Does car insurance cover moving truck rentals?

If you are moving across town or across the country, you will quickly realize how quickly the costs add up. Between the moving truck rental fees and the cost of moving supplies, even a move to a neighboring city can cost you a pretty penny.

As the fees begin to add up, you will begin to question whether or not you need to purchase the expensive insurance that the rental company offers you for their moving truck.

Instead of simply hoping you do not have an accident, it is best to research how your own personal auto insurance works with a rental moving truck.

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What is defined as a rental moving truck?

While personal auto insurance is designed to protect you while you are operating a vehicle that you own and have interests in, it will also extend to other non-owned vehicles that you have access to temporarily.

Moving trucks are classified as unowned vehicles but are covered differently than the typical rental.

A rental car will receive all of the same coverage options carried on your policy, but a moving truck will not. If you’ve searched for Geico moving truck coverage, that’s going to be much different than Geico rental car coverage.

Read this guide to understand the rules that apply to moving trucks so that you can make the best decision before the keys are handed over.

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How does standard car insurance cover a moving truck rental?

If you are left asking the question “Am I covered or not?” the answer is not as simple as you might think it would be. When a moving truck is rented under your name, you must review the terms and conditions that pertain to rental on your policy.

Most of the larger insurers have the same general rules that apply to liability claims and also to damage claims. Here is typically how the rental insurance extends and how it does not:

Here is typically how the rental insurance extends and how it does not:

• Liability insurance carries over
• Physical damage insurance does not extend to the rental truck

This will be covered in more depth below.

Liability Insurance and Rental Trucks

If you own a vehicle and you carry standard car insurance, you will be happy to learn that the liability coverage on your policy will still provide protection when you or a listed driver are driving the moving truck.

Whatever limits of personal liability you carry will follow you as you drive your rental truck.

This is beneficial if you have an accident and you are deemed to be at fault for the damages and injuries. When this happens, you have peace of mind that your bodily injury and property damage limits will pay for reasonable damages.

Your insurer will fight for you if excessive bills are filed. This is another benefit that can pay off if you are taken to court for an injury claim.

Physical Damage Insurance and Rental Trucks

While personal liability coverage does extend, any physical damage coverage you carry on your private passenger cars will not extend to your rental.

This is mainly because a moving truck is not a private passenger car and does not meet the conditions to receive collision or comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive and collision are both forms of physical damage coverage that pay for different types of damage claims.

If your regular vehicle is damaged by fire, theft, vandalism, or another non-moving peril, your comprehensive insurance – if you carry it – will cover the expenses.

Collision insurance covers losses in an accident where you are at fault.  But as previously stated, these benefits do not extend to moving truck rentals.

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What happens if you are not at fault in an accident?

When you file a claim and the other driver was primarily at fault, their property damage coverage will pay up to the limit carried to repair the car.

Since they are at fault, they will also be responsible for paying the “loss of use” charge that agencies demand while the truck is out of commission.

If you were at fault and did not buy a waiver, this is a charge you would find on your bill in addition to the cost of repairs.

Do I need extra insurance when renting a moving truck?

The most effective way to protect your moving truck while you are responsible for it is to purchase the optional insurance protection and the supplemental options that the rental agency offers you.

There is more than just a single type of plan that you can buy to safeguard your assets and reduce liability.

Here are some of the options to consider:

• The Limited Damage Waiver – When you select the limited option, you will pay a $500 or $1000 deductible, and the remainder is covered
• Personal Damage Waiver – When you choose the Personal Damage Waiver, you will pay the highest fees because you are left with no responsibility to repair the truck or items owned by the agency
• Supplemental Liability – While your own liability does often extend, you can buy additional liability protection if your limits are low. Most companies offer up to $1 million in protection
• Accident and Cargo Coverage – If your belongings are damaged or ruined because of shifting or theft, cargo protection will replace the items. This is beneficial if your home insurance does not extend

Case Studies: How car insurance covers moving truck rentals in real-life examples?

Case Study 1: Liability Coverage

John owns a personal vehicle and has a comprehensive car insurance policy that includes liability coverage. He is planning to move to a new city and decides to rent a moving truck to transport his belongings. While driving the moving truck, John accidentally rear-ends another vehicle at a stoplight, causing damage to the other vehicle and injuries to the driver.

Since John’s car insurance liability coverage extends to rental vehicles, his insurance company steps in to cover the damages and medical expenses of the other driver. This saves John from having to pay out of pocket for the costly accident and provides him with peace of mind during the move.

Case Study 2: Physical Damage Coverage

Sarah is moving to a new state and rents a moving truck to transport her furniture and belongings. She carries comprehensive collision coverage on her personal vehicle but is aware that these coverages do not extend to rental trucks. However, Sarah decides to purchase the physical damage coverage offered by the rental agency for an additional fee.

During the move, Sarah accidentally scrapes the side of the moving truck against a low-hanging tree branch, causing significant damage. Thanks to the physical damage coverage she purchased, Sarah can file a claim with the rental agency’s insurance and have the repairs covered without having to pay the full cost herself.

Case Study 3: International Rental

David is relocating to another country and needs to rent a moving truck for the move. He contacts his car insurance provider to inquire about coverage for international rentals. Unfortunately, David’s personal auto insurance policy only provides coverage within the specified territory, and international rentals are not included.

Recognizing the potential risks involved, David decides to purchase insurance directly from the rental agency to ensure he has adequate coverage during the international move. This way, he can protect himself from potential liabilities and damage to the rental truck while navigating unfamiliar roads in a foreign country.

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The Bottom Line

If you are not happy with the service you received when you called your company to inquire about rental truck insurance, it could be time for a change. Chances are, you or any other driver you know may have gone to the internet to type in your query. “Does Progressive cover rental trucks?” and, “Does Geico cover rental trucks?” might seem like familiar questions if you’ve had to make one of these searches.

Find rates and a company with quality service and products that meet your specific needs.

Start comparing auto insurance rates now by entering your zip code below.

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