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February 16, 2010

Q&A column from Georgia's insurance and fire commissioner

John Oxendine is the commissioner.

Q: If I rent a car while I’m on vacation, do I need to buy the rental company’s insurance?

A: Many people purchase insurance at the auto rental counter without knowing whether their existing policies or credit card benefits might already cover their needs. Meanwhile, other drivers inadvertently underinsure their rental car, placing themselves at risk.

Drivers should educate themselves before they reach the auto rental counter:

· Review your auto insurance policy or call your insurance agent before your vacation.

· If your current policy doesn’t offer coverage for a rental car, see if an insurance rider can be added for a small fee.

· Many credit cards include some level of collision and theft protection. In most cases, these benefits are secondary to your personal auto insurance or the car rental company’s insurance, meaning the credit card company will only pay claims after other insurance coverage has been exhausted. Call your credit card company and ask about benefits.

· If you lack personal auto insurance and your credit card does not provide benefits, it might be wise to purchase the liability insurance and collision damage waiver at the car rental counter.

· Keep in mind that if it is a longer-term rental (e.g., a week, a month or more), there might be limitations on the coverage your existing auto insurance policy provides. Check with your insurance company or agent for details.

· If you don’t own a car, you might want to consider purchasing a non-owner auto insurance policy, because it provides benefits in addition to coverage for a rental car.

· When traveling on business, a personal auto policy will generally not apply, so check with your employer for guidance.

· You are not alone if you find car rental insurance confusing. In a recent survey, approximately 42 percent of respondents said they were either thoroughly confused or had only a rough idea about insurance coverage when renting a car.

If you are unclear about the car rental insurance options, or are concerned that a rental company is misrepresenting information, check with our Consumer Services Division at 1-800-656-2298.

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