Enterprise Auto Insurance: Understanding The Requirements

If you're renting a car from Enterprise, you may be wondering if you need to purchase car rental insurance. The short answer is no—Enterprise does not require you to have your own personal auto insurance or to purchase rental car insurance when renting a vehicle from them. However, they do offer several types of insurance plans and protection products that you can choose to add on to your rental. These include a damage waiver, personal effects coverage, supplemental liability protection, and roadside assistance protection. The cost of these options varies depending on factors such as location and vehicle type. So, while not mandatory, these additional protection products can provide peace of mind in case of accidents, theft, or other incidents during your rental period.

Personal auto insurance when renting a car

If you are renting a car from Enterprise, you are not required to have personal auto insurance. However, if you already have personal auto insurance, it is worth checking whether it covers rental cars, as many policies do. If you are covered, you won't need to pay for duplicate coverage.

Your personal car insurance will generally extend to rental cars for personal use, such as a vacation, but not for business use, such as meeting a client. There may be other gaps in coverage, such as the rental company's "loss of use" fee, which is the charge for lost income while the rental car is being repaired.

If you don't have personal auto insurance, you will need to purchase liability coverage through the rental car company. You will also have the option to add additional coverages, such as collision and tire damage.

Rental car insurance is a protection plan that safeguards you and the vehicle in the event of a collision, theft, and more. Enterprise also offers roadside assistance to help with incidents such as lockouts or lost keys.

The cost of rental car insurance and protection products can vary based on the type of vehicle and other factors.

Car rental insurance

You are not required to purchase car rental insurance when renting a car from Enterprise. However, if you are interested in purchasing rental car insurance and additional protection products, they offer several options to choose from to best fit your needs. The cost of optional car rental insurance and protection products can vary based on the type of vehicle you wish to rent and other factors. To get the most accurate pricing, you can start a car reservation or call the Enterprise branch from which you wish to rent.

If you already have personal auto insurance, you may not need to purchase additional car rental insurance. Many personal auto insurance policies will cover rental cars, so be sure to check with your insurance provider before renting a car.

There are also other options for purchasing car rental insurance. Some credit card companies offer rental car insurance as a benefit, and you can also purchase standalone rental car insurance policies from companies like Allianz Global Assistance. Their product, called OneTrip Rental Car Protector, provides primary coverage for covered collisions, loss, and damage up to $50,000, along with 24-hour emergency assistance.

Protection products

While Enterprise does not require you to purchase car rental insurance, it does offer several protection products to safeguard you and the vehicle in the event of a collision, theft, or other incidents. These protection products are optional and can be purchased at the time of renting a car to best fit your needs.

One of the protection products offered by Enterprise is the damage waiver. This is not technically insurance, but it functions similarly. With the damage waiver, you pay a set amount per day of the rental, and Enterprise will limit or waive any claims for loss or damage to the car. This waiver also covers towing, storage, loss of use, and administrative fees. The cost of the damage waiver can vary widely, ranging from less than $10 per day to three times that amount in some locations.

Another protection product offered by Enterprise is Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). With PAI, you pay a set amount per day in addition to the rental cost, and this coverage will protect you and your passengers in the event of an accident. It covers ambulance expenses, medical expenses, and provides accidental death benefits. PAI is available at every Enterprise location and can be a valuable addition to your rental for added peace of mind.

Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) is another protection product offered by Enterprise, but it is only available at airport locations. PEC protects you, other drivers, or any family members travelling with you against loss or damage to personal items. Even if these losses are covered by other insurance, Enterprise will still pay for them. The cost of PAI/PEC coverage typically ranges from $5 to $11 per day, depending on the rental location.

Supplemental Liability Protection (SLP) is a protection product offered by Enterprise that provides additional peace of mind. SLP can be purchased at the time of rental for an extra daily fee, and it protects you and any authorised drivers from third-party liability claims. The coverage provided by SLP can be up to $1 million, ensuring that you are well-protected in the event of an accident.

