If you've rented cars before, your credit card and personal auto insurance policy will probably cover you. At the same time, you drive, and it's usually cheaper to skip the coverage that the rental car company offers. Most people think wrongly that their personal auto insurance or credit card covers them if they damage a rented moving truck. Even though everyone's insurance policy differs, the majority of vehicle insurance providers and credit cards will not pay for damages to a leased moving truck. As a rented truck is not like a personal vehicle or car, this is because a rental truck is too tall and heavy to be considered a car or personal vehicle. Sad to say, it doesn't. Before you rent a moving truck and put everything in it, you should look into the insurance options for rental trucks.

How Do I Know If I Need Insurance For A Rental Truck?

Check with your car insurance agent before getting to the U-Haul parking lot. Unlike rental cars, which are usually covered by your car insurance or credit card, rental trucks and tow-along that weigh more than a certain amount might not be covered by your car insurance.

What Does Most Truck Rental Insurance Cover?

There are a few different types of insurance for rental trucks, and they all cover different things. Many truck rental companies have insurance plans that are made to fit the needs of their customers. Most of the time, these plans have more than one part.

Damage Waiver

With a damage waiver, you won't have to pay for any damage you do to the car by accident, as the name suggests. Most of the time, there is a list of what this coverage doesn't cover.

Health and Life Insurance

This will pay for your or your passengers' medical bills up to a certain amount if you or they get hurt in an accident. It will also pay a certain amount if you or one of your passengers dies in an accident.

SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance)

If you damage someone else's property, up to a certain amount of money will be paid.

Cargo Insurance

Covers up to a certain amount of money for things in your rental truck that gets damaged in an accident or by something in nature, like a fire or a windstorm.

Tow Protection For Cars

This insurance covers tow-along U-Hauls and other similar vehicles (minus a deductible) in case of an accident or natural disaster.

What Kind Of Insurance Should I Get For A Rental Truck?

Sometimes it seems easier to pick the option that gives you the most coverage. Check with your car, home, or renter's insurance before you buy more insurance. For example, the things in the truck might be covered by your home insurance.

What Does My Insurance Cover When I Rent A Truck?

Depending on the plan, your policy will usually pay for any damage you or a driver you've permitted to drive caused by accident. It will also cover any damage to passengers or your things. It's important to know that most policies don't automatically cover damage caused by hitting something above you, such as a tree branch or a bridge. This means you have to understand how tall your rental truck is and stay away from bridges, which are smaller than your truck. You might be able to buy extra insurance that covers accidents with things above you.

Is It Legal For Me To Own A Rental Automobile Without Car Insurance?

It's up to the truck rental company that they make you purchase rent insurance, but you should buy it anyway. One way to look at this is to realize that the coverage that comes with a rental truck is technically not insurance—it's a waiver. If you purchase insurance, the rental truck business undertakes not to sue you for any harm you do to the vehicle. Before you decide not to get insurance, you should ask yourself if you want to risk getting into a costly court battle with a big company. You could get in trouble with the law, but you could also hurt yourself or someone else. It's not worth saving a few dollars in the short term.

Insurance Coverage Is Affected By The Size Of Your Moving Truck.

Even if your car insurance helps pay for damage to a moving truck, the truck's size may mean that there are limits. Ask your car insurance company what size rental trucks they will cover. Some credit card companies also offer rental car insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). Call the number on the back of your card to find out if it covers the rental truck you're using to move.