In Georgia, rental car insurance is not legally required. However, the rental car company may require renters to purchase liability insurance. This is to protect against third-party claims in the event of an accident.
Many visit Georgia annually, heading to Atlanta to see the aquariums, museums, restaurants, and outdoor attractions. No tourist to a state expects to be in a car accident while there. However, unfortunately, anyone can be in a car accident. Many travelers don’t get rental car insurance because they think they won’t need it. However, car accidents always happen, so it’s essential to consider the benefits of rental car insurance before automatically turning it down.
You already have coverage through your insurance policy or the credit card you used to pay for the rental, which is an excellent reason not to buy rental car insurance. But this is something you should look into carefully.
Here are some popular car rental companies located in Georgia:
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Hertz
- Avis Rent A Car
- Budget Rent A Car
- Thrifty Car Rental
- Alamo Rent A Car
- National Car Rental
- Payless Car Rental
- Dollar Rent A Car
- Advantage Rent A Car.
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Many auto insurance policies cover not only your leading car but also other cars you drive sometimes, which could include rental cars. But the details of your coverage are limited by your policy. Each state has its minimum requirements for liability insurance, so you should check your policy limits.
Rental Car Insurance in Georgia
As is the case in most states, Georgia rental car companies include the minimum liability insurance coverage required by the state as part of their primary contract. In particular, they cover property damage liability costs of up to $10,000 per accident. Georgia also requires drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP). However, you don’t need this extra coverage to drive a rental car legally.
Suppose you already have a personal car insurance policy that includes other types of coverage, like collision or comprehensive, or liability limits that are higher than what your state requires. In that case, the extra protection will apply to your rental car. But you don’t have your car insurance. In that case, you should buy extra coverage from the rental company if you’re worried about being protected enough in case of an accident.
For instance, you can buy a collision damage waiver, which gives you the same kind of coverage as collision and comprehensive insurance. This kind of insurance may even be included automatically if you use the right credit card to pay for your rental. You can also buy extra coverage that adds to your personal policy’s limits on liability and medical payments.
Rental Car Insurance in Georgia via Credit Cards
Some credit card companies also provide coverage for rental cars. It’s essential to check with your auto insurance policy and credit card agreement to determine if you already have coverage.
If you want to rely on your credit card’s coverage, you should read the fine print to ensure that 1) car rentals are covered and 2) you know how much coverage you have. Most of the time, insurance through a credit card will cover damage from an accident and theft. However, it might not cover personal injury or liability. Credit card insurance is also considered secondary insurance because it only kicks in after you’ve used up your other policies. You must pay for the rental car when you pick it up, and trucks, luxury cars, some SUVs, and other vehicles may not be covered.
A car rental company’s additional liability insurance policy will usually cover up to $1 million. This plan will replace your insurance policy; in Georgia, it will pay out first if you get into an accident. It covers all authorized drivers, including passengers who drive the car but don’t buy their insurance.
A loss damage waiver is also usually available from rental companies. This will keep you from being responsible if the car is stolen or damaged. You won’t get paid, but you won’t be charged.
Cost of Rental Car Insurance in Georgia
Most of the time, adding these insurance plans costs less than $30 daily. Every driver doesn’t need rental car insurance if they already have a good policy that covers collision and comprehensive damage. But your policy might not cover the damage from a severe accident in a rental car. In that case, buying an additional rental car insurance policy can be a good idea.
Regarding liability insurance, it covers damages to other people and their property in the event of an accident. Suppose a rental car is involved in an accident, and the driver is found to be at fault. In that case, liability insurance can help cover costs for damages to the other party, such as medical bills or repairs to their vehicle.
Bottomline
It’s recommended to thoroughly review the rental car company’s insurance options and choose one that best fits your needs. It’s also important to remember that even if you have liability insurance, it may have limits and exclusions, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of the policy.
