Why you need a Collision Damage Waiver for your Rented Car
While you can probably get medical benefits from your personal health insurance when you’re abroad, your auto insurance policy can’t always shoulder your expenses if you damage a car you’re renting. Unless your car rental has a collision damage waiver insurance policy, you might have to pay for the physical damages on the rented vehicle yourself. This is a huge unexpected expense to think about when you’re traveling overseas, and it can seriously hurt your savings.
The reason why personal car insurance doesn’t usually cover damages for car rentals, especially when it’s a rental abroad, is because of the higher risk involved. It’s generally more dangerous to drive on strange grounds with unfamiliar traffic rules compared to driving at home.
The only solution to this problem is to look for car rentals with collision damage waivers. Collision damage waivers let the car rental company’s insurance shoulder the expenses of possible car accident expenses. As in all insurance policies, this is only if you, as a driver of the rented car, were liable for the physical damages.
What this waiver doesn’t cover
As we’ve said before, this waiver doesn’t cover any medical expenses incurred from injuries in the car accident. This goes for you, as well as the other party, whoever may be deemed liable.
The best thing for you to do is to purchase a health insurance that will cover your medical bills in any event that you get injured abroad. Sometimes health insurances are also lenient, and they may also cover the medical expenses of the other party in any event that you’re held liable.
How do you know if the car you’re renting is insured?
Unless the rental company presents a collision damage waiver, the car you’re renting is most likely uninsured. Don’t be lured by free tanks of gas, or free hours during weekends when you’re looking for cars to rent overseas. The first thing you should really ask for is an insurance policy.
Very few rental companies actually take full responsibility for their clients, especially if their clients are the once who are driving. If you suspect, though, that your car accident was caused by any mishandling of the car prior to your rental, you can file personal injury charges.
Rental companies have a legal and moral right to their clients’ safety. They might not have your medical bills covered while you’re driving, but they should assure you that the car you’re renting is in tip top shape.
The burden of making the claim
Because you’re not the signatory for the rented car’s insurance policy, you should let the rental company make the claims. Unless it was proven that the damages were done by you on purpose, you’re not supposed to shoulder any expenses for physical damages.
Upon signing the waiver, you should also be free from any financial obligations to repair the car. All you have to worry about are your injuries, and the injuries of the other party, if you’re held liable. The collision damage waiver you’ve signed should also cover the damages incurred by the other vehicle either wholly or partially.