Everything You Need to Know About Allstate’s Rental Car Coverage

Renting a car can be a convenient and affordable way to get around when you’re traveling or if your personal vehicle is in the shop. But what happens if that rental car gets damaged or stolen? Your auto insurance policy’s coverages may help pay for repairs or reimburse you for the loss, but there are some intricacies to be aware of.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain Allstate’s rental car protections so you can understand exactly how you’re covered when renting a vehicle.

Overview of Allstate’s Rental Car Protections

Allstate auto insurance customers have access to a few different coverages and options related to rental cars:

• Collision and comprehensive coverage – Your regular policy coverages for collision and comprehensive can apply to rental cars and reimburse you for damage/theft based on your deductibles.

• Rental reimbursement – This covers rental expenses if your personal car is inoperable due to a covered loss.

• Rental car coverage – An add-on that enhances certain protections for rental vehicles.

• Emergency transportation expenses – Provides reimbursement for emergency transportation like a rental car or taxi if your vehicle is disabled in an accident.

So in what situations do each of these coverages apply if you’re renting a car? Let’s look at some common scenarios.

Using Your Personal Auto Policy on a Rental

When you rent a car for personal reasons, like vacation travel, your own auto insurance coverages can carry over to provide protection. Here’s how it works:

• Collision – If the rental car is damaged in an accident, collision coverage on your personal policy will reimburse you for repair costs, minus your deductible.

• Comprehensive – If the rental car is damaged by something other than a collision, like theft, vandalism or natural disaster, your comprehensive deductions would apply.

• Liability – Your policy’s liability coverage protects you if you cause injury or property damage to others with the rental car, up to your policy limits.

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist – If you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, these coverages on your policy would help pay for injuries to you and your passengers.

So your regular car insurance essentially follows you over to the rental car. But there are some drawbacks to rely solely on your personal policy:

• You must pay your deductibles if the rental is damaged or stolen.
• Loss of use charges from the rental company may not be covered.
• Rental limits may be lower than what you’d get with a policy designed for rental cars.

That’s where Allstate’s rental car options can provide enhanced protection.

Rental Reimbursement Coverage

Allstate’s rental reimbursement coverage can be added to your auto policy for a small additional premium. This provides reimbursement for rental expenses if your personal vehicle is out of commission due to a covered loss.

Here are key points about Allstate’s rental reimbursement:

• Covers up to $30 per day, $900 max – Allstate will reimburse you up to $30 per day for a rental, up to a maximum limit of $900 per covered loss.

• Applies during repairs – If your personal car is damaged in a collision, theft, or other covered event, rental reimbursement helps pay for a rental while it’s being repaired.

• Applies during theft – If your personal vehicle is stolen, it reimburses rental costs until your car is recovered or replaced if not found after 30 days.

• Covers reasonable transportation – The coverage isn’t restricted solely to car rentals. It can reimburse taxis, rideshares, public transportation, etc.

• Available for travel trailers/motorhomes – If your RV is out of service due to a covered loss, this can help pay for substitute transportation.

• No deductible – You don’t have to pay a deductible to use rental reimbursement.

So in situations where your personal car needs repairs, rental reimbursement can be a handy supplement to reduce out-of-pocket costs. But it only applies when your own car is disabled – not for routine rentals like vacations.

Rental Car Coverage

For more complete protection when traveling and renting vehicles, Allstate offers rental car coverage as an add-on to auto policies. This coverage enhances certain protections above and beyond what your regular policy provides.

Here are the key enhancements with Allstate’s rental car coverage option:

• ** Lower deductibles** – Your deductible is reduced to $100 for comprehensive claims and $250 for collision claims on rental cars.

• Loss of use – Covers loss of use charges imposed by rental companies for the time the vehicle couldn’t be rented out due to damage.

• Administrative fees – Covers admin and loss of use fees up to $500 if the rental vehicle is stolen.

• Personal effects coverage – Reimburses up to $400 for personal items stolen from the rental car.

• Towing/roadside assistance – Up to 2 hours of towing and labor due to a mechanical breakdown are covered.

Other features and limitations of note:

• Daily and per-loss maximums apply, and you must reject LDW coverage from the rental agency.
• Primary coverage means Allstate pays before any other insurance.
• Applies to vehicles rented for personal or business use.
• Certain exotic car models may not be eligible.

So while your regular policy transfers over to rentals, this optional coverage enhances protections in several important ways for peace of mind on trips.

Emergency Transportation Expenses

Allstate auto policies also include emergency transportation expense coverage. This can reimburse you if your personal vehicle is disabled in an accident.

Here are key points on emergency transportation coverage:

• Covers up to $750 for transportation like rental cars or taxis after an accident.

• Applies if your personal car is disabled and you need alternate transportation for things like commuting to work.

• Transportation must be within 1 year of the accdient.

• No deductible applies to use this coverage.

So if you don’t have rental reimbursement added to your policy, this can provide some backup funds for getting around after an accident until repairs are completed.

Key Tips for Renting with Allstate Insurance

Follow these tips when renting a car to ensure you have seamless coverage:

• Review policy limits and deductibles so you know what to expect if the rental is damaged.

• Consider adding rental reimbursement or rental car coverage for extra protection.

• Decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver (CDW) and loss damage waiver (LDW).

• Pay for the rental with the same credit card your policy is billed to for smoother claims handling.

• Document damage thoroughly before driving off the rental lot.

• If damage occurs, report it immediately to Allstate and the rental agency.

• Save receipts and documentation for any transportation expenses for reimbursement claims.

• For repairs, take the rental to an approved Allstate repair facility when possible.

Common Questions about Allstate’s Rental Car Policies

Does my Allstate policy cover rental trucks?

Yes, Allstate policies extend collision, comprehensive, and liability coverages to rental trucks and passenger vans up to 26,000 lbs gross vehicle weight. Rental reimbursement also applies to rented trucks.

Can I get rental coverage for exotics or collector cars?

Allstate’s rental reimbursement and emergency transportation coverages apply to any rental car. The rental car coverage add-on excludes certain exotic makes and models listed in the policy documents, like Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and high-end sports cars.

What if I’m at fault for damage to the rental?

Your Allstate liability coverage would pay for damage you cause to the rental vehicle or any other property. But you’d generally need to reimburse Allstate for any payouts, which could impact premiums and eligibility depending on the severity.

Does rental reimbursement cover diminished value?

No, rental reimbursement only reimburses for the direct costs of renting a substitute vehicle when your personal car is disabled from a covered loss. It does not apply to diminished value or loss of resale value after repairs.

Can I get rental reimbursement without comprehensive coverage?

No, rental reimbursement requires you to carry comprehensive coverage on your Allstate policy. It works as a companion to comp coverage when your vehicle is damaged in a non-collision event.

How does coverage work if I’m driving my own car and hit a rental car?

Your liability coverage would pay for damage to the rental car. The rental company would file a 3rd party claim with Allstate. Your collision coverage does not apply since you were not driving the rental when the loss occurred.

Get Comprehensive Rental Car Protection with Allstate

Renting a car, whether for a vacation or if your own car is in the shop, doesn’t have to leave you stressed about the liability risks. Allstate auto insurance provides flexible rental car protections to keep you covered. Consider adding rental reimbursement or rental car coverage to