WHEN YOUR car gets damaged in an accident or stolen, the repair or recovery cost is only part of the story.
Without another vehicle available, your only recourse may be to rent one. The good news is that your policy may already include coverage to defray the cost of a rental.
The standard personal auto policy includes a coverage called “transportation expenses.” If you have purchased collision coverage on your car and that car is damaged in a collision, this coverage will pay for “temporary transportation expenses.”
The same applies if you have purchased comprehensive coverage. If the car is damaged by something other than a collision, the policy will cover these expenses. The policy pays up to $20 per day, up to a maximum of $600. This coverage applies to a vehicle to which you do not ordinarily have access, such as a friend’s car or a rental.
Time limitations apply. If your owned or borrowed car is stolen, coverage begins 48 hours after the theft and ends when you are able to use the vehicle again or when the insurance company pays you for the loss.
If the cause of loss is something other than theft, the insurance pays the expenses incurred more than 24 hours after you lose use of the vehicle. Finally, the insurance stops paying at the end of the period of time reasonably required to repair or replace the vehicle.
How it worksÂ
- John has both comprehensive and collision coverages on his sedan. A frayed wire in the engine catches fire, resulting in major damage to the car. The car is in the shop for 15 days, so he rents a replacement for $35 per day. His insurance will pay $20 per day, starting with the expenses he incurs starting 48 hours later.
- Sue walks out of a store to find an empty space where her car should have been. She reports the theft to the police and her insurance company. The insurer will pay $20 per day, starting 48 hours after she discovered the car missing.
- Dexter has no collision coverage on his car. A month later, a bee stings him while he’s driving and he plows into a highway sign. The insurer will not cover his rental costs because he had not purchased collision coverage.
NOTE: Not all auto insurance policies are the same. Some may pay more than $20 per day for rental costs, but they will pay only if the insured vehicle is stolen. Others cover theft only and pay less than $20. Check with us to find out what coverage you have. If it’s not what you would like, ask the agent if you can purchase additional coverage.