In addition to these protection products, Enterprise also offers roadside assistance to help with incidents such as lockouts or lost keys. The cost of the optional car rental insurance and protection products can vary based on the type of vehicle rented and other factors. To get accurate pricing information, you can start a car reservation online or contact the Enterprise branch directly.

Rental coverage levels

Rental car insurance provides coverage when driving a rental car. Its primary purpose is to protect you from costly out-of-pocket expenses if the rental vehicle is damaged or stolen while in your possession. Rental car insurance offers various coverage levels that will protect you from financial liabilities depending on what occurs during your rental period.

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): This absolvees you from paying for damage to your rental car or the cost of a stolen vehicle in some instances. It's important to note that the CDW typically comes with certain conditions and exclusions. For example, if damage occurs while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the waiver may not apply.
• Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): With an LDW, the rental company can't hold you responsible for physical damages to the rental vehicle. It usually covers both collision damage and theft but doesn't pay for things like tire or mirror damage. LDW is not technically insurance but functions similarly to insurance in covering rental car damage.
• Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI): SLI provides robust coverage to protect you against claims made by other drivers for damages or injuries resulting from an accident. This policy covers liabilities up to $1 million.
• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): PAI covers medical expenses for you and your passengers if you're involved in an accident while driving the rental vehicle. It includes emergency healthcare services such as ambulance fees and more extensive medical requirements like hospital charges. In extreme cases, PAI can even provide death benefits.
• Personal Effects Coverage (PEC): PEC is optional insurance offered by rental car companies, which covers your belongings if they are lost, stolen, or damaged while in the rental vehicle. This typically includes clothing, electronics, equipment, and luggage, up to a certain limit.

It's important to note that you may already have some coverage through your personal auto insurance policy or credit card benefits. Always read the terms and conditions carefully and check with your insurance provider or credit card company before opting for additional rental car coverage.

Rental reimbursement

• Some auto insurance companies may reimburse transportation expenses other than rental cars, such as Uber, city buses, light rail, and commuter train fares.
• Rental reimbursement insurance usually doesn't have a deductible, which means there won't be a deductible amount subtracted from your claims check.
• Some insurers have partnerships with rental companies, allowing the rental company to bill your insurance company directly. If you choose to rent from another company, you may need to pay the costs upfront and then seek reimbursement from your insurance provider.
• Rental reimbursement might not be available for policies covering antique or classic cars.
• Policy discounts often apply to rental reimbursement coverage. For example, if you have a multi-car discount, this can be applied to rental reimbursement coverage.
• Rental reimbursement coverage is different from rental car insurance, which you would purchase for a rental car during vacation or business travel. Rental reimbursement coverage is specifically for when your car is being repaired following an insurance claim.
• Rental reimbursement coverage has daily and per-claim limits. For example, if your coverage has a $30 per day and $900 per claim limit, your insurer will pay up to $30 per day for rental expenses but no more than $900 per accident claim.
• Certain transportation expenses, such as gas, are typically not covered by rental reimbursement insurance.
• Rental reimbursement coverage can only be used when your car is being repaired due to a problem covered by your policy. It cannot be used for routine maintenance or a vacation rental car.
• The cost of rental reimbursement insurance varies by insurer and state. It is generally inexpensive, typically costing around $25 to $100 extra per year, depending on the level of coverage.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Rental Reimbursement

If your vehicle is being repaired or replaced due to a covered claim, Enterprise Rent-A-Car can provide a rental car. The cost of the rental car can be covered by rental reimbursement insurance. For example, if you have rental reimbursement coverage from Geico and choose to rent a car from Enterprise, Enterprise will bill Geico directly.

It's important to note that if you choose another rental provider, you may need to pay the rental costs upfront and then seek reimbursement from your insurance company. Additionally, rental reimbursement coverage may be subject to daily and per-claim limits, so be sure to check your policy for specific details.

Frequently asked questions