Who Pays for a Rental Car After an Accident?
Accidents happen, but understanding who is responsible for paying for a rental car after one can help make things easier. If you're involved in an accident while driving a rental car, here's what you need to know about paying for the car and the repairs.
At Carla Car Rental, we offer three protection plans to make sure you're covered in case of an accident.
Carla Car Rental’s Protection Plans
We offer three protection plans, each designed to keep you covered if something goes wrong during your rental:
- Full Protection: Covers damages to the rental car, no matter who is at fault. This applies to any car size and includes all drivers on the rental agreement. You won’t pay for repairs if the car is damaged, even in a not at fault accident rental car situation.
- Premium Protection: Includes the same coverage as Full Protection but with extra benefits. It covers damage to any car size and all drivers listed on the rental agreement.
- Extended Protection: This plan also covers damage to the rental car, no matter who is at fault. It applies to all vehicles and covers all drivers on the rental agreement, just like the other plans.
What Happens If You Don’t Have Protection?
If you don’t choose a protection plan, you’ll be responsible for paying for any damage to the rental car. This includes the cost of repairs and any other fees, like the loss of use if the car can’t be rented out while it's being fixed. You might also wonder, will insurance pay for rental car during repairs? If you have personal car insurance or coverage through your credit card, they may cover the rental car's repair costs, but you will need to check with your provider.
Other Coverage Options
You may also have coverage through your personal car insurance or credit card. Be sure to check with your insurance provider or credit card company to see if they cover rental cars in case of an accident. If your insurance doesn’t cover repairs, Carla Car Rental’s protection plans can step in.
Steps to Take After an Accident
If you're in an accident with a rental car, follow these steps:
- Ensure Safety: Check for injuries and call emergency services if needed.
- Document the Accident: Take photos of the damage and get contact information from the other drivers and witnesses.
- Report to Carla Car Rental: Let us know right away so we can help you through the process.
- Contact Your Insurance: Inform your insurance company or credit card provider and follow their instructions. If you're wondering about repair costs, be sure to ask, will insurance pay for rental car during repairs?
- File a Police Report: Depending on the situation, you might need to file a police report.
Required Documents
If you're involved in an accident, we'll need the following documents to process the claim:
- A copy of the rental agreement
- A photo of your driver’s license
- A card statement showing the car rental company charges
- The final invoice from the rental company
- The police report
- A copy of the Report of Motor Vehicle Accident
- Photos of the accident
What Happens Next?
Once you’ve reported the accident and provided the necessary documents, we’ll help you with the claims process. Depending on your coverage, the costs for repairs may be handled by your protection plan or insurance.
Conclusion
While no one plans for accidents, it's important to be prepared. Carla Car Rental offers three protection plans to cover you in case of damage to the rental car. Be sure to choose the right plan before you drive off so you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind, knowing that you're covered in both not at fault accident rental car situations and others.