Car rental is also often used when planning a trip to Europe, as it gives more freedom and flexibility to choose a sightseeing object in the wider territory of the visited country. But together with car rental benefits also come with potential risks. The most experienced travelers will tell you that there are several cases, in which travel insurance can come in handy when renting a car abroad.
Rental car insurance
Car rental companies offer different insurance services, but the additional fees can reach just as much a large amount as the rental fee for the vehicle itself, if you choose the type of coverage that will be applied deductible after causing damage to the rental vehicle.
Deductible is the amount you will have to pay out of your own pocket, if something bad happens with the rental car. Yes will choose the cheapest of the insurances offered by the rental company, then these deductibles can be as much as 1,500 EUR and more. If you want the lessor not to ask for a deductible from you, then you will have to choose when signing the lease agreement a program intended for this, which can be even more expensive than the car rental itself.
But there is an alternative solution for this - rental car excess or rental car coverage in your travel insurance policy, which is due to Latvian insurers, will be much more profitable than buying the same service from car lessor abroad. Not all travel insurance policies include as standard risks, so before that to purchase a policy, be sure to familiarize yourself with the terms of the policy or consult with your insurance.
Most credit cards also include travel insurance, but be sure to check this before you travel you need to make sure, because the coverage of the travel policy attached to the credit card may differ even in the same bank depending on the credit card level.
Personal property insurance
Most travel insurance will also provide you with protection against expenses that can and do occur your personal belongings are stolen or damaged even while in the rental vehicle. This is essential advantage for travel insurance quality with what the car rental company can offer you when at rent them a vehicle and buy the policy they offer.
Medical assistance
Accidents on the road, as well as in any other situation, are not completely excluded in any trip. Therefore, yes you or one of your traveling companions needs medical assistance, the travel policy can cover it medical expenses that may occur not only in a traffic accident, but also in an accident of other activities during.
Legal assistance
This can be a significant benefit, and you are in a country where you do not know the language and local laws. As already we mentioned about accidents, the need for legal assistance can arise both when driving a car abroad and These situations, for example, have caused damage to a third party, including property and health.
Damage, and you cannot use the services applied for the lease
If, for example, you are sick or something happens that causes your trip to be canceled and you will not be able to use the rental car that has already been reserved before the trip, then the insurance can cover the expenses of those who arising after this concluded lease agreement.
Also, travel insurance can cover other expenses, such as hotel or other reservations, whose paid money is no longer returned even if you do not arrive at the planned destination and these services you won't get it because your trip has been cancelled. You will find such risk in the policy under the names "trip cancellation" or "trip interruption" depending on the situation.
Penalty for crossing borders with a rental car
Take into account that you already plan to visit several countries by renting a car abroad, then definitely take into account that not all car rental companies will allow you to do so. Therefore, before signing the contract it's mandatory to clarify this fact with the lessor. The lessor may prohibit border crossing altogether or apply an additional fee about it.
Remember that nowadays almost every car rental company will have installed a GPS tracking system in their cars, therefore, in any case, the lessor will find out about your trip to other countries, regardless of whether you will be there or not said it or not. Usually, for such a violation, the rental company withholds a fine of several hundreds, depending from the class of the rental car and the duration of the rental period.
When renting a car in Europe, it is important to be aware of the potential risks, familiarize yourself with the rental agreement and regulations, as well as to take possible safety measures to avoid the unexpected as much as possible expenses when returning the rental car.
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