Whether you need it or not, the rental car company will always try to sell you more insurance—that’s just business. But there’s no need to stress and sweat through the sales pitch. We have all the information that Allstate policyholders need to know about getting

car insurance

coverage for a rental car.

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Does Allstate offer rental car insurance?

Yes, Allstate offers rental car insurance. The coverage you have for your personal vehicle will extend to the rental car. However, your level of protection will depend on your policy limits—let us explain.

Let’s say you choose the most cost-efficient route of purchasing just enough

liability insurance

to meet your

state’s minimum insurance requirements

. In this case, Allstate will only cover the

bodily injury

and

property damage

expenses that other drivers suffer due to an accident you caused with the rental car.

Unfortunately, with a liability-only policy, you’ll be required to pay out of pocket for damage to the rental car. In contrast, Allstate will pick up the mechanic bill (after you’ve met your deductible) if you decide to purchase

full-coverage insurance

, which includes

collision

and

comprehensive coverage

on top of liability coverage.

Still have questions? Your Allstate insurance agent will be happy to discuss your policy and confirm which coverages protect both your personal vehicle and any rental cars you drive.

MORE: How to avoid being unfairly charged for rental car damage

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Allstate rental reimbursement

Allstate also offers

rental reimbursement coverage

, which is not to be confused with rental car insurance. This optional coverage pays a portion of your rental car expenses (at a predetermined premium rate) while your vehicle is at the mechanic after a claimable accident.

Allstate will typically cover rental car expenses for up to 30 days. But the duration is usually less than that—either the mechanic gets your vehicle back in driving shape or the claims adjuster deems your vehicle a total loss. However, in the latter instance, Allstate may extend rental coverage while you shop for a new car.

With that in mind, it’s always a good idea to check your

insurance declarations page

to see precisely what your policy covers before you

rent a car

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Is it worth it to get insurance on a rental car?

Whether or not buying additional insurance on a rental car is worth it depends! So before you panic and just buy whatever

rental car insurance

the salesperson is slinging, let’s evaluate the coverage you already have and what you might need (if anything).

You shouldn’t have to buy additional protection if:

You already have a full-coverage insurance policy with Allstate for your personal vehicle

You have a credit card that provides rental car insurance as an exclusive member benefit

You may need to buy additional protection if:

You don’t have a personal car insurance policy (though it’s illegal to

drive without insurance

)

You have a liability-only policy

Your Allstate agent tells you your policy won’t extend to rental cars

You're renting a vehicle that doesn’t qualify under your personal car insurance policy (e.g. luxury or commercial vehicles)

You want additional coverages that you don’t currently have with your personal car insurance policy, such as

towing and labor coverage

medical payments coverage (MedPay)

, or

personal injury protection (PIP)

Keep in mind that purchasing liability coverage, collision/loss damage waiver (rental version of collision coverage), and personal effects coverage (rental version of comprehensive coverage) will be more expensive with the car rental company than with an Allstate full-coverage policy. It’s imperative for the well-being of your wallet to not buy redundant or unnecessary coverages through the car rental company if you don’t have to—no matter how hard they try to push it on you. But, as mentioned above, there are instances where you have to bite the bullet and pay up.

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"I was paying roughly $180 a month for insurance, but
Jerry
hooked me up with an Allstate full coverage plan for only $89! I’m so glad I trusted Jerry to find me a better plan.” —David A.

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