Does Erie Insurance Cover Rental Cars? Everything You Need to Know

Renting a car can be necessary for many reasons – vacation, work trips, or even when your own car is in the shop. But what happens if you get into an accident with the rental car? Will your Erie Insurance policy cover the damages?

The good news is, in most cases, yes! Erie Insurance policies can provide coverage for rental cars in a variety of situations. However, the details depend on your specific policy, coverage limits, and the circumstances of the rental.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain:

• How rental car coverage works with Erie Insurance
• What’s covered if you decline the rental company’s insurance
• Adding rental car coverage to your Erie policy
• Getting rental coverage after an accident
• Coverage for car sharing platforms like Turo

Let’s dive in!

How Does Rental Car Coverage Work with Erie Insurance?

With Erie Insurance auto policies, you can receive rental car coverage in two main scenarios:

1. Rental Coverage for Comprehensive Claims

If you have Comprehensive Coverage on your Erie policy, basic rental coverage is automatically included in most states.

This means if your personal car is out of commission due to:

• Fire
• Theft
• Glass damage
• Vandalism
• Hitting an animal
• Natural disasters

and you need a rental car as a result, Erie will cover the cost of a compact rental sedan while your car is repaired.

2. Rental Coverage for Collision Claims

If your car needs repairs due to a collision, such as:

• Crashing into another car
• Hitting a stationary object like a fence or pole

you’ll need to specifically add Rental Car Coverage to your Erie policy to be covered for a rental.

This is an optional add-on, but highly recommended if you want rental coverage for all situations.

What’s Covered If You Decline Rental Company Insurance?

When renting a car, the rental company will often try to sell you supplemental liability and damage coverage. As an Erie customer, you can safely decline this additional insurance in most cases and rely on your Erie policy.

Here’s what your Erie Insurance would cover if you decline the rental company’s insurance offer:

Liability Coverage

Your Erie policy extends liability coverage for rental cars, covering bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving the rental. Make sure your liability limits are sufficient for your needs.

Collision and Comprehensive Coverage

If you carry these coverages on your Erie personal policy, they will extend to rental cars for damage to the rental vehicle itself. However, your deductibles still apply.

Exceptions

Your Erie policy would NOT cover:

• Additional drivers not listed on your policy
• Personal items stolen from the rental car
• Loss of use or administrative fees charged by the rental company

The rental company’s insurance may cover these gaps, so consider your risks.

Adding Rental Car Coverage to Your Erie Policy

To complete your rental car protection, adding Erie’s Rental Car Coverage endorsement is highly recommended. This provides a few key benefits:

• Covers collision rentals – Adds coverage for rentals you need when your car is in the shop after a collision
• Higher rental classes – Choose from 6 rental classes, so you can get a larger vehicle like an SUV or minivan if needed
• Worldwide rentals – Extends coverage for worldwide rentals, not just U.S. and Canada
• Loss of use – Covers fees the rental company charges if the vehicle is out of service and unavailable to rent after your mishap.

With Erie, you can select from these rental classes:

• Class 1: Compact sedan
• Class 2: Traditional sedan
• Class 3: Small SUV or pickup truck
• Class 4: Minivan or midsize SUV
• Class 5: Luxury sedan or large SUV
• Class 6: Specialty vehicle for disabilities

This optional coverage provides peace of mind for just pennies a day!

Rental Car Coverage After an Accident

Let’s say you get into an accident with your personal car. While it’s being repaired in the shop, you need transportation. Will Erie cover the cost of a rental car?

If you have Comprehensive Coverage, Erie will pay for a compact rental sedan in this situation. To get coverage for a larger rental vehicle, adding Rental Car Coverage is key.

Rental car reimbursement can be a lifesaver when your regular vehicle is out of commission. Make sure to ask your agent to include this important protection.

Does Erie Cover Car Sharing Rentals Like Turo?

Car sharing platforms like Turo are rising in popularity. With Turo, owners “host” their personal cars for others to rent in a peer-to-peer arrangement. Does Erie provide coverage for Turo rentals?

The answer is yes, renting a car through Turo is covered just like any other standard rental car. Your Erie policy treats this type of car sharing the same as a rental car from Enterprise or other agencies.

However, if you are the owner hosting your car on Turo, your Erie policy would not apply. Talk to your agent about commercial rental coverage if you plan to host your vehicle.

Key Takeaways: Erie Insurance and Rental Cars

• Erie auto insurance can provide coverage for rental cars in many situations.
• To get the best protection, adding Rental Car Coverage is recommended.
• This covers collision rentals, higher rental classes, loss of use fees, and more.
• Declining supplemental insurance from the rental company is OK in most cases if you have Erie Insurance.
• Renting a car through Turo is covered just like any other rental car.

Get a Quote for Rental Car Coverage

Want to make sure you’re protected when it comes time to rent a car? Connect with an Erie Insurance agent to review your policy and add Rental Car Coverage.

With Erie, you’ll get knowledgeable advice and customize coverage that fits your unique needs. It only takes a few minutes to request a quick quote online or by phone.

Drive happy knowing Erie Insurance has you covered whenever you need to rent a vehicle!