{"id":6009,"date":"2022-02-16T13:28:44","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T21:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/?p=6009"},"modified":"2022-12-21T11:54:48","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T11:54:48","slug":"what-are-your-car-insurance-needs-when-renting-a-car-in-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/what-are-your-car-insurance-needs-when-renting-a-car-in-california\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Your Car Insurance Needs When Renting a Car in California?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>California is different from other states in relation to the laws involved in renting a car and having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/car-insurance-quotes-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">car insurance<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike in so many other places, your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.insurance.ca.gov\/01-consumers\/105-type\/95-guides\/01-auto\/auto101.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">car rental agency doesn\u2019t carry liability<\/a> car insurance on the vehicle you rent. That responsibility is yours. The way that situation is handled depends on the coverage you already have. Or don\u2019t have.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This post is going to be a bit of a primer on such topics as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/what-is-non-owner-car-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">non-owner car insurance<\/a> and liability coverage. Either or both concepts can affect you when renting a car in the Golden State. Ready?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Do California Drivers Who Don\u2019t Have Cars Have to Think About Affordable Car Insurance?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just before that relatively rare occasion when they actually want to drive. That\u2019s the short answer, anyway. But let\u2019s explore that in a little more depth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you live in this state, you already know that all California drivers <em>must<\/em> have car insurance or proof of financial responsibility before they can legally get behind the wheel. So why wouldn\u2019t you already have car insurance?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, some California licensed drivers don\u2019t have car insurance because they don\u2019t own a personal vehicle and don\u2019t feel they need one \u2026 until they do. Maybe they walk or use public transportation most of the time, and that suits them just fine. But what if they must visit relatives out of town or they travel regularly on business or must entertain clients?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On those occasions when they have no choice but to rent a vehicle, they have three options when it comes to car insurance:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Have a conventional car insurance policy despite not owning or regularly driving a car*&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Buy a short-term car rental liability policy from the rental agency&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Obtain a non-owner car insurance policy&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>*Conventional car insurance policies may not be valid if you are renting a car for business purposes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Two of These Three Options Aren\u2019t Always Ideal&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You probably rejected that first option out of hand. You rightly figured that it could be pretty expensive to buy a conventional car insurance policy if you rarely drive. Sure, it would cover your rental vehicle, but how much financial sense does it make if you only need insurance on those occasions when you rent your ride?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your second option, obtaining a temporary liability policy that covers the rental period, isn\u2019t bad if you only rent a vehicle on rare occasions. But the cost adds up if you\u2019re a regular at your favorite auto rental agency.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And what if you also make a habit of borrowing a car from family or friends when you need one? They\u2019re not going to be able to offer you a temporary policy. So what do you do then?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">That Leaves Us with Non-Owner Car Insurance&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A non-owner policy has been written specifically to meet the needs of those drivers who don\u2019t have their own licensed vehicles but rent or borrow transportation on a fairly regular basis. Non-owner coverage is affordable car insurance for California drivers who don\u2019t need or want to spend money on full coverage or standard liability coverage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Non-owner car insurance is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/what-is-liability-insurance-and-why-is-it-required\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">liability car insurance policy<\/a>. That means it protects you from having to personally pay for all of the damage caused by a collision in which you\u2019re held responsible. That could be financially disastrous.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your non-owner policy will cover such elements as the damage to other vehicles and property like fences, signs, or buildings you might have damaged in the collision. It will even cover the medical expenses as the result of bodily injury to the other driver, passengers, and others affected, up to your policy limits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind, this liability policy won\u2019t cover the damage to your own vehicle in the accident. That\u2019s one of the drawbacks of non-vehicle insurance, but it might otherwise meet your temporary needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/what-are-your-car-insurance-needs-when-renting-a-car-in-california-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"woman getting keys to a rental car\" class=\"wp-image-6011\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I Already Have Car Insurance, So What\u2019s <em>My<\/em> Deal With Renting a Car?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve made things a whole lot simpler. If you already have cheap car insurance in California, whether it\u2019s minimal liability coverage or full-service coverage, you can use it to rent a car in California.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to California law, you must have at least liability coverage when driving, whether you\u2019re behind the wheel of your own vehicle or you\u2019re renting or borrowing a car.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve obtained a policy for your own vehicle, it\u2019s sure to contain at least the minimum liability coverage. You should be all set.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Discuss the Details with Your California Car Insurance Agent&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned, if you rent a car only on rare occasions, and you don\u2019t have a standard car insurance policy because you don\u2019t drive your own vehicle, simply buying a temporary liability policy from the renting agency might be your decision.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, at some point, you\u2019ll be better off investing in a non-drivers policy. That\u2019s particularly true if you regularly rent a vehicle. Call a trusted insurance agent and explain your circumstances. Your agent will be able to help you determine when a non-driver policy will be a better option for you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you only have liability coverage, you might also ask your agent about the possible value of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/car-insurance-full-coverage-vs-liability-only\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">upgrading to full coverage<\/a>. This might be a smart financial decision when you consider what could be the considerable cost of repairing or replacing your own vehicle if you had an accident or suffered non-collision damage to your vehicle such as theft, vandalism, fire, or other catastrophic events.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Call Your Cost-U-Less Agent for Affordable Car Insurance Today&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you typically drive your own vehicle or rent or borrow one, your Cost-U-Less independent insurance agent can help you determine the coverage cost and package that\u2019s right for you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Call Cost-U-Less at <a href=\"tel:(800)%20390-4071\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(800) 390-4071<\/a> for affordable car insurance or get a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">quick quote<\/a> online. We also invite you to find a Cost-U-Less <a href=\"https:\/\/locations.costulessdirect.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">location near you<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-very-light-gray-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/rate.costulessdirect.com\/\">Get a Quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:24px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-very-light-gray-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:8003904071\">Call Us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:23px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-3 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-very-light-gray-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/locations.costulessdirect.com\/\">Find Your Office<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California is different from other states in relation to the laws involved in renting a car and having car insurance.&nbsp; Unlike in so many other places, your car rental agency doesn\u2019t carry liability car insurance on the vehicle you rent. That responsibility is yours. The way that situation is handled depends on the coverage you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6554,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[697,698],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6009"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6009"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6555,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6009\/revisions\/6555"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}