Does Esurance Car Insurance Cover Rental Cars?
If you have full coverage insurance, you can add rental car coverage to your policy. If not, contact your provider before you sign.
Written by Mariza Morin
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you have full coverage insurance through Esurance, you can add
rental car coverage
to your policy. But if you just have liability insurance, you’ll be held responsible for any damages you cause to a rental car. While purchasing insurance through a rental car company isn’t always necessary, you may want to check with your regular
car insurance
provider first to make sure you’re covered before declining additional coverage. Here’s everything Esurance policyholders need to know about getting rental car insurance. Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversDoes Esurance offer rental car insurance?
Yes—but only if you have
collision
and comprehensive insurance coverage
on your policy. If you don’t carry either, you might have to purchase additional insurance through the rental company. In other words, if you have standard
full-coverage insurance
through Esurance, you can easily add rental car coverage to your policy. You’ll need to call an Esurance agent at 1-800-378-7262 to make certain that your insurance policy covers your rental. Once you get the all-clear from Esurance, you can decline any coverage offered through the rental car company. But if you don’t have full coverage, your basic
liability insurance
through your Esurance auto insurance policy might still cover the cost of a rental car. But keep in mind that the minimum liability coverage required only covers the bodily injury costs
and property damage
for other drivers if you’re found to be at fault in an accident—though you won’t have coverage for any physical damage to the rental car. If this is the case, you may want to consider purchasing extra insurance coverage before you hop into a rental car. Esurance CarMatch Rental Coverage
In some states, Esurance offers CarMatch Rental Coverage, which covers the cost of a rental car comparable in size to your everyday vehicle.
With this coverage, your rental car will be covered for as long as your vehicle is in the shop after an accident for up to 45 days or $3,000 per claim, whichever comes first. But note that if you exceed these coverage limits, you’ll be responsible for paying the difference out of pocket. You’ll have to call 1-800-378-7262 to see if CarMatch Rental Coverage is available where you live.
MORE: How to avoid being unfairly charged for rental car damage
Is it worth it to get insurance on a rental car?
Occasionally. But if you already have full auto insurance coverage through Esurance, purchasing additional
rental car coverage
is not necessary. Furthermore, some credit card companies offer insurance too so you may want to think about paying for your rental car with one of these types of credit cards if this is the case. Otherwise, you might have to purchase rental car insurance if:
- You’re not covered by any car insurance
- You only have liability insurance
- Your comprehensive and collision coverage includes a high deductible
- Your insurance policy doesn’t extend to rental cars
- You’re renting a commercial vehicle or a vehicle used for business-related matters
- You need extra add-on coverage options not on your regular policy, like, medical payments coverage (MedPay), personal injury protection (PIP), or roadside assistance
Most rental car companies provide a collision damage waiver (CDW), covering any losses due to a collision, or a loss damage waiver (LDW), limiting your financial responsibility if your rental car gets stolen or becomes damaged. But honestly, both waivers tend to be way overpriced.
However, if you don’t have car insurance coverage through an auto insurance company or credit card, you’ll want to consider these add-on coverages to avoid paying any high out-of-pocket costs for getting into an accident with a rental car while uninsured.
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