Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance: Are Rental Trucks Covered?

Liberty Mutual auto insurance does cover rental cars, but only to the same limit as your regular vehicle. So, if you have an older car with high mileage, you may not have sufficient coverage for a full-size or luxury rental car. If you're renting a vehicle of similar value to your own, your Liberty Mutual auto insurance should cover you. However, it's worth noting that this coverage is only applicable in the US and Canada. If you're travelling outside these countries, you'll need to purchase additional insurance.

Rental car reimbursement

Here's how it works: you add rental reimbursement coverage to your Liberty Mutual car insurance policy, which should already include collision and comprehensive coverage. If you're in an accident and need to file a collision or comprehensive claim, the rental reimbursement coverage kicks in after you pay your deductible. If you rent a car from Enterprise, Liberty Mutual will be billed directly. Otherwise, you'll need to pay for the rental yourself and be reimbursed later.

It's important to note that this coverage does not apply if your car is undergoing routine maintenance. Additionally, the cost of rental reimbursement coverage may vary by state and coverage limit.

With Liberty Mutual's Rental Car Reimbursement, you can reserve your rental car using their mobile app, and they also offer discounts from Enterprise-Rent-A-Car. Their Claims Valet Service™ is another convenient feature, where a valet will bring your rental car to you and take your damaged car to an approved repair facility.

Coverage limits

If you have Liberty Mutual auto insurance, you are covered for rental cars, including rental trucks, but only to the same limits as your personal auto policy. This means that if you have an older car that has racked up a lot of miles, you may not have sufficient coverage for a full-size or luxury rental vehicle.

For example, if you drive a 15-year-old vehicle that is only worth $4,000, your Liberty Mutual policy will only cover up to $4,000 of collision and comprehensive coverage. Most rental cars are worth more than $4,000. So, if you crash your $20,000 rental truck and it's a total loss, Liberty Mutual will cover $4,000 of this cost (minus your deductible), and you could be liable for paying the remaining $16,000 out of pocket.

Additionally, if you have liability-only coverage, your Liberty Mutual policy will only include bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. This means that after an at-fault accident, you could be responsible for covering all damage to the rental truck out of pocket.

It's important to note that Liberty Mutual does not cover non-standard rental vehicles, including RVs, moving trucks, and motorcycles. So, if you're renting a moving truck, you may need to add coverage to your policy or buy coverage from the rental company to stay insured.

To ensure you have adequate coverage, check your Liberty Mutual policy to verify your coverages and limits. Even if you have Liberty Mutual car insurance, you may wish to buy additional coverage, such as the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) offered by the rental company.

Furthermore, Liberty Mutual offers rental reimbursement insurance, which compensates you for the cost of renting a vehicle after a covered loss. This coverage is optional and typically costs $5 to $15 per month. It's important to note that you must have full coverage car insurance to add rental reimbursement coverage to your policy.

Collision damage waiver

A Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is an optional extra offered by car rental agencies to help pay for damage to a rented car. It is sometimes called a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or Physical Damage Waiver. The waiver’s cost depends on various factors, including the rental car type and where the vehicle is being driven.

A CDW covers auto damage during the rental period and sometimes theft. It typically covers losses from any damage to a rental car while in your possession, as well as weather-related damage, accident-related towing, and the rental agency's administrative fees and lost revenue due to the vehicle being out of rotation.

You could decline a CDW if you have personal auto insurance with collision and comprehensive coverage, or a credit card with primary rental car insurance coverage. If you have collision auto insurance on your personal vehicle, you likely have similar coverage when renting a car. However, your car insurance may not cover the loss of use when the car is repaired, towing fees, or any of the rental company’s administrative expenses.

If you don’t have a credit card offering rental car coverage, a CDW could save you from having to pay the deductible on your personal car insurance policy. If you don’t have car insurance, it’s a smart idea to get a CDW since you may not have any coverage otherwise.

