Anyone who has ever dropped off at soccer practice, then zoomed to dance, and back again to school, knows the reality of parenting today. We live in our cars. In fact, we can’t live without them, which is why it’s more than just an inconvenience when our cars are in the shop.
Enter the rental car, the savior helping us to navigate our hectic lives, pun intended. Rentals can be a necessity when our car is in the shop for repairs after an accident, and it would be nice if we didn’t have to pay too much for them. That’s where rental car reimbursement coverage (also called transportation expense coverage) can help. A basic amount of this coverage is included with collision/comprehensive coverage in your auto policy. It helps cover the cost of a rental car after a car accident, but the basic coverage may not be enough these days. Optional higher coverage levels are available and can help to cover more of the cost of a rental car.
Things are changing—which could impact your budget.
Today’s world is not the same as pre-pandemic. The changes that have happened in the last year or longer are impacting the repair and rental car industries. This could cause you to pay significantly more out-of-pocket even with rental car reimbursement. Read on to find out why, and what you can do about it.
Parts are taking longer to get.
We’ve been spoiled with free, fast shipping, getting items in a couple of days from the time we order them. That’s no longer the case. Just as you probably had to wait for the hottest toy for the holidays (or that elusive Sony PlayStation 5), repair shops have had to wait…and wait…and wait…for parts. There’s a global supply chain shortage. Parts that used to arrive in a day or two are now taking weeks or longer. Ships carrying supplies are being held at docks. There’s also a global semiconductor shortage, which especially affects the advanced electronics in our cars.
Shops are doing partial repairs or keeping your car indefinitely.
With parts delayed for weeks or longer, some shops are making partial repairs on drivable vehicles, sending them home, and finishing the job later. They are keeping undrivable cars for weeks or even months while waiting for parts.
When there’s no one to work on your car, it sits for longer.
The labor shortage has hit the automotive industry. There are fewer truck drivers transporting parts, fewer dock workers unloading them, and fewer mechanics working. The pandemic prompted many people to reevaluate their career choices, and leave their jobs. If you’re lucky, your body shop is fully staffed. If not, you’re likely in for a longer repair.
Your car could be in the shop longer than your rental coverage.
Normally, you’d expect to have a rental car for a couple of weeks. It might surprise you to learn that the average repair time at the end of last year was 17 days, according to Enterprise Rent-A-Car. That means that many people had their cars in the shop even longer than that. The length of rentals has continued to increase in 2022. If shops are waiting on parts and workers, chances are that your rental car coverage will run out before repairs are done. Not only that but the rental bill can be even more than the repair bill, and you’re hit with any expense that insurance doesn’t cover.
Rental cars are getting more expensive.
Longer collision repair times are just part of higher costs. Rising inflation rates and greater demand for vehicles have increased rental car prices. AAA is seeing car rental prices trending higher in 2022 than in the previous four years.
It makes sense (and cents) to bump up your coverage.
The typical auto policy includes a basic amount of coverage that reimburses up to $20 a day with a $600 cap per accident. That means your $20 per day coverage lasts for 30 days. Luckily, you’re not limited to those numbers. Consider expanding your coverage to $30/$900, $40/$1,200 or $50/$1,500. Selecting a higher amount will help you cover today’s higher cost of rental cars, especially for longer repair times.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
- Graduation – When to Remove Your Child from Your Auto Policy - May 18, 2023
- How to Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft - May 17, 2023
- How Much Does Home Insurance Cost? - May 17, 2023
Am I covered by insurance in a rental car?
Hi Carol! California Casualty offers rental car insurance on vacation with our auto policies! If you carry liability and physical damage coverage on your vehicle, you may extend that coverage to a rental car. Your coverage applies as long as you, your spouse, or a resident relative is driving the rental car.
If you have more rental car questions please reach out to a customer care representative and they will answer them for you. Call 1.800.800.9410
Its not clear how long my rental car allowance is.
Hi George, please contact a customer care representative at 1.800.800.9410. They will be able to review your policy with you and let you know how long your rental cover is convered.