After being involved in an accident, it is not just the injuries that has been sustained the victims have to deal with but most of the times, they are left with a vehicle that is either waiting to get replaced or repaired and this leaves them without a vehicle to make use of most of the times. The next option should be going for a rental car but do insurance companies pay for rental cars? Find out more as you read this.
It is normal for most people involved in a car accident to find out who pays for rental cars as they await theirs to get repaired. However this is very dependent on the driver at fault for the accident and also what type of insurance policy you have. This could be very devastating for households with just one vehicle and it can also be a serious problem for people who rely on just one car to get their kids to school, themselves to work and also for shopping everyday.
However, some states are responsible for placing auto insurance requirements for their drivers and take California for example, it is mandatory for drivers to have all of the following auto insurance minimums if they are to drive legally on the way. These insurance minimums include;
five thousand for property damage
Thirty thousand dollars for injury or death of more than one person in the car crash
Fifteen thousand for the injury or death of one person in the car crash
It is a crime in California for drivers to move about with a vehicle that doesn’t have an underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage.
Do Insurance Companies Pay For Rental Cars
Most drivers have the thought that their insurance policy should include having rental car coverage but that truly isn’t the case. Most times, drivers become surprise when they realize that they do not even have the rental reimbursement rental policy as part of their insurance plan and the rental reimbursement coverage is available for all insurance policies. However, it is not part of the minimum standard and when people decide to shop for car insurance, they end up going for the plan which has the lowest minimum.
Going for an insurance plan which has the lowest minimum would definitely not include having a rental reimbursement coverage and on the average, most cars tend to spend up to three weeks if it has been involved in an accident. This is actually a very long period of time for people who have just one vehicle and rely on it everyday. However, opting for a vehicle that doesn’t have rental reimbursement coverage is actually cost prohibitive.
How To Add Rental Car Coverage To Your Insurance Policy
Examining your car insurance policy carefully is very necessary. Even though you might have the right minimum coverage that is required, you also need to check if your car insurance policy has rental reimbursement coverage in it. It is possible for you to add this plan to your insurance coverage for a smaller amount and insurance companies will pay for the cost of a rental car for a total maximum amount everyday.
The Other Driver’s Policy
If the accident that you were involved in was the cause or fault of another driver then you might be entitled to rental coverage thanks to their insurance provider. However, there are things that you would need to do after the accident and these include getting the insurance information of the driver that is at fault. You would also need to get a call across to their insurance company or if you can’t then you can hire the services of a legal representative to do so for you.
One thing that you would also need to know in situations like this is that it can be very difficult to deal with insurance companies because they might tend to cause some delays but in an ideal situation, it is up to the insurance company to provide you with a rental car that you would make use of pending till when yours has been fully repaired and certified road worthy once again.
However, if the case becomes a bit difficult or there is a form of delay then you would need to pay the cost of the rental car out of your own pocket or make use of your own insurance rental coverage. Later, you can seek reimbursement from the insurance company of the at fault driver.
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