Does Auto Insurance Cover U-Haul Rentals?

If you're planning a move and need to rent a U-Haul, you might be wondering if your auto insurance policy will cover it. Well, the answer may depend on a few factors. Firstly, it's important to check with your insurance carrier, as some policies may provide coverage for rental vehicles, especially smaller vans or trucks. However, many personal auto policies have weight restrictions, and U-Haul trucks often exceed these limits. Additionally, credit cards typically do not cover U-Haul rentals due to weight and size restrictions. Even if your policy does cover rentals, reimbursement for any damage may be required, and your personal belongings inside the U-Haul may not be covered in the event of an accident. To ensure peace of mind, it's recommended to purchase additional coverage from U-Haul or consider a non-owner insurance policy if you frequently rent vehicles.

Weight restrictions on rental vehicles

When renting a vehicle, you need to consider both the "payload" and the "gross vehicle weight". The payload refers to the amount of weight you're legally allowed to carry in the back of the vehicle. The gross vehicle weight includes the total weight of the vehicle, passengers, load, and fuel. Exceeding the gross vehicle weight can result in fines and penalty points, as well as increased risk to yourself, your passengers, and other road users.

In some cases, your credit card company may offer rental vehicle coverage, but this is often subject to weight and size restrictions as well. It's always a good idea to check with your insurance provider and credit card company before assuming you have coverage for a rental vehicle.

Coverage for personal contents inside the vehicle

It is important to note that your personal auto insurance policy will not cover your personal contents inside a U-Haul vehicle if you are considered at-fault in an accident. In this case, your personal items would have to be covered under your home or renters insurance policy if you wanted them replaced.

Normally, the only instance where your personal items are covered in the event of an accident is if the other driver is at fault. In this case, your personal items should be covered by the other driver's property damage liability coverage.

If you are renting a trailer for your move, your policy is likely to extend to that as well. However, your liability coverage will only cover any damage caused by the trailer to someone else or their property. For example, if you misjudge the amount of space you need for the trailer and hit another car, the damage to the other driver's car would be covered by the liability coverage in your personal car insurance policy.

However, you would not have any coverage for the damage to the trailer itself or any property contained inside the trailer. So, if your trailer detaches and winds up dented, damaging your belongings inside, your auto insurance won't cover either issue. You would need to purchase separate coverage through the rental company to cover that damage.

Credit card coverage

So, if you're renting a U-Haul truck or trailer, your credit card probably won't cover you. However, it's important to check with your credit card company to be sure, as policies can vary. Even if your credit card does cover your rental, you may still need to reimburse U-Haul for the full damage amount and then deal with your credit card company.

If you're renting a small U-Haul vehicle, like a pickup truck or van, there's a chance your credit card company may offer coverage. Again, it's important to check with them directly to be sure.

It's worth noting that even if you have credit card coverage, it might only apply to the vehicle and not the items you're moving. You may need to purchase additional cargo coverage to protect your belongings.

U-Haul's optional coverage

U-Haul offers several types of optional coverage for its customers. Here is a detailed overview of the different coverage options:

Safemove®

Safemove® is a protection plan offered by U-Haul that covers damage to the rental equipment. It includes a damage waiver, cargo coverage, and medical-life coverage. The damage waiver covers most accidental damage to the rental equipment, including overhead and tire damage. The cargo coverage protects your goods in case of a collision, fire, windstorm, or overturn of the rental truck. The medical-life coverage provides protection for you and your passengers in the cab of the rental truck. It is important to note that Safemove® does not include liability coverage and has certain exclusions, such as damage caused by improper packing or theft of personal contents.

Safemove Plus®

Safemove Plus® is an enhanced protection plan offered by U-Haul. It includes all the benefits of Safemove®, plus additional features. One of the key advantages of Safemove Plus® is the supplemental liability insurance, which provides one million dollars in coverage for bodily injury or property damage claims made against you during the rental period. Additionally, the damage waiver in Safemove Plus® covers collision with overhead obstacles and damage to tires, which are not included in the basic Safemove® plan.

Safetow®

Safetow® is a protection plan specifically for customers who are towing a trailer, auto transport, or tow dolly with their U-Haul rental. It includes a damage waiver that covers damage to the rental trailer or towing device. It also offers towed property protection, which covers damage to your cargo or vehicle while being transported. Similar to Safemove®, Safetow® also provides medical-life coverage for accidents.

Safestor®

Safestor® is a low-cost storage insurance option offered by U-Haul for customers storing their goods in a U-Haul storage room. It covers loss or damage to your stored goods from major perils such as fire, theft, and certain natural disasters. Safestor® is not included in the other protection plans and must be purchased separately if you require storage insurance.

SafeTrip®

SafeTrip® is a supplemental roadside protection plan offered by U-Haul. It provides assistance for various roadside hazards and incidents, such as fuel services (up to three gallons), getting stuck in mud or snow, and trailer/towing hookup problems. SafeTrip® can be added at the counter when picking up your rental vehicle or through your online account before your rental.

Insurance for non-car owners

If you don't own a car but drive regularly, you can still get a non-owner insurance policy. This provides liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage, meaning that it will cover you if you're liable for damages or injuries in an accident. Non-owner insurance is also useful if you borrow cars often, use car-sharing services, or rent cars frequently. It is also a good option if the car owner's liability limits are too low or if you're denied coverage under the owner's policy.

Non-owner insurance policies are usually cheaper than standard car insurance policies. They do not cover damage to the vehicle you're driving or your own injuries after an accident. You can also buy non-owner car insurance if you don't own a car but plan to drive another vehicle.

In terms of U-Haul rentals, your auto insurance policy will most likely not cover it, as most auto insurance policies have a maximum weight limit for vehicles they'll insure, excluding cargo vehicles like moving trucks. U-Haul and other rental agencies prefer that customers have some form of insurance, but it's not a requirement. If you don't have insurance and damage a U-Haul, you may be required to pay for the damage in full when returning the vehicle.

U-Haul offers different levels of damage coverage, and it's recommended to check with your insurance company to see if they cover rental vehicles.

Frequently asked questions