Does Mercury Auto Insurance Cover U-Haul Rentals?

If you're wondering whether your Mercury auto insurance covers U-Haul rentals, the answer is likely no. Most auto insurance policies, including Mercury, have weight restrictions that exclude cargo vehicles like U-Haul trucks. However, if you're renting a smaller U-Haul vehicle, such as a pickup truck or van, there may be a chance for coverage, but it's not guaranteed. It's important to check with your insurance provider to confirm. Additionally, U-Haul recommends purchasing their company-provided insurance policy to shield yourself from liability in case of any damage to their rental equipment, as most credit card companies and insurance providers do not cover U-Haul rentals.

Mercury's rental car insurance coverage

Mercury Insurance offers rental car insurance to its customers. This insurance is optional and can be added to an existing auto policy. The rental car benefit coverage includes the daily rental fee, rate, mileage charges, and taxes up to the coverage benefit selected. Coverage limits range from $30 to $100 per day for up to 30 days.

If you already have a personal auto policy with Mercury that includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, this insurance will likely extend to cover your rental car. Mercury's liability insurance will usually cover your rental as long as you are driving in the US. It will pay for others' medical expenses and repairs to others' property resulting from an accident you caused in your rental vehicle.

If you have collision and comprehensive insurance with Mercury, this will typically cover any damage that occurs to the rental vehicle during your rental period. However, the coverage limits may not be high enough if you are renting a car with a much higher value than your personal vehicle. In this case, you may need to purchase additional insurance from the rental company or your credit card company.

Mercury also offers rental car reimbursement coverage, which helps pay for the cost of a rental car while your personal vehicle is being repaired for a covered claim. If you add this coverage to your policy, Mercury will pay between $30 and $100 per day toward the cost of your rental, up to 30 days.

It is important to note that some vehicles, such as moving trucks, motorcycles, or scooters, are not covered by your regular insurance policy, and you may need to purchase additional insurance for these types of rentals.

To find out exactly what your Mercury Insurance policy covers, it is recommended to check with a Mercury agent before renting a car.

U-Haul's insurance recommendations

U-Haul recommends that all of its customers purchase a company-provided insurance policy that shields them from liability for any damage to the vehicle. While a rental truck insurance policy is similar to policies provided by car rental agencies, the circumstances of renting a U-Haul truck differ from renting a car.

U-Haul offers two protection packages:

• SafeMove: This package includes coverage for damage to the truck, damage to your cargo, medical coverage, and life coverage.
• SafeMove Plus: This package adds driver liability for twice the amount of the premium. It also includes a $0 deductible on any accidental damage claims for the U-Haul truck, meaning no extra out-of-pocket costs.

U-Haul's insurance is not mandatory, but it is strongly encouraged. Many personal auto policies specifically exclude cargo vehicles, trailers, and vehicles over a certain weight. Credit card coverage usually applies only to cars and other passenger vehicles.

If you are unsure whether your personal auto policy or credit card coverage includes rental trucks, it is best to check with your insurance company or credit card issuer before renting a U-Haul.

Other Options

If you are looking for alternative insurance options, you may consider the following:

• Rental Car Insurance: If you already have a personal auto policy with rental car insurance coverage, this will likely extend to a U-Haul rental as long as you are driving in the US. However, it is important to note that rental car insurance typically only covers vehicles that fall within certain price ranges.
• Supplemental Liability Coverage: If you have a personal auto policy, you can purchase supplemental liability coverage from rental companies like U-Haul, Penske, and Budget. This provides additional protection in case of an accident.
• Non-Owner Insurance Policy: If you don't own a car but frequently rent vehicles or borrow other people's cars, consider getting a non-owner insurance policy. These policies provide liability protection if you are legally responsible for damage or injuries in an accident.

Weight restrictions on rental vehicles

When renting a vehicle, it is essential to be mindful of weight restrictions to avoid penalties and safety hazards. Overloading a vehicle can lead to penalty points, costly fines, and even voided insurance policies. The police may stop and fine you if they catch you driving an overloaded van. Fines for overloading vary depending on the extent of overloading, with higher percentages resulting in more severe penalties.

