QuestionQUESTION: My car insurance only has car rental $20 per day. I am unable to get car rental at such a low price. Neither do I want to pay additionally from my pocket. Can I request my car insurance to provide me with car rental by delivering the car to my home? Is the car insurance obligated to provide me with a car? I do not care about the car rental fee but only the usage of the car while my car is in the body shop. How shall I do?
ANSWER: Hello,
Judging from what you are telling me, the insurance company is required to pay $20 a day for a rental. That is all they have to pay sand you are responsible for the balance.
If you are not happy with that, the person to complain to is your agent. Many carriers offer the option of more per day, but you also need to pay more for your policy.
It is very common for insureds to be upset when a claim happens. The agent does not explain about endorsements to cover additional options one installed. Deductible is a big complaint. Many get a deductible they can't afford just to lower the price of the policy. Then when something happens, they get upset with the insurance company.
Any problems or questions on your policy coverage should be directed to the agent. After all, the agent is taking your money.
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QUESTION: Can you answer my question directly? I cannot find car rental at $20 per day. Is the car insurance obligated to deliver a car to my home while my car is in a body shop? I need a car. That how much will the insurance pay for car rental is not my business.
AnswerHello,
No, I can't answer your question directly. It all depends on how your policy is written and how it applies to you. The only person you can get direct answers from as it applies to you is your agent and if you don't have an agent,your insurance company's claim department.
I cannot answer a very general question like the one you supplied without all the facts (policy) in front of me.
Rob
Hello,
I do appreciate you rating my answer, but I do not appreciate you questioning my knowledgeability and rating me at 7 as well as your comment that maybe I am not an expert when it comes to your question.
You need to realize, I am not like some that will just throw out any answer for a general question. The questions you asked were legitimate and that's fine, but how can anyone answer your question without reviewing your policy coverage, knowing any endorsements,knowing what you agreed to at the time of the policy as it related to rental and so on?
It is common for people to jump at these ads on TV related to insurance. Save $300, Save 15% etc. What they don't tell you is what they are going to leave out to get your business. Only at a time of a claim does the insured question the deductible, the cost of a rental car or betterment. Otherwise they figure they are insured with nothing to worry about.
The reason I told you to go to your agent or your claims department, is they are the ones to ask as to why they will pay only $20 per day for the rental. Why didn't they give you options at the time of your policy?
I do admit, I have an advantage over the consumer, because I tell my agent how I want to be covered. The last policy I got a couple of months ago, I was never asked about rental car coverage and would not have had it if I didn't ask. In that case, there was a three tier price. $20 per day for sub compact, $30 per day for midsize and $35 per day for full size. I took the middle one, but had I not asked, I would have had no coverage or like you $20 per day.
It really was not appropriate to say I was not knowledgeable in this subject. I am not your agent who got paid to write your policy. I never reviewed your policy language and of course you can't give every detail needed.
I do my best to assist the public where I can. Sometimes I can only direct them on who they should speak to. I do not get compensated for offering my time on this site and it is all volunteer.
What if I gave you an answer I had no way of backing up? What if I said it was illegal for the insurance company to treat you this way where you were entitled to a luxury rental car? What if you went out and rented the car over $20 per day on my word, turning the bill into the insurance company and then finding they would not pay the difference?
Some people just want something in writing they can argue with their insurance company with. You will not get that from me and I am sorry if you thought you would.
Rob
