Car accidents are frustrating, and dealing with insurance companies, medical offices, attorneys, and auto body shops can be overwhelming. If your car was in an accident, you may be wondering what the next steps to get a rental vehicle and get back on the road. How quickly you can get a rental car will depend on the facts of the accident and your insurance policy. If you have rental car coverage, you just have to file an insurance claim and tell the adjuster to set up a rental car for you at Enterprise or another car rental agency.

If you don’t have rental coverage, you’ll have to wait for the other parties insurance to accept liability for the accident. After they accept liability, most insurance companies will set up a rental reservation for you. This means they’ll get a car ready for you to pickup at a car rental company. Another way to get into a vehicle as soon as possible is to rent and pay for a rental car out of pocket. After the other drivers insurance has accepted liability, you would be able to submit your bills for reimbursement.

Who pays for the rental car after an accident?

In most car accident cases, the liable party will have to pay for the other drivers rental car. If you were in an accident and it was not your fault, the other drivers insurance should pay for your rental car.

If the accident was your fault, the other drivers insurance will not provide you with a rental vehicle. In that case, you’d have to go through your own insurance policy if you have rental coverage available. Most rental coverage options offer coverage of $30 to $50 per day for a maximum of 30 days. This means you’re usually limited to a rental amount of $900 to $1,500.

Will insurance pay for a rental car?

Yes, insurance will pay for a rental car after an accident depending on the facts of the accident. If someone else hit you and their insurance accepted liability, there’s a good chance they will pay for your rental car. If they don’t accept liability and you are determined to be at fault, the other drivers insurance won’t pay for your rental.

If you have rental coverage on your own insurance, your insurance company will pay for a rental car per your insurance contract. Most rental vehicle reimbursements allow for $30 to $50 per day in rental vehicle coverage for a maximum of 30 days.

Direct Billing

Direct billing is one way of having the insurance company pay for your rental car after an accident. Direct billing is when the insurance company sets up the rental reservation on your behalf. You will not be billed anything and won’t have to worry about getting reimbursed later.

Direct billing is the best choice for claimants who are looking to get a rental after a car accident. It’s the best scenario because you don’t have to pay out of pocket and wait to get your money back. Unfortunately not all insurance companies offer direct billing, and instead force you to pay out of pocket and wait for a reimbursement.

Pay For a Rental and Get Reimbursed

If you’ve been in an accident and need a replacement vehicle as soon as possible, paying for a rental car out of pocket and getting reimbursed may be your best option.

The tricky thing with doing this is you run the risk of not getting reimbursed in full or at all. For the other drivers insurance to pay for your rental car, the other driver would have to be at fault for the car accident. If the insurance determined that they were not at fault, you’d be on the hook for the bill.

Some insurance companies do not offer direct billing and instead force you to pay out of pocket and get reimbursed. This can be frustrating if you don’t have the funds to rent a car and pay out of pocket. It’s important to keep in mind that rental car companies ask for a $300 to $500 deposit when renting out a car.

How Long Can You Keep a Rental Car After an Accident?

The length of time you can keep a rental car after a car accident depends on a few factors. Whether your car is being repaired or a total loss is one important factor. If your car is deemed a total loss, you only have rental coverage for the period up until it was determined to be a total loss, plus a few days. For example, if you were in an accident on July 4th, and your car was determined to be a total loss on July 10. The insurance company would only cover the rental for about 7 days after July 10, so up until July 17. Insurance companies have limits in places so that you can’t rent a car for months and get a reimbursement. If you have rental car coverage, your policy will likely allow a rental for a maximum of 30 days with a maximum of $30 to $50 per day in coverage. As long as your car is being repaired, you can utilize your rental coverage.

Will Insurance Pay For the Rental Car Even If The Accident Was My Fault?

If you have rental coverage, your insurance company will pay for a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired. It doesn’t matter that the accident was your fault as long as you have the appropriate rental coverages.

Can You Add Rental Car Coverage After an Accident?

You can add rental car coverage to your policy after an accident, but you wouldn’t be able to use the coverage for an accident that happened before the coverage was added. For example, if you were involved in an accident on April 1, you couldn’t add rental coverage on April 4 and try to use it for the April 1 accident.