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This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.
Getting into an accident with a car you just rented is something no one wants to think about. However, there are cases when such accidents happen, and you need to know what actions you should take. There are several things to consider when you get into an accident with a rented car. So what happens if you crash a rental car? In today’s article, we are going to talk about how everything should be handled when you crash a rented car. So without further ado, keep on reading to know these few steps.
How to behave after an accident?
If you have happened to be in such an accident, make sure to first check on yourself, the other driver, and the passengers for possible injuries. In case someone is hurt or requires medical attention, make sure to call an emergency. Secondly, if you crash a rental car, what happens is that you need to immediately get all the details about the accident, the contact details of the other driver, as well as some pictures for the evidence. You also need to call your rental company and let them know about the accident. Once they put you through the customer representative, provide all the information about the accident and wait for their requirements. Agencies, such as RealCar, will ask you to drive the car to a particular place for them to check. Or, if the car is not driveable, they will provide details of where you should tow it. You should also need to call your insurance company and fill out a claim. And lastly, many companies, including RealCar, will ask you to file a report to provide the details of the accident, the insurance company, and contact details.
Who is responsible for a broken car: what happens if you crash into someone with a rental car?
If it is your fault for causing the accident, the coverage of the insurance will depend on the contract you have. In case you have taken the CDW from the company you rented the car, you will be covered. This is valid if the accident was not caused by irresponsible driving. You will be able to get the costs of the damaged car covered and get a replacement from the rental company. Keep in mind that the coverage is only for the damaged car. For any costs of medical expenses will not be covered. If you have auto insurance, you should check a point in your contract. If you find the point of the insurance policies covering rentals, you will not take the costs. There are also some credit cards that offer rental coverage in case of an accident. So make sure to check everything beforehand. Once you have handled everything, you should check if the insurance company will provide a replacement for your car.
But what if you have only dented the rented car? How to return a rental car with a dent? If you bring a rental car damaged, with scratches or dents, you will face a penalty. Depending on the rental company and the damage you cause, the penalty fee may vary. That is why, whenever you have a small dent in the car, make sure to file a report with the rental company and check with your insurance for coverage. If you have rental coverage in your insurance, your insurance will cover it. You can also check if your credit card has rental coverage. Otherwise, you should pay it from your pocket. Another thing to highlight is that you should always check the car you rent before you take it. Make sure to check all the corners and look for any damages, scratches, or dents. And if you find something, ask the agency representative either to change to the car or take pictures to show them during the drop-off.
How long does it take to get a rental car after an accident?
Depending on whose fault was the accident, it might take from a couple of days to a few weeks to get a new rental car. Either way, you should check with your insurance company whether you can get a rental car after an accident or not. If your insurance contract has a point about rental covering, you can get another rental car from the fleet. It will take a few days to get the new vehicle. In case you don’t remember having that point, you can check it with your insurance company. If you don’t have rental coverage on your contract, the company of the person who hit you should confirm the rental car. Once the insurance company checks the accident details, they will let you know whether they will give permission for a new rental car or not. This procedure will take a lot longer than a few days. It normally takes a couple of weeks.
In what cases does insurance help?
Your insurance company will only be able to help you with renting a new car only in case you have rental coverage in your insurance policy. You should get in touch with your insurance representative, provide all the details of the accident, deliver any documents and information if required, and ask if you have rental coverage. The thing is that if you don’t have rental coverage, it will not be possible to add it after the accident. That is why it is always better to consider this point when making insurance. If your insurance representatives claim that you have rental coverage, it will take you a few days to get your new vehicle.
The bottom line
It is very unfortunate to be a part of such an accident, regardless of whose fault it is. Getting a rental car into an accident may cause some inconvenience to the driver. However, in case of having all the required documents and insurance coverage, you will be able to get coverage for the accident from your insurance company. All you need to do is to be very careful while driving. And if you happen to get into an accident, follow all the steps we have mentioned above and let your rental company know about any kind of accident.
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This content is brought to you by Kyryk Oleksandr.
Photo by Michael Jin on Unsplash