What to Do When Damaging Rental Cars Occurs
The term damages in the context of a rental car accident is pretty broad. It can be anything from a dent to a break or to the actual replacement of the vehicle. Common examples of damaging rentals include dents caused by collisions with other cars or damage due to something like over smoking. Other things that can cause damage to a rental car include mechanical issues, mechanical failures, theft, weather and so on.
Understand Rental contract defined damages
As a consumer it’s important that you understand how damages are defined in rental car rental contracts. Many times these contracts are written broadly enough without including any mention of potential damage that may occur. You should therefore take care and look carefully at any contract you sign especially if it is for a rental car. It’s always best to get things clarified before signing on the dotted line.
In terms of Damaging Rental Cars, it’s often the case that what was seen as a small dent in a rental car is actually more of a case of total loss. If you’ve driven the car for a long time without problems then obviously a dent isn’t likely to be much of an issue. But total loss damage (also known as death damage) comes into play if the car is stolen or damaged through a fire. The entire cost of the car is usually the responsibility of the renter, so it’s worth taking care when making arrangements for a rental car. Consider offering to pay the cost of damages in full so you don’t need to worry about being saddled with repair costs.
Warranties and Contracts
Damaging rental car rental warranties and contracts usually focus on physical damage. However, they do leave some room for interpretation. For example, if you rent a car once and have to cancel your reservation due to unforeseen circumstances, the cancellation isn’t covered by the rental car rental policy. This means that even cancellations caused by a car breakdown or a stolen car are not covered. It’s important to read your rental car rental agreement very carefully to make sure you understand what is covered and what is not.
There are a number of common ways that rental cars can be damaged, but perhaps the most common is a mechanical failure. Whether it’s a loose bolted nut or a power steering pump that doesn’t seem to work, a rental car can easily be put out of order by a simple mechanical problem. If you want to be sure that you’re not out of pocket after a sudden breakdown or mechanical failure, it’s best to have an auto mechanic look at the vehicle immediately after the problem takes place. This ensures that you’ll be covered should there be an accident and you need to repair or replace parts of the rental car.
Damaging rental car rental policies and contracts are also often targeted at drivers who go on more than one trip in a single year. These policies and contracts often stipulate that a driver must wait a certain period of time before they’re eligible to apply for a new rental car. As well, many rental car rental policies stipulate that a driver must cancel their insurance policy within a certain amount of time of their rental car being damaged. Some companies may even require that the driver offer up to two weeks’ notice before canceling their insurance policy. While it may seem like a good idea to protect your vehicle from becoming damaged, doing so will likely end up costing you extra money unless you cancel your insurance coverage well in advance of your rental date.
The other thing to keep in mind when it comes to rental cars is the fact that rental cars are usually quite expensive. Therefore, it’s important to take care of the car you are renting as best you can. If you plan on traveling with your car, always make sure you charge it ahead of time and bring it with you whenever you leave the hotel. If you are carrying valuables with you, it’s also a good idea to carry a small flashlight with you to give yourself some extra light in case there’s a problem while traveling.
Overall, it’s always better to protect yourself when using rental cars than it is to simply assume that you don’t need to have any form of insurance coverage. With so many people heading out on vacation these days, it’s better to be safe than sorry and to ensure that if anything does happen to your rental car while traveling, you’ll have some form of coverage to help you recover from the damages. In addition, if you don’t have any form of insurance coverage for your rental car, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to find out what your rights are regarding auto accidents and rental cars.
