Rental Car Tips

The single most important thing you can do before renting a car is understand what insurance coverage you already have. Many travelers pay $20–$30 per day for rental counter insurance they don’t actually need — because they’re already covered.

Here’s what to check before you leave home:

• Your personal auto insurance policy — call your insurer and ask specifically: “Does my policy cover rental cars, and what is my comprehensive deductible?” Most standard policies do extend to rentals, but the deductible still applies.
• Your credit card benefits — many Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards offer collision damage waiver (CDW) coverage when you pay for the rental with that card. Check your card’s benefits guide or call the number on the back. Note that most card coverage is secondary — meaning it kicks in after your personal insurance.
• The rental company’s coverage options — only consider purchasing their insurance if you have gaps in the coverage above.

Since rental companies now inspect returned vehicles very carefully for even minor dents and scratches, knowing your coverage level in advance is more important than ever.

This is one of the simplest and most important habits you can develop as a rental car customer. Before you leave the lot, take out your phone and photograph every panel of the car — front, back, both sides, the roof if you can reach it, and all four wheels. Also take a photo of the interior, the windshield, and the odometer.

Why does this matter? Rental companies have been known to charge returning customers for damage that was already present on the vehicle. Without photographic proof, it becomes your word against theirs — and the company holds the advantage.

Your photos should be timestamped — most smartphone cameras do this automatically. Make sure the rental company’s lot or signage is visible in at least one shot to establish location. Do the same thing when you return the car.