Erie Insurance Rental Car Coverage: A Complete Guide for 2023

Getting into an accident can be stressful enough without having to worry about transportation while your vehicle is in the shop. That’s why having rental car coverage through your auto insurance is so important.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Erie Insurance’s rental car coverage options. We’ll outline policy details, coverages, add-ons, costs, and tips for getting the protection you need.

Overview of Erie Insurance Rental Car Coverage

Erie Insurance offers rental reimbursement coverage and transportation expense coverage to pay rental costs if your vehicle is disabled after an insured loss. Here’s an overview:

• Automatic coverage – Basic rental car coverage provided in most states with comprehensive insurance

• Add-on options – Collision customers can add rental coverage with 6 class options

• Reimburses rental costs – Up to policy limits for a rental vehicle while your car is repaired

• Covers up to 45 days – Short-term rentals are covered while your car is fixed

• Direct billing – Erie partners with rental agencies for direct payment in many cases

• 24/7 roadside assistance – Can help arrange rental delivery if car is disabled

Erie aims to make the rental car process smooth if you need a temporary set of wheels. But policy details vary, so understanding exactly what is covered is key.

Erie Rental Car Coverage with Comprehensive Insurance

If you have comprehensive coverage on your Erie auto policy, basic rental reimbursement is automatically included in most states if your vehicle is disabled due to:

• Fire
• Theft
• Glass damage
• Weather events
• Animal collisions
• Vandalism or falling objects
• Other non-collision comprehensive losses

This covers reimbursement for a compact rental car for short-term use while your vehicle is being repaired after an insured comprehensive claim. Erie will pay for a rental vehicle for you up to the limits and terms stated in your policy.

The coverage extends to any private passenger vehicle or pickup listed on your policy. It does not apply to other vehicles like motorcycles, ATVs, or RVs.

There are no deductibles or extra costs for this base rental coverage provided with comprehensive insurance. It gives you basic transportation coverage for covered losses at no added charge.

Adding Rental Coverage to Erie Collision Insurance

The base rental car coverage that comes with Erie comprehensive auto insurance does not apply if your vehicle is damaged in an at-fault collision.

For rental reimbursement after collision claims, Erie policyholders need to add additional rental coverage by purchasing:

Transportation Expense Coverage

This provides broader rental car reimbursement that covers your vehicle being disabled due to both:

• Collision losses

• Comprehensive losses

With this add-on coverage, you’ll be covered in more scenarios if you need to rent a temporary replacement vehicle while your car is being repaired after an accident.

Collision customers can choose from 6 classes of rental cars under this coverage:

• Class 1 – Compact sedan

• Class 2 – Midsize sedan

• Class 3 – Small SUV

• Class 4 – Minivan or large SUV

• Class 5 – Luxury vehicle

• Class 6 – Specially equipped vehicle

The class you select determines the daily limit Erie will reimburse for rental costs based on local average rates. Higher classes have higher rate limits.

This optional coverage costs extra but provides greater flexibility and protection. Daily rental limits and exact terms may vary by state, so check your specific Erie policy.

What Erie’s Rental Car Coverage Includes

Erie’s rental reimbursement coverages include the following protections and benefits:

• Coverage for disablement – Applies when your insured vehicle can’t be driven due to an accident or covered loss.

• Short term rentals – Covers rental cars needed for up to 45 days while your car is repaired.

• Cost reimbursement – Erie will reimburse your daily rental costs up to the limits for the class selected.

• Available transportation – Coverage includes securing an available rental vehicle in your area.

• Emergency roadside assistance – Erie can help arrange rental car delivery if your car is disabled.

• Direct billing – Many rental agencies bill Erie directly so you don’t have to pay upfront.

• Primary coverage – Transportation expense payments are primary if you have no other collectible coverage.

Make sure to save your rental car receipts. Erie will reimburse you for covered costs up to your daily limits.

What’s Not Covered by Erie Rental Car Insurance

While Erie’s rental reimbursement coverages are broad, some exclusions apply:

• Rentals over 45 days are not covered

• Rental costs above your daily limit are excluded

• Luxury vehicle fees above the class 5 limit are excluded

• Rentals due to mechanical breakdown are not covered

• Anything excluded under your comprehensive or collision insurance does not apply. For example, illegal activity exclusions.

• Damage to the rental car itself may not be covered, depending on your regular policy limits.

Review your Erie policy details to see any other exclusions or limitations on rental car coverage in your state. An Erie agent can explain what is and isn’t covered.

Erie Rental Car Insurance Costs

Erie provides the baseline rental reimbursement coverage automatically with comprehensive insurance at no added cost in most states.

However, adding Transportation Expense Coverage to your collision policy does come with an extra premium:

• Daily rate limits range from $30 to $100 depending on class

• Typical yearly premium is around $70 to $150

Higher classes with increased rental reimbursement rate limits cost slightly more. But this optional coverage provides broader protections if you want complete rental coverage after both collision and comprehensive claims.

The small additional yearly cost is often worth it for the convenience and peace of mind if you ever need to rent a car after an accident. Contact an Erie agent to discuss pricing specifics.

Erie Insurance Rental Car Coverage Limits

The daily rental reimbursement rate limits under Erie’s Transportation Expense Coverage depend on the vehicle class selected. Here are the standard limits:

Keep in mind, higher rate limits increase your premiums slightly. Be sure to choose limits that align with your needs.

And remember, anything over the daily rate limit for your class would be your responsibility. There are maximum reimbursement rates under this coverage.

How To Get Erie Rental Car Coverage

Getting rental car coverage through Erie is easy:

1. Speak to an agent – Discuss your needs and policy options to decide which coverages fit your situation.

2. Add Transportation Expense Coverage – Have your agent add this to your collision policy to complete your rental protections.

**3. Select rental car class **- Choose the reimbursement rate limit that covers rental sizes you may need.

4. Review coverage details – Verify the daily rate limits and exact terms to ensure you have adequate protection.

5. Pay premium increase – The small premium bump is worth the convenience of complete rental coverage.

That’s all there is to it! Working with an Erie agent ensures you get the right insurance coverages and limits.

Erie Rental Car Coverage Claims Process

If you need to rent a car after an accident covered by your Erie Insurance policy, here is the process to take advantage of your reimbursement coverage:

1. Call Erie claims – Report the loss immediately and make a claim if needed.

2. Arrange rental vehicle – Erie can often contact rental companies directly or set up delivery through roadside assistance.

3. Pay initial rental costs – Some rental agencies bill Erie directly. Otherwise, you pay initial costs but keep receipts.

4. Send receipts to Erie – Submit your validated rental receipts to Erie claims for reimbursement up to your daily limits.

5. Receive reimbursement – Erie will promptly process your reimbursement payment for covered costs.

Erie has partnerships with major rental agencies to facilitate direct claims payments in many cases. But work with your claims adjuster to confirm details of the process.

The Bottom Line on Erie Rental Car Coverage

Erie Insurance provides automatic rental reimbursement coverage for comprehensive policyholders in most states, while collision customers can add on Transportation Expense Coverage for complete protection.

While exact terms differ by state, Erie rental car insurance generally provides extensive benefits if you ever need temporary transportation while your vehicle is repaired after an insured loss. A small premium increase can give you substantial peace of mind.

Just be sure to understand your specific Erie policy details. Knowing