To ensure compliance with weight restrictions, it is recommended to check the weight limits of your rental vehicle before use. The payload and gross vehicle weight are crucial factors to consider. The payload refers to the amount of weight legally allowed in the back of the vehicle, while the gross vehicle weight includes the total weight of the vehicle, passengers, load, and fuel.

Additionally, understanding axle weight is essential. Each axle has a separate weight limit, and proper load distribution is critical. Overloading an axle can result in fines and penalty points, even if the gross vehicle weight limit is not exceeded.

To avoid overloading, it is recommended to visually inspect the vehicle before and after loading. Signs of overloading include underinflated tires, the sides and back of the vehicle being closer to the ground, and side wings closer to the tires. Utilizing a weighbridge can also help ensure your rental vehicle is within the safe weight range.

U-Haul's SafeMove and SafeMove Plus packages

U-Haul offers two protection packages: SafeMove and SafeMove Plus. These packages are designed to provide peace of mind and financial protection in the event of accidents or damage during your move. Here's a detailed breakdown of what each package includes:

SafeMove:

• Damage waiver for the rental truck: Covers most accidental damage to the rental truck, including dents, paint chips, and tire damage. It does not cover overhead collisions, such as bridges or low-hanging roofs.
• Cargo coverage: Protects your goods from loss or damage due to collision, fire, windstorm, or overturn of the rental truck. It provides $25,000 worth of coverage for a one-way rental and $15,000 for an in-town rental.
• Medical/Life coverage: Covers the driver and passengers of the U-Haul rental truck for up to $1,000 in medical bills in case of an accident. It also provides life coverage valued at up to $25,000 for the driver and $15,000 for passengers.
• Towed property coverage (SafeTow): Protects your personal car while being towed on a U-Haul towing device or your personal property in a trailer.

SafeMove Plus:

SafeMove Plus includes all the benefits of SafeMove, plus:

• Supplemental Liability Insurance: Covers damage to others and their property. It provides $1,000,000 in coverage for property damage, bodily injury, or lawsuits brought by third parties not involved with the rental (e.g., someone who has been hit).
• Overhead Collision Damage: SafeMove Plus covers accidental damage to the rental truck, including overhead collisions, which are not included in the standard SafeMove plan.
• No increased premiums: SafeMove Plus does not increase the premiums on your personal insurance plan.
• No out-of-pocket fees: You won't have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses for covered claims.

It's important to note that SafeMove and SafeMove Plus are not liability insurance policies and are optional. However, U-Haul recommends purchasing one of these protection packages, as most personal auto policies do not cover rental trucks or trailers. Before opting out or choosing the standard protection, be sure to check with your insurance agent or company to ensure you have adequate coverage.

Mercury's rental reimbursement

Mercury Insurance offers its customers rental car insurance, which can be added to an existing auto policy. This insurance is only available to customers who already have liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. If you only have liability insurance with Mercury, physical damage to the rental vehicle will not be covered.

Mercury's rental car insurance includes liability insurance, which covers others' medical expenses and repairs to others' property resulting from an accident you caused in your rental vehicle. It also includes collision and comprehensive insurance, which covers any damage that occurs to the rental vehicle during the rental period.

Mercury also offers rental car reimbursement coverage, which helps pay for the cost of a rental car while your personal vehicle is being repaired after an accident. The coverage limits range from $30-$100 per day for up to 30 days. For example, if you choose a rental reimbursement limit of $25 per day/$600 per loss, Mercury will pay up to $25 per day, but no more than $600 per claim for your rental.

In addition to rental car insurance, Mercury also offers renters insurance, which covers the policyholder's personal belongings, medical expenses, and legal defence costs in the event of an accident or other covered loss. Renters insurance is especially useful for those who rent an apartment, condo, or house, as it provides peace of mind and financial protection.

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