Rental car insurance is constantly pushed at us when we rent a car, but is it really needed. Most people add rental insurance just so they will be covered, but this could be just an added expense they may not need. Let us look at your options and see if you really do need rental car insurance or is it just an added expense.

One of the first things you should do before renting any type of car is contact your insurance agent. Ask them if you are covered when renting a car for pleasure. In most cases you will be, but make sure you ask what the limitations are. Some insurance coverage will have limits even on rental cars so make sure you ask.

Many credit card companies these days have rental insurance built into their credit card programs. You will want to look over the exclusions and see what is covered and what is not covered. What is covered by one card may not be covered by the other credit card. This is why you will need to check. Most credit card companies do not cover vehicles rented outside the United States so keep that in mind as well.

If you work for a company that has a travel policy, you may want to see if they have rental insurance in their program. Many larger corporations do have this as a benefit for their employees. Ask to see the program and check out what is included and what is not. That way you will know if you need to purchase additional rental insurance.

The bottom line rental car insurance maybe covered by many things that you already pay for. If you feel you have enough coverage and trust it will be covered in case of an accident then forgo the added insurance. If you want more peace of mind than getting rental insurance maybe your best option. Many companies have exclusions so you will want to know them very well before turning down any type of rental car insurance. The key is to do your homework so you can make the best decision for your situation.