All too often drivers take their insurance coverage for granted. They think if they have insurance they are covered to drive anything. They can get behind the wheel of any vehicle. It is because they feel the insurance company covers the driver. Not specifically the vehicle. But there is a lot of problems with this way of thinking.
A common occurrence is when a driver rents a moving truck. There are tons of people who do their moves. They just assume that all the insurance they need is in place. Then when an accident does occur, they could be in for a shock.
Does Car Insurance Cover a Moving Truck?
Most often when people are booking the rental truck, they are in a hurry. They just want to sign the contract and pay for it. Plus, they have loads of other things to do. Also, they should be dealing with a rental agent. The rental agent most likely will ask if the driver wants insurance. Many times the driver will say no quickly. Giving it no extra thought. Some rental agents will just leave it at that. The driver assumes he already has insurance. After all insurance companies insure drivers right? Yes, but only for a specific vehicle, they have listed on their policy. The rental truck may not be one of these. The rental agent may not care. The responsibility is yours.
Then there are some rental agents who attempt to explain the purpose and importance of the insurance. Some drivers misconstrue this as the agent trying to upsell the rental agreement. But, the agent is trying to provide a service here.
If one looks around the rental office, there could be a warning about not having insurance. Or, it could have a clause right on the rental contract. Yet, a lot of people just sign these contracts on the dotted line.
For some insured drivers, they have a clause in their insurance policy that covers them if they rent a passenger vehicle. The driver may assume this covers any vehicle. Again, it may not be the case.
In fact, there could be specific clauses that restrict the driver from driving specific vehicles that concern weight.
What is Truck Rental Coverage?
In most cases, the driver of the rental truck needs extra insurance. Also, they want to be sure they are getting the right insurance. The insurance coverage for rental trucks is different to what other vehicles require.
To have a good understanding of what is required think about what can go wrong;
An accident occurs
Accidents can happen anytime or anywhere. At the very least there could be some damage done to the rental truck.
The type of insurance that would be beneficial here is a collision waiver. It means that the rental company will not hold the renter responsible for damages to the truck in the event of a collision.
The truck could get stolen
Damage doesn’t always come from a collision. It can be as a result of someone stealing the truck. Again a waiver can be bought for this.
Someone could get injured or their property damaged
For protection here, one could opt for liability coverage.
Often others help with a move they could get injured
They become a passenger in the rental vehicle. If a mishap occurs, they could end up getting injured. The protection needed here is personal accident insurance.
Items on the truck become damaged in a collision
The moving truck is being used to move a lot of different items. Most often these are a household’s entire belongings. Cargo insurance is available to cover some costs associated with cargo damage.
The truck breaks down
It does happen. Hopefully before the truck is loaded. But, it can happen with a full load. Insurance to cover this event is tow insurance.
Most of the major truck rental companies will have different insurance packages that they offer. It is worth looking them over. Then depending on the circumstances, one can choose the package best suited for them. The cost is going to vary depending on the Company. Also, depending on the circumstances. For example, the size of the truck.
Does Credit Card Insurance Cover the Rental Truck Insurance?
Many credit card institutions offer certain perks and incentives to their clients. One of these may be rental vehicle insurance. Don’t just take for granted this includes rental trucks. Rental trucks are of a different weight. Most vehicle insurance covers up to a certain weight.
The Right Rental Truck Approach for Insurance
The first step is for the driver to review their copy of their insurance policy. If there is any coverage for rental trucks, there should be a section about this. If not there should be a section on driver restrictions. In this section, it may specifically exclude trucks.
An easier alternative is to call the Insurance Company and ask them directly. If one has their agent, they can ask them. If not, the customer service department should be able to answer the question. They should ask for the driver’s policy number. So they can give an informed answer.
For credit card insurance the same steps are necessary. A driver may see in writing where the permission for rental trucks is given. If it exists. Taking someone’s word for it is not good enough.
Finally, a driver should be proactive in asking about the insurance available at the rental truck company. If the agent is offering information, it is worth listening to. Ask questions if necessary. Then review which coverage being offered is the best for the driver.
There is going to be an extra cost for this. But, when one looks over the list of what can go wrong they each can create a huge expensive. A few dollars of insurance could ward off costs of thousands of dollars.
The laws states drivers need insurance when driving a vehicle in Canada. If one’s insurance is not covering them for the vehicle they are driving this could cause legal issues.
About the Author: Ashley Miller
