14. Not Reading the Fine Print on Rental Car Coverage
Many drivers assume their personal auto policy automatically covers rental cars in every situation, which is not always true. Coverage can vary depending on the state, the rental company, the type of trip, and your specific policy terms, and gaps here can leave you exposed exactly when you are traveling and least prepared to handle a claim.
Before declining or accepting a rental company’s insurance add-on at the counter, actually check what your policy covers for rentals so you are not caught paying for extra coverage you did not need, or worse, discovering after an accident that you had no protection at all when something went wrong on your trip.
Quick tip: Call your insurer before your next trip and ask them to confirm, in plain language, exactly what is and is not covered when you rent a car domestically and internationally.