Who will be responsible for paying the rental car fees?
Following a motor vehicle accident that has resulted in damage to your car, you might be left without transportation when your vehicle is totaled or is being repaired. In this type of situation, you will likely wonder about how to obtain a rental car and who will be responsible for paying the fees.
While you are waiting for your vehicle to be replaced or repaired, you will need a way to get around. Rental car costs can also quickly become expensive when you need to continue renting the vehicle for a week or more.
If the other driver was at-fault for causing your accident, their insurance company should be responsible for paying your rental car costs until your vehicle is repaired or until you have received the fair market value of your totaled vehicle. The at-fault motorist’s insurance company must also pay the rental costs for a vehicle that is similar to your vehicle that was damaged or totaled in the accident. For example, if you were driving an SUV, the insurance company can’t get away with only paying the rent for a compact car.
While it might sound like the process should be straightforward when you were not at fault, getting reimbursed for the costs of renting a vehicle is often more challenging. Ideally, the at-fault driver’s insurer will immediately assume responsibility for the accident and agree to pay for your rental vehicle. However, insurance companies frequently dispute liability, meaning that they might not immediately agree to pay for your rental car expenses. Unless your vehicle was damaged by the other driver in a rear-end collision, you can anticipate the other motorist’s insurance company to dispute its insured’s liability or the degree of fault each of you had for the collision.
Things to keep in mind after an accident:
- If your vehicle is damaged or totaled, you may need a rental car.
- If the accident was caused by the other driver, their insurance company should cover the cost of the rental car.
- The at-fault driver’s insurance company may dispute their liability, causing delays in paying for the rental car expenses.
- If the damage was due to a rear-end collision, disputes about fault are less common.
- If the other driver’s insurance company is not cooperating, it may be necessary to take legal action to get reimbursement for your rental car expenses.
- If your own car insurance doesn’t cover the accident, you may need to rely on the at-fault driver’s insurance company to pay for the rental car.
- If you were not at fault in the accident, you can still get rental car reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
FAQs
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions people have about rental car reimbursements following accidents.
Q: What Do to Do When the Insurance Company Is Giving You the Run-Around?
A: When the at-fault driver’s insurance company argues that you were at fault, disputes your claim for damages, or doesn’t immediately make a decision, this means that you won’t receive a rental car reimbursement until after the claims process is finished and the other motorist is found to e at-fault. If your auto insurance policy includes coverage for rental car costs, you can file a claim with your insurer to cover the cost of your rental car. Your insurance company will then seek to subrogate the other motorist’s policy to recover what it pays for your rental car. You will need to check your policy to see how long your company will cover the costs of your rental car. If you need to use the car for longer than that, you will have to pay out-of-pocket to continue driving the rental vehicle past that time. Make sure to keep the receipts for all amounts you paid out-of-pocket after your insurer’s rental car coverage period ends.
On the other hand, if you do not have rental car coverage on your insurance policy, the situation will be different when the other insurance company denies liability or doesn’t immediately make a decision about your claim. In that case, you can pay for the costs of your rental vehicle yourself or can charge the cost to your credit card. This can be risky because you won’t be reimbursed for your rental fees if the other motorist is not found to be at fault.
If the other motorist is determined to be at fault for your collision, the driver’s insurance company will have to reimburse you for your rental car costs and other damages. However, the claims process can be lengthy. If you and the other party dispute which of you was responsible for the accident, it could take months before your claim is resolved.
Q: Is it Possible to Speed the Process Up and Put More Pressure on the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company?
A: If you are trying to navigate the claims process without the help of an experienced attorney, you won’t have much to work with to place additional pressure on the at-fault driver’s insurance company. In that type of situation, you will be working from a position of less power as compared to the power of the insurance company. The company might take its time even when it is clear that the other driver was at fault. By contrast, when you are represented by an experienced and reputable attorney, the insurance company might move much faster because of the potential threat of a lawsuit.
If the other driver’s insurance company does agree to pay for your rental vehicle, you typically can keep using it until your vehicle is repaired or the insurer pays you for the value of your totaled car. However, you will need to check the laws in your jurisdiction and the policies of the insurance company since they can vary.
