Rental vehicles can get very expensive, and insurance provided by rental agencies is often far more per day than a standard car insurance policy. As such, many drivers wonder whether their car insurance coverage carries over to a rental vehicle. It’s a worthwhile question, as drivers can save quite a bit by using their existing insurance policies during a vehicle rental period. It’s a very simple matter to find out whether your auto insurance policy provides coverage to vehicles, and it’s worth checking early before you need to rent a car due to an accident, breakdown, or for any other reason.

To find out, read over your auto insurance policy (or, if you haven’t bought a policy yet, look in the terms of the car insurance quote you’re considering). Look for any terms relating to “non owned autos”. This should apply to a rental vehicle in most situations, with a few exceptions: you won’t have coverage on any special type of vehicle. For instance, if your current car insurance policy is for a standard car, a moving truck probably won’t be covered under your current policy. If the rental vehicle falls into the same class as the insured vehicle, your coverage probably applies. This includes all types of insurance coverage that you’re paying for, which is an important point.

If you’re paying for comprehensive coverage, for instance, this coverage will usually apply to the rental vehicle, and cover any damages to the vehicle caused by an accident, theft, or anything else that’s covered under your original policy. If you don’t have comprehensive coverage (you usually do if you’re buying your car with a loan, as most banks require the coverage), you might consider purchasing it while you’re renting a car. Usually, it’ll cost you less than buying separate comprehensive coverage from the rental car agency. Many rental agencies will also require some type of comprehensive coverage, so it’s wise to evaluate the different costs before making a decision.

If you can’t tell from your policy’s wording whether the rental vehicle is covered, you should contact your insurance agent and ask. This is especially true when renting a moving vehicle. Your insurance agent will be able to explain what coverage types apply to the rented car, truck, or van, and they’ll be able to advise you of additional coverage types that are worth consideration. Always consider rental vehicle coverage when looking at car insurance quotes–if you’re ever in an accident or you need a rental car for any other reason, your car insurance policy could end up saving you quite a bit of money.