Rental Car Insurance in the U.S. for Foreigners

Not only is it a necessity to protect your finances, but insurance is also legally required in the United States. Do you have any options for where to purchase insurance? What are my car insurance options? To drive in the U.S., you need liability insurance. For example, if you rear-end another vehicle that is stopped at a traffic light, the crash is your fault, and liability insurance will pay for the damage to the other party’s vehicle and for their bodily injuries up to the limits in your policy. Depending on what state you’re renting the vehicle in, you may also be required to purchase personal injury protection which will cover your own injuries. You may also need to purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage which will cover your damages if an uninsured/underinsured individual causes an accident with you. If you don’t purchase it, here’s what you can expect: You’re financially responsible for the damage you cause to another individual and vehicle. You’ll be cited and given a ticket for driving without insurance. There are other coverage types that are not required but are a wise purchase when you’re renting a car. Collision coverage will pay for the damage to your rental car if you cause an accident, while comprehensive coverage will cover damage to your rental vehicle from hitting an animal, like a deer, and from vandalism, theft, and acts of nature. If you have a license from where you live, the major rental agencies will recognize that and you will be able to rent a car and get insurance to go along with it. If you have already purchased travel medical insurance, the personal accident coverage offered by the rental company may be unnecessary. Comparing rental car prices using a site that shows several choices‌ at once is a good way to get started finding the cheapest place to rent from, but don’t forget to also compare their insurance costs. If you’re focused on saving money, you will want to consider the cost of a high level of car insurance versus saving money with lower coverage. If you have travel medical coverage, you probably don’t need to purchase personal accident coverage. Sometimes the peace of mind that comes with knowing you won’t have any liability for damage to other cars and your rental car is worth buying the premium insurance coverage, especially if your trip is short. The longer your trip, the more you’ll need to evaluate the cost versus the benefit of the level of insurance you purchase.