If you have Liberty Mutual auto insurance, you are also covered for rental cars, but only to the same limits of your personal auto policy. Your Liberty Mutual auto insurance should cover your rental as long as the vehicle is of similar value to the one you already own. If you own an older car that has racked up a lot of miles, you may not have sufficient coverage for a full-size or luxury rental car. In this case, you may want to opt for a CDW at the counter, or purchase inexpensive insurance from a third-party provider.

Accidents abroad

If you're planning on renting a vehicle abroad and are worried about insurance coverage in the event of an accident, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, it's important to understand the type of coverage your personal auto insurance policy provides, as this will determine whether you need to purchase additional insurance from the rental company or rely on your credit card's rental coverage.

When renting a vehicle in another country, your Liberty Mutual auto insurance will only cover you in the US and Canada. So, if you're planning on renting a vehicle outside of these two countries, you will need to purchase supplemental insurance. It's worth noting that even within the US and Canada, your Liberty Mutual auto insurance coverage for a rental vehicle extends only to the same limits as your personal auto policy. This means that if you have an older car with high mileage, you may not have sufficient coverage for a full-size or luxury rental car. In such cases, you may want to consider purchasing additional rental car insurance or opting for a collision damage waiver (CDW) at the rental counter.

Credit cards often provide rental car coverage, which can be valuable in the event of an accident. This coverage typically acts as secondary coverage, kicking in after your personal auto insurance pays. However, some credit cards offer primary coverage, which means it pays out first, and you don't have to involve your auto insurer. It's important to carefully review the terms of your credit card's rental coverage, as there may be exclusions for certain types of vehicles, rental duration limits, and specific countries or territories.

If you're renting a vehicle abroad and are involved in an accident, here are a few steps you should take:

• Contact your personal auto insurance company and inform them of the accident. They will guide you through the claims process and let you know if your policy covers rental vehicles in the country where the accident occurred.
• If your personal auto insurance doesn't cover you abroad, contact your credit card company to understand their rental coverage and claims process. They will let you know what documents you need to submit, such as a copy of the accident report, the rental agreement, repair estimates, photographs, and a police report.
• If you have purchased additional rental insurance or CDW from the rental company, contact them to understand their claims process. While this option may add a significant cost to your rental, it can save you from dealing with a deductible, repair charges, and the hassle of international claims processing.
• Weigh the pros and cons of each coverage option. Consider the cost of purchasing rental insurance or CDW, the potential deductible and repair charges you may owe, and the convenience of having the rental company handle the claims process.

Remember, it's always better to be informed and prepared when it comes to insurance coverage, especially when travelling abroad. Review your policies and coverage options thoroughly before renting a vehicle in another country to ensure you have the protection you need in the event of an accident.

Deductibles

If you have Liberty Mutual auto insurance and you rent a car, you are covered for that rental car, but only to the same limits as your personal auto policy. So, if you have an older car with high mileage, you may not have sufficient coverage for a full-size or luxury rental car. In this case, you may want to opt for the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the rental counter or purchase inexpensive insurance from a third-party provider. If you have an accident in a rental car, you will need to pay the deductible on your auto insurance policy before the car rental insurance covers the rest.

The deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. The amount of your deductible depends on the terms of your insurance policy. If you have a high deductible, you may want to purchase additional rental car insurance to avoid paying a large sum out of pocket in the event of an accident.

If you have a collision, you can rely on Rental Car Reimbursement to pay for a rental car while your car is being repaired. This coverage is provided on the optional Transportation Expenses Coverage endorsement. If you choose to have your car repaired at a Liberty Mutual-approved repair facility and allow them to arrange the rental car, they will pay your rental costs (up to the selected daily limit) for as long as it takes to fix your car.

Liberty Mutual also offers a deductible fund, which may help cover your rental car deductible. Additionally, if you are a teacher, Liberty Mutual offers special deductible discounts for vehicles and personal property damaged in school-related events.

Frequently asked questions