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Frequently Asked Questions

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Car rental coverage on an automobile insurance policy—often called Rental Reimbursement or Transportation Expense Coverage—helps pay for a temporary replacement vehicle when your car is in the shop due to a covered claim.

Here’s how it works in simple terms:

What It Covers

Rental coverage pays for:

  • A rental car

  • Public transportation

  • Ride-share or taxi expenses (with some insurers)

It only applies when your vehicle is being repaired because of a covered loss, such as:

  • An accident covered by collision

  • A non-accident loss covered by comprehensive (theft, hail, fire, vandalism, etc.)

What It Does NOT Cover

Rental coverage does not apply:

  • For routine maintenance or mechanical breakdowns

  • If you just want a rental for a trip

  • If you didn’t purchase rental coverage on your policy

  • If your car is drivable and not in the shop

How the Limits Work

Rental coverage is usually written as:

  • A daily limit (example: $30, $40, or $50 per day)

  • A maximum total limit (example: $900 total)

Example:
If your policy is $40 per day / $1,200 max:

  • Insurance pays up to $40 per day

  • Once you hit $1,200, coverage stops—even if repairs aren’t finished

If your rental costs more than the daily limit, you pay the difference.

When It Starts and Stops

Coverage typically begins:

  • After your car is in the shop for repairs from a covered claim

  • Sometimes after a short waiting period (varies by company)

Coverage ends when:

  • Your car is repaired and ready for pickup

  • Your car is declared a total loss (usually a few days after settlement offer)

  • You hit your maximum dollar limit

Who Is At Fault?

Rental coverage on your own policy:

  • Applies regardless of fault—as long as the loss is covered

  • You don’t have to wait on the other driver’s insurance

If the other driver is at fault:

  • Their insurance may also pay for your rental

  • But it can take longer while liability is investigated

Key Takeaway

Rental reimbursement is inexpensive but valuable. If your car is in the shop after a covered accident or loss, it helps keep you on the road without paying full rental costs out of pocket.

It does not replace your car—it just helps cover temporary transportation while yours is being repaired or settled.

If you were not at fault in the accident, you will make a third-party claim to the at-fault driver's insurance company. Because you are the claimant, the insurance company typically will issue the check directly to you. It's your responsibility to pay the repair shop, and the lender if you have a car loan. If the other driver doesn't have insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage will take effect.
If you want to lower your monthly premium, or buy more coverage for less money, one way is to carry a higher deductible. A higher deductible also may make sense if you believe that your chances of making a claim are remote enough to warrant assuming extra financial risk.
It depends on the type of policy you own. But in general, unless you buy additional coverage, you won't be compensated for losses due to floods, earthquakes, nuclear accidents, wars, intentional damage, and normal wear and tear. Other exclusions may also apply.
A home can require a tremendous investment of money, time, and energy. Homeowners insurance is designed to protect that investment by insuring the actual structure or structures and the personal possessions in and around them, as well as providing liability protection for the residents. Through homeowner's insurance, you can protect yourself and your family from enormous loss in the event of damage or destruction to your home and property. Most likely, if you have a mortgage on your home, you are required to carry homeowner's insurance.
You can purchase additional coverage, through an endorsement to your existing policy or with a separate policy, to extend the limits of coverage for specific items.
After an accident or theft recovery, if the insurance company decides your car is "totaled," it means the estimate of repairs exceeds the car's value. At this point, the insurance company will likely send you a check for your car's value. It gets to keep your car unless you make arrangements to buy it back "as is".
If your car was stolen, be prepared to wait. Most insurance companies will impose a waiting period to see if the police recover your car. If your car is still missing after the waiting period, usually 21 days, you should receive a settlement soon after. If your car is recovered during the waiting period, the insurance company will want to see a repair estimate before deciding how to proceed.