If you’re renting a car, knowing what to do in an accident can save you stress, money and time. Whether it’s a major crash or a minor bump, if it leaves a mark on your vehicle, you’ll need to follow up with your car rental company. Learn what happens if you crash, who pays for damage to the rental car, and what you need to know.
What should you do if you have an accident in your rental car?
Hopefully it won’t happen, but it’s still important to be prepared should you have an accident in your rental car. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on what to do to help make sure everyone is safe and how to resolve claims without dispute.
Step 1
Check on everyone involved in the accident
After you’ve verified that no one is in danger, check the condition of the vehicle(s). It’s also important to check if you need to evacuate the area due to dangers like fire, fallen power lines, or fast-moving traffic.
Step 2
Take pictures and share contact information
Get the contact and insurance information of any other drivers involved in the accident. Collect the names of any passengers and eyewitnesses. Note the makes and models of all the other vehicles involved, as well as their number plates.
Before moving the rental car anywhere, get information about the location of the accident, such as street names. Take photos of everything to help support any claim you may have to make. This includes the vehicles in the accident, all specific damage and other supporting shots like where it happened. Many insurance companies will ask you to upload photos online when filing a claim.
Step 3
Contact the rental car company
Next, contact your rental car company. You can usually find the phone number on a sticker in the glove box or somewhere else in the vehicle’s interior. Alternatively, you’ll find it on your rental documents or the company’s website. They’ll tell you how to proceed and answer questions regarding insurance.
If you’re using an independent car insurance company, you’ll need to contact them separately to tell them about the accident. Check what your coverage and excess is for your policy. And make sure to ask if they’ll contact the police to file an accident report for you.
Step 4
Sort out who should pay for any claims
How much you must pay will depend on the level of insurance you’ve taken out. Almost all car rentals include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) for basic accidents, but this often include parts like wheels or windscreens.
Bear in mind that you’ll likely have to pay an excess fee for each claim. If you haven’t taken out a damage protector like a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), you’ll have to pay your policy’s excess to the rental company, whether the accident was your fault or not. Alternatively, you can take out Excess Insurance.
What to check before you drive
Cover yourself against false claims by checking your rental car for damage before you drive. It only takes a minute after pickup to take photos and a video of your rental car. Make sure the photos are clear and cover all the main areas – including the car’s interior. It never hurts to take a picture of the mileage and fuel gauges too, in case your rental has a mileage cap or like-for-like fuel policy.
Conclusion: what happens if you wreck a rental car?
No one wants to think about having an accident. Sadly, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Being prepared is key. Knowing all the things to do will help you avoid a headache when making your insurance claim further down the line.
Most importantly, make sure your insurance is valid and you know the emergency services numbers before you travel.
How KAYAK knows what to put in this guide
While I’ve been lucky enough to avoid any serious accidents in my car rental adventures, I have had to make several claims. From chipped windscreens to fuel caps falling off (seriously!), navigating a claim can be a minefield.
Every claim will be different, but this guide uses all my experience to help make sure you’re as prepared as you can be. Driving anywhere comes with risk. My advice is always to make sure you have the most comprehensive car rental insurance you can get. One final pro-traveler tip: I always book independent car rental insurance because it’s cheaper, more flexible and usually more comprehensive.
Rental car accident FAQs
The responsibility falls on the drivers involved to agree on what happened and take the right steps.
- Make sure the scene of the accident is safe.
- Exchange information with any other drivers involved.
- Take photos and videos of the accident and any damage to all cars involved.
- Contact your rental car company. They will tell you how to proceed, especially if the car is damaged to the point that you cannot drive it. Usually, a sticker inside the glove box will list an emergency number.
