Is it legal to drive a rental car and NOT take insurance from renting company AND NOT have own auto insurance?

Howard L

A rental car always always includes (by law) the states minimum liability coverage so it is legal to drive it, but not too smart. You will personally be liable for any damage or injuries to others above the minimum plus all damage to the car and possibly rental charges while the car is being repaired.

Fred C

When you sign the collision damage waiver, you sign that you are providing financial responsibility for the vehicle. Why are you worried about a ticket? Somebody steals the rental car, you get a bill for the full value of the vehicle, due immediately. Somebody torches the vehicle, you get a bill for the full value of the vehicle, due immediately. You have an at-fault accident, with damages that can be repaired, you get a bill for the damage, PLUS a bill for every single day the car is out of service. Are you independently wealthy? Can you reach into your pocket for that kind of money? You risk the money, and likely a drop in your credit rating so low you couldn't get financing for a pack of gum for long enough to take it from the shelf to the cashier.
By the way, the rental company does not sell you insurance. Rental agents are not licence insurance brokers. They charge a fee that adds you temporarily to their policy.
I know you didn't want the logic, but, from the logical point of view, it is illogical, not to mention fiscally dangerous, to even consider the question.

If you don't want their coverage, try to find a non-owned vehicle coverage from a licence broker or agent. Relying on credit card coverage is hit-and-miss. Most credit car coverage excludes liability, most, if not all, credit card coverage also excludes loss of use coverage. Credit card coverage is underwritten by insurance companies, and each and every provider of a Visa or Mastercard can change underwriting companies at any time, so the booklet you receive with your card can be out of date.

By the way, if you ever rent a car in Manitoba, it will have a base policy with $200,000 liability and $500 deductible all-perils insurance. That is minimum coverage on every registered car in Manitoba. Manitoba is a special case, but I carry a lot more insurance on my own vehicles, and buy a special policy for any car I rent anywhere in Canada or the US.

~â™¥_â™¥~

I'm pretty sure that isn't legal. You have to have some form of insurance.

Crybaby Bob

Check with your credit card company may provide insurance when you rent a car. http://www.netquote.com/auto-insurance/understand/rental-car-insurance.aspx

American Express
https://www212.americanexpress.com/dsmlive/dsm/dom/us/en/feefreeservices/pages/carrentallossdamageinsurance_blue.do?vgnextoid=378aafc0e2e8d010VgnVCM10000084b3ad94RCRD&vgnextchannel=3c830da9846dd010VgnVCM10000084b3ad94RCRD&name=carrentallossdamageinsurance_blue&type=intbenefitdetail

VISA:
http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/benefits/bft_dmg_waiver_personal.html

MasterCard:
Try not to use this card. They have coverage but they do not pay for loss of use or subrogation fees. Collection agency charges and you will have to fight to get these removed.

cathyann83

where i come from you have to have your own insurance. at least they always ask for my insurance info. you hhad better contact the department of transportation. i have never heard of anything like this and if you are in an accident if i were the other party, i would sue you and the company. i hope that helps.

Art Fay from Monterey

That is a great question. I am in the same boat. I rent a car a few times a year and don't have insurance either.

The $10 a day stuff from Enterprise the other guy was talking about is only bare bones insurance and does not cover much. Most rental co.s charge $30 bucks a day for full coverage. That works out to 11K a year for insurance!! That is outrageous. They must be making huge profits on this.

I know when I use my credit card, that some insurance (collision, I think) is provided. But it is not nearly enough coverage.

I would like to hear some property and casualty professionals chime in on this question.

Anybody know a company who offers reasonable car insurance rates to non-vehicle owners?

Alton.......You don't seem to understand. Thisi s about people who do not own cars. You can not get a quote comparison on a car that does not exist.

dunn

there is 2 options with a rental car. i know when i rent a car from enterprise it's 10 dollars extra a day for insurance. other option is your personal insurance so you have to have coverage. if that was the case we all wouldnt need to have car insurance regardless of a rental or our own personal vehicle.

G-man 1

The answer yes , it is Illegal, you must have insurance on any vehicle YOU drive. If you did have a car and you did have insurance on it and then rent one then do not get the Extra coverage. Your insurance does cover the cars you drive temporarily. As you already know, if you did get into a accident and it was your fault, open your wallet wide, to pay for Both cars. plus the ticket in court.

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