Would you know what to do if you were involved in an accident while driving a rental car? Being in an accident in a hire car is stressful.
Who is liable and which insurance is involved are all issues that arise from car hire accidents, depending on the fault and damage.
What do you need to do if the car that you have hired is damaged?
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When an accident occurs:
- If you’re in a dangerous place or someone is injured, stop and call the emergency services. It’s recommended that the police are called for even minor accidents so the rental company has an official report.
- If possible, put your hazard lights on and display a warning triangle behind the car. This will alert other road users, especially if your vehicle is partially blocking the road.
- Take photos of any damage, road signs, landmarks or street signs, as well as skid marks. Contact the other drivers involved and ask for their contact information and insurance details. Also, get the names and contacts of any witnesses.
- As per your rental agreement, call the rental company immediately. You may need to contact the rental company before calling the emergency services if you are in a safe place.
- Follow the instructions of the rental company on where you should take the vehicle for further evaluation if it is driveable. It is possible that you will need to send them a claim form as well as an accident report shortly after the incident.
- Check your rental agreement with the vehicle company to confirm insurance coverage. Renter’s insurance and personal auto insurance can cover damage, but there are usually policy limits and deductibles.
