Most people know that there are numerous benefits associated with purchasing a rental car insurance policy. In some cases, the activities covered under a rental car will be covered by a person’s general car insurance policy, but many rental providers often suggest this coverage at the counter or online when a person is thinking about driving the vehicle.
This includes those people who are vacationing to Florida and other states. Consumers report that some car rental companies are pressuring renters to buy insurance, possibly by misleading them about their rights. Purchasing rental car insurance in Florida may be a good idea, but it’s not required.
Is Additional Rental Car Insurance Required?
Rental car insurance can cost as high as $50 per day depending on the level of coverage selected. If you do not have personal collision coverage or of you do not have your own auto insurance policy, it can be beneficial to purchase the rental policy so long as it doesn’t duplicate the protection you already have. In Florida, this is optional rental car coverage.
What Are the Different Types of Coverage Available Under Rental Car Insurance?
There are four primary types of insurance coverage available when you rent a car and intend to obtain insurance. These include:
- Liability coverage
- Personal accident insurance
- Loss damage waiver
- Personal effects
Does My Own Car Insurance Policy Cover a Rental?
If you already have an existing auto insurance policy, you are probably covered when you rent a car. In most cases, regular auto insurance covers a rental and protects against vandalism, theft, or collision coverage. Similar to if you were driving your regular car, your liability coverage works the same as in a rental car related claim. You would need to file your insurance claim as if you were driving your primary vehicle.
What Would a Rental Car Insurance Policy Not Cover?
The primary car insurance policy can cover many of the basics when renting a car but it will not cover loss of value, loss of use or other rental fees. Furthermore, most auto insurance companies won’t cover you if you were driving overseas or if the car was used for business.
If the person driving a car who gets into an accident is not listed on the rental agreement that is under your name, your insurance company could deny coverage in this situation.
Is Car Rental Insurance Worth the Costs?
The personal circumstances of each driver will dictate whether or not rental car insurance is worth the cost. This includes the coverage provided by the personal auto insurance agency, the car make and model, the country in which the car is being rented and the credit card used to book the vehicle.
Is Additional Coverage Mandatory?
Many people are confused about whether or not the car rental insurance offered at the counter is required. Florida requires car rental companies to carry insurance on their vehicle. However, there is no corresponding law that says that someone has to purchase additional insurance.
Rental car insurance in Florida is optional for those people who meet the circumstances listed above. Yet some car rental companies are suspected of pushing optional insurance policies on renters as if they were mandatory. If you purchased car rental insurance under the impression that it was required, you may be able to seek compensation.
Join a Free Florida Rental Car Insurance Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you purchased optional car rental insurance from National, Alamo, or Enterprise in Florida within the last four years, you may be eligible to participate in a Florida Rental Car Insurance Class Action Lawsuit Investigation.
Fill out the form on this page for a FREE case evaluation.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
30 thoughts onDo I Need to Buy Rental Car Insurance in Florida?
“Yesaway Car Rental” ripped me off in Orlando, same thing, said it was required by law since my insurance asn’t high enough, called them out and they wouldn’t budge, such BS. I knew how shady they were from the second I pulled up and saw there were signs for 5 different “Car Rental Companies” in the same tiny, rundown office. Sketchy. I want to sue!
I had the same problem renting a car with Seven Auto, they wanted 300K of CDW. My insurance company doesnt offer more than 100K, and said I was never going to need that much. They charged be an additional 29 dollars a day to rent the car. SWITCH and BAIT pracices leave us stranded. I would really like to take them to court for deceptive practices.
Llegué para mis vacaciones y al ir a el counter en el aeropuerto para recoger el auto con Thrifty que ya se había reservado y pagado. Le informo que ya había comprado un seguro para el auto con Expedia. Me informaron que tenía que comprar otro adicional el cuál era obligatorio. Le mostré la póliza, pero no me brindarían el auto hasta que no pagará la póliza de seguro obligatoria del estado por daños a terceros. Al estar con mi famila y luego de tener que esperar casi una hora pagué su seguro de $184 y entonces me entregaron el auto.
Alquile un auto a través de Expedia con la compañía Zezgo, luego de que hice el alquiler en línea y pagué $60 que ra lo que decía el costo total, cuando llegué al mostrador para recoger el carro me que querían cobrar a como dé lugar el seguro y el Ezpass le indiqué que no quería ninguno de los dos. Que tarjeta de crédito ya tenía seguro y no necesitaba de ningún otro seguro. Ellos me dijeron que obligatoriamente tenía que coger un seguro de 3rd party laiability que era obligatorio tener y sin eso no me podían entregar el carro. Como no tuve otra opción porque ya era tarde para conseguir otro car rental, terminé pagando $256 de $60 que decía que era el precio en un inicio.
We just rented a car from RC and had the same issue where they charged us $20 a day for loss of use??? Whatever this is. Is it considered to be fraudulent? Could someone help to investigate this? Thank you
NU Cars did this to me in Miami as well. They told me I had to carry $500k worth of property damage insurance, and it was required by FL law. Turns out it was bullshit. I paid an additional $31/day for that, plus $19/day for the toll pass. They said if I hit any tolls without it, they would bill me $25 each time. Overall, this added about $300 more to my rental fee. I booked through Hotwire, so it appeared impossible to get a refund, plus it was late at night after travelling cross-country. Hotwire should BAN all these companies who persue bait-and-switch deceptive practices.
Travelocity (Expedia) provided a car rental through Zezgo, when I searched and decided on the rental car with Zezgo, Travelocity’s website offered insurance, but I waived because I have full coverage which covers car rental which I provided proof. I completed my car rental online and paid. When I got to Zezgo, they refused to give me the car unless I purchased additional insurance. I left without the car and called Travelocity who agreed to give me a credit, one week later they refused the credit, saying that I cancelled.
Travelocity (Expedia) and Zezgo are committing fraud.
where can i join a class action on this rampant and obitious practice at the car rental companies in Fl? Please contact me
Reliant car rental in Orlando did same to us our 310$ rental purchased online turned into $810. And a 200$ hold on credit card
Zezgo in FLL rental car from hell and refusal to rent if I did not take EZPass and full coverage insurance saying it ws the law in FL. Deceptive and unfair practices. Any class action interest? if so count me in. Paperwork, pictures, etc.
Travelocity (Expedia) provided a car rental through Zezgo, when I searched and decided on the rental car with Zezgo, Travelocity’s website offered insurance, but I waived because I have full coverage which covers car rental which I provided proof. I completed my car rental online and paid. When I got to Zezgo, they refused to give me the car unless I purchased additional insurance. I left without the car and called Travelocity who agreed to give me a credit, one week later they refused the credit, saying that I cancelled.
Zezgo (Fort Lauderdale) using Travelocity (Expedia) are conducting fraudulent practices. After renting a car on Travelocity web site, waiving the insurance and paying for car rental, Zezgo refused to release the car to me if I would not obtain their insurance even though I provided them my auto insurance policy and car rental rider. Total fraud. These companies need to be sued.