Who pays for damage to a rental car?

Third-party auto insurance provides coverage only for liability claims. This means the insurer compensates for damages caused to others. Damage to the rental car is not covered by this insurance.
If you choose not to purchase (additional) insurance for the rental car, you run the risk of losing a lot of money if you cause an accident.
To avoid any risk, you are more or less required to insure the rental car.

Damage to a rental car

What if you accidentally cause damage while driving a rental car? In that case, it depends on the insurance policy who pays for the damage to the rental car.

With third-party liability insurance, you, as the driver, are covered for damage you cause to others with the car. As the renter, you are responsible for any damage caused to the rental car. With limited comprehensive insurance, you are (largely) covered for this damage to the rental car. This insurance usually does have a deductible. You can often waive this deductible for a fee of, for example, €5 per day.

It is also possible that certain types of damage are excluded from coverage. This could include, for example, damage to the underside of the car or damage that occurs on unpaved roads.

It’s also important to check whether your rental car is automatically insured against theft and what the deductible would be if the car were stolen. Check with the rental company in advance to avoid unexpected costs as much as possible. Also, before picking up the rental car, check for any existing damage and report it to the rental company. This will prevent you from being charged for pre-existing damage later on.

When you take out car insurance for a rental car abroad, the rules regarding car insurance may differ from those in the Netherlands. Abroad, you’ll encounter different types of insurance that often have different names than in the Netherlands. Not only can the name of the insurance policy differ, but the coverage may also be different from what you’re used to.

What to Do in Case of Damage?

After an accident involving a rental car, it’s important to always fill out an accident report form. Insurance companies always require an accident report form to process the claim. Also, report the damage to the rental company immediately. The rental company will tell you how to proceed. In the case of minor damage, you can probably just continue driving. If the damage is more extensive, you may be entitled to a replacement car. Check with your rental company to find out.

An accident involving a rental car does not affect your no-claims years. This is because no-claims years are tied to the car, and this car does not belong to you.

Please note! Alpina does not offer insurance for rental cars. You can arrange this through the rental company.