If you’ve been in a car accident and need alternative transportation while your vehicle undergoes repairs, then GEICO
’s rental reimbursement insurance will have you covered—but you’ll need to add it to your insurance policy before getting into an accident. Rental reimbursement
coverage is an affordable type of optional insurance coverage that helps you pay for a rental vehicle if and when your personal vehicle is being repaired after an at fault accident or similar insurance claim. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to add on this coverage to your auto insurance policy after an accident—so it’s important to plan ahead, or else you’ll be stuck paying for a rental car entirely out of pocket.Below, we’ll go through everything you need to know about rental car reimbursement from GEICO, including how much it costs, when you can add it to your policy, and whether or not we think it’s a good investment.
Can you add GEICO rental car insurance after an accident?
Technically yes—but it will not cover you for the past accident, only accidents that occur in the future.
Rental reimbursement coverage can be added to any GEICO car insurance policy that already includes collision coverage
and comprehensive coverage
. However, this optional type of car insurance coverage must be in place at the time of the accident in order to cover rental cars directly related to said accident. RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
What is GEICO rental car reimbursement?
Rental reimbursement—sometimes called rental car coverage—is offered by most major car insurance companies as an optional coverage. If chosen, your insurance provider will help cover the cost of transportation expenses while your vehicle is being repaired after submitting a claim.
Keep in mind that GEICO only allows drivers to add on rental reimbursement if they already have full-coverage car insurance
. If you only have standard liability coverage
, then rental reimbursement won’t be offered as an option. Additionally, rental reimbursement coverage only kicks in after you’ve filed a claim for damage that your car insurance covers. You cannot use rental insurance if your personal car is in the mechanic’s for routine maintenance.
Finally, renters insurance may cover multiple types of alternative transportation, from city buses to actual rental vehicles. GEICO works directly with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, who can bill your auto insurance company directly. However, you’re welcome to choose another rental car company and then be reimbursed for your costs.
Just don’t forget that rental reimbursement coverage may be subject to a daily and overall claim limit—so it’s important to check and understand your coverage limits before booking anything with the rental car company.
For example, if you have a $25 per day/$750 per claim limit, GEICO will reimburse you for $25 per day and up to $750 per accident. If your alternative transportation costs more than that, you’ll be responsible for paying the difference out of pocket. Even if your own vehicle is declared a total loss, what your insurance pays out for a rental will still be limited.
MORE: How to get a car rental discount code
How much does rental reimbursement coverage cost?
Like all car insurance costs, the actual price of GEICO’s rental reimbursement coverage depends on a variety of factors, including what type of car you own, your geographic location, your driving history, and what size policy limits and deductible you choose.
Generally, GEICO’s rental reimbursement coverage costs less than $10 per month.
Do you need rental car insurance?
If being without your own car for a few days sounds impossible, then rental reimbursement coverage is most likely a good type of additional coverage. You’ll only see your car insurance rates go up a little, but you’ll be granted peace of mind should you ever end up in a serious accident.
However, if you can fathom alternative transportation that doesn’t involve needing a rental vehicle, then you may be able to keep your insurance quotes low by passing this coverage up. For example, if you live in a city with reliable and cheap public transportation, or you have a family member who can offer to carpool, then a cheap car insurance
policy without added frills might be a smarter bet. “Jerry
got me out of a bind! I bought a new car, and my existing insurance raised my prices and didn’t budge. Thankfully, Jerry got me an affordable rate without me waiting for phone calls all day.” —Felicia M.
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