lakewood Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Nationwide Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Washington Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Yakima Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me

Insurance Blog Posts:

car crash accident UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED MOTORIST INSURANCE COVERAGE

Are you a Nevada driver who’s uninsured or under-insured? Like many states, Nevada has very specific requirements when it comes to the level of insurance coverage that a motorist must carry. When a ...

MEDICAL PAYMENT (MED PAY) INSURANCE AND AUTO ACCIDENTS MEDICAL PAYMENT (MED PAY) INSURANCE AND AUTO ACCIDENTS

Medical payment insurance, better known as Med Pay, is a fairly inexpensive option to add to your insurance coverage and the benefits can be quite valuable. Many policy holders are unsure of whether...

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH CAR INSURANCE? DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH CAR INSURANCE?

Adequate car insurance coverage is critical to protecting drivers and their families from financial catastrophes. Car insurance protects drivers from the financial exposure that results if the drive...

GUIDE TO REPORTING CAR ACCIDENTS TO INSURANCE COMPANIES GUIDE TO REPORTING CAR ACCIDENTS TO INSURANCE COMPANIES

Insurance companies in Nevada require that motorists notify them when car accidents occur and there is property damage or injuries. Some people choose not to report crashes to insurers when there ar...

  • Las Vegas, NV
    1290 S Jones Blvd
    Las Vegas, NV 89147

    Get Directions
  • Lakewood, WA
    9311 Bridgeport Way SW
    Lakewood WA 98499

    Get Directions
  • Yakima, WA
    32 N 3rd St STE 304
    Yakima, WA 98901

    Get Directions
Van Law Firm

Van law firm is a personal injury law firm that represents individuals injured by motor vehicle accidents in Las Vegas, Henderson, and throughout Washington. We also represent workers’ compensation cases and people who have been hurt by defective drugs like Zantac, medical devices, and products nationwide.

Contact Info

1290 S Jones Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89146
(725) 900-9000 (702) 800-4662 Get Map & Directions
9311 Bridgeport Way SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
(360) 200-0000 (360) 208-0248 Get Map & Directions
32 N 3rd St STE 304
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 505-1000 (509) 272-0300 Get Map & Directions

Practice Areas

  • MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT
  • PERSONAL INJURY
  • WRONGFUL DEATH
  • PRODUCT LIABILITY
  • BAD FAITH INSURANCE CLAIMS
  • UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED ACCIDENTS
  • NURSING HOME ABUSE
Expertise best personal injury attorney award America's Fastest growing private companies award Honoree Ribbon

Privacy Policy © Copyright 2023 Van Law Firm

Please consult an attorney for advice about your unique and individual situation. This website and its information is not legal advice, nor is it intended to be. Calling our firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Until an attorney-client relationship is established, please withhold from sending any confidential information.