WEST BOUNTIFUL -- The next time you consider renting a vehicle, make sure you check with your insurance company to see if you're already covered. According to a survey of 632 Utah consumers, 42 percent of respondents said they were either thoroughly confused or only had a rough idea about insurance coverage when renting a car. "Drivers should educate themselves before they reach the auto rental counter before they make the decision to rent a vehicle," said Insurance Commissioner D. Kent Michie, a member of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

"When renting a car, many consumers purchase unnecessary insurance and end up wasting money. Meanwhile, other drivers in-advertently underinsure their rental car, placing themselves at risk."

Many rental car companies, such as Hertz and Avis, offer protection plans while renting a vehicle.

"All of our protection plans are optional obviously," said Chad Sanders, Manager at Hertz Rent-A-Car in Woods Cross.

"What we offer is an option that their insurance company may not cover."

Stacy Jensen, an insurance agent at Liberty Mutual, explains insurance coverage regarding a rental as such:

"If a person rents a vehicle that only has liability, the rental is covered for the value of the car."

"For instance," Jensen ex-plains, "if they rent a vehicle and get into an accident that is their fault, then the [insurance] company will cover the other vehicle according to the highest coverage limit on their current policy."

Mark Kato, an insurance agent with State Farm in Bountiful, agrees.

He also admits there is more to the coverage than Jensen stated.

"Some rental car companies may charge an administrative fee if the consumer does not purchase their insurance," Kato explains. "What this means is that if a customer rents a car and doesn't purchase insurance, if they get into an accident that is their fault, the rental company will charge a fee for the 'down time' of the vehicle."

But there's a condition that also exists for such a fee. If the rental car is purchased for an extended period of time (more than 30 days, but could be less depending on where the rental is purchased), then a fee isn't charged.

"This is true," said Sanders. "But we ask that if they do rent for such an extended period of time that they purchase the insurance through us to make sure the vehicle is covered in some way."

"Carefully review your auto insurance policy and check with your agent to see what is and isn't covered," said Michie. "Taking the right precautions and asking the right questions will save a person money."



sgillet@davisclipper.com