Saturday, August 15, 2009

Temporary Auto Insurance

by Mike Lamm

If you are searching for a temporary auto insurance policy there is a very good possibility that you do not need it...

Is temporary car insurance necessary if you are getting a rental car?

The rental car company will offer you either a loss damage waiver (LDW), personal effects insurance, liability insurance, or accident insurance. If you already have you own car insurance, you likely don't need any of these additional insurances. Just make sure to use the rental car for recreational use and not business use.

Below is a list of the 4 insurance types that the rental car company may offer you and why you probably don't need them...

Liability insurance: The liability coverage on the car insurance policy that you already have protects you.

Loss Damage Waiver or LDW: If you have both collision & comprehensive insurance, you don't need a loss damage waiver. Your collision insurance covers damage done to your car even if you are found to be guilty in an accident. Comprehensive coverage covers damage done to your car from things such as wildlife and weather. Furthermore, some LDWs, which you can purchase, only cover damage done to the car if you are found to be innocent.

Accident coverage or personal accident insurance: If you have one of these (Medical Payment Coverage, Personal Injury Protection, or health insurance), you do not need this extra coverage.

Personal effects coverage: This type of coverage protects from the loss of personal items or baggage. If you have homeowners or renters insurance, you likely do not need this insurance as both types of home insurance also cover belonging outside of your house.

To be 100% safe, you should try calling your house and car insurance provider so that you are sure that they both will carryover their coverage to the rental car. You may get some form of coverage from your credit card if you use it to pay for the rental.

What if you're borrowing somebody's car?

If you already have your own auto insurance, you don't have to worry. Also, the car insurance of the lender will transfer over to you. What if you want to borrow someones car and don't have your own coverage?

Lack of liability coverage is the main thing, which can hurt you, if you are borrowing somebody's car. If the lenders liability coverage is not enough (say it is $4,000 short of paying for the damages), you are responsible for the difference in an accident in which you are found to be guilty. You don't have to worry about this happening if you get a nonowners policy, which provides liability coverage for those who borrow others cars. And, as always, if you are the innocent party in an accident, the guilty one will pay for the repairs (this isn't the case in every state as some are no-fault states).

But whose going to pay for damages done to the car that was given to you? The owner of the car will pay if they have comprehensive and/or collision coverage. Or you may pay if you have these two coverages.

About the Author:

For a more detailed look check out Short Term Auto Insurance or Temporary Auto Insurance

Get all the information and photos:: http://coringa.info/finance/temporary-auto-insurance

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