THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
Your Auto Insurance policy may offer "Rental Reimbursement," sometime called "Extended Transportation Expense." Generally this benefit is an optional feature that can be added to your auto policy for an addition premium. Although, some companies offer it as a free benefit to enhance the policy value.
Basically, the benefit it there to assist you in renting a vehicle if you car is in the shop being repaired from an insurable loss-- usually, a collision, a comprehensive loss (hail, animal damage, vandalism, flood), or in the event of a theft. The maximum amount of time allowed on this benefit is usually 30 days. Although, if the repairs take three days, that is all the company will allow. The amount of benefit per day may be as low as $20/day up to $45/day, or more. It depends upon how much daily amount the insured is willing to purchase as part of his auto insurance policy.
Rental Reimbursement is offered only on the vehicle you are insuring with full coverage.
"Reimbursement" is the operative word for this benefit. It is there to "reimburse" for the cost of renting a vehicle under the above circumstances. In other words, the insured pays for the rental and is, then, reimbursed by the insurance company. The exception to this is if the claims adjuster sets up a rental car and authorized the rental company to directly bill the insurance company.
When negotiating Rental Reimbursement with a rental car company, be sure to tell them this is for an insurance claim. That may earn you an extra discount.
Rental Reimbursement, a valuable benefit, but with a few limitation.