To protect yourself, make sure to fully document all communications you have with the insurance company. Ask the insurance adjuster to communicate with you in writing if possible so that you can retain the communications as evidence.
Q: What Happens When the Insurance Company Refusing to Pay for Rental Car?
A: Even when the other party is clearly at fault, many insurance companies will still refuse to authorize rental vehicles for accident victims. This can be especially difficult if you only have one vehicle. One option you might have is to contact your state’s insurance division. In Illinois, you would need to contact the Illinois Division of Insurance. While the Division of Insurance might not aggressively pursue your complaint, it will inquire about it. In some cases, that will be enough to get the insurance company to agree to pay for your rental car costs.
Your other option is to file a claim with your insurance company if you have comprehensive/collision coverage that includes rental car coverage. Your insurance company will pay for your rental car costs and pursue reimbursement from the other driver’s insurance company. If your insurance company succeeds, it will reimburse you for any deductible you had to pay out of its recovery from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier.
You can also choose to retain a lawyer for help with recovering damages for your accident and losses. Your attorney can make a demand for your property losses and rental car fees in addition to losses caused by your injuries. When an attorney sends a demand letter, this might spur the insurance company into action. If you receive a settlement offer for your injury claim, read it carefully to make certain that you won’t be waiving your rights to your property damages and rental car fees. Your attorney will explain the settlement offer to you and help you determine whether or not it is reasonable.
Q: Following an Accident, Does at Fault Driver Pay for Rental Car?
A: If the other driver was at fault for your accident, their insurance company should be responsible for paying the costs of your rental car. However, insurance companies are in the business of making profits and often employ strategies to minimize how much they might have to pay out in claims. In some cases, an insurance company will admit fault and agree to pay for your rental car quickly. However, most insurance companies will dispute liability or take a long time to reach a decision. If that happens, you will either need to pay for your rental car out-of-pocket or by credit card. If you have rental car coverage on your insurance policy, you can submit a claim to your insurer to cover the costs of your rental car and let your insurer subrogate your claim against the other driver to seek reimbursement for the amounts it paid for your rental car.
Q: What Happens if Your Car Insurance Doesn’t Cover an Accident?
A: If you only have the minimum liability auto insurance required by the state and do not have comprehensive/collision coverage, your insurance company won’t pay for the costs of the damage to your vehicle or your injuries from your accident. If the other driver was at fault, you can file a claim with the driver’s insurance company to seek compensation for your losses.
If you have an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy (UM/UIM), you can file a claim with your insurance company under your UM/UIM coverage when the at-fault motorist was uninsured or did not have adequate insurance to cover your claim. This policy should make up the difference between your total damages and the amount of the other driver’s policy limits up to your UM/UIM policy limits. If your insurance company refuses to pay under your UM/UIM policy, your lawyer can help to pursue compensation from your insurance company for you.
Q: How Do I Get Rental Car Reimbursement Not at Fault Accident?
A: If you were not at fault for your accident, you have a few options for seeking reimbursement for your rental car fees. You can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. While the company might admit fault and agree to pay for your rental car quickly, it is likelier to either dispute liability or to take its time making a decision. Your claim might take months to resolve, so you might need to pay your rental car costs out-of-pocket while you wait for your claim to be decided.
If that happens, you can file a claim with your insurance company if you have rental car coverage. Your insurance company can then pursue the at-fault driver’s insurance company to recover reimbursement for the amounts it paid as well as your deductible. If that happens, your company will refund the deductible to you.
Retaining an experienced attorney might help you to recover your rental car reimbursement for your collision much faster. The attorneys at Lamber Goodnow have years of experience dealing with accident claims and understand how to pressure insurance companies into acting faster. Your lawyer can also help you pursue compensation for your other economic and noneconomic losses in addition to your rental car fees and property damage.
Consulting with an attorney as soon as possible after your car accident is the best way for you to protect yourself. Your lawyer can begin placing pressure on the at-fault driver’s insurance company to recover compensation for you. If you don’t already have rental car reimbursement on your insurance policy, it is a good idea for you to add this type of coverage to protect you from future accidents. Rental car coverage won’t add too much cost to your insurance premiums, and it can help to protect you in similar situations.