Pro Tip: Current Status of repairs and Car Rentals
How vital is having a rental car in the instance your daily vehicle is down for repairs after a loss?
If your answer is yes, then keep reading.
Your rental coverage is generally broken down into two numbers, your daily rate and the maximum limit (generally the daily rate for a month/30 days) and will look like this: 30/900 on your policy.
During my time as an adjuster, rentals have always been a very sensitive topic for most people (whether they need it and don’t have it or several other scenarios). People feel that since they pay for this coverage that they’re entitled to its full limits, and I agree. However, since the pandemic a typical two-week repair is now a two-month repair (depending on where you live and the availability of parts for your make and model) due to lack of parts and staff. Most body shops are severely backed up.
Note: There are also rental car shortages depending on class and your location.
So, you have a few options in such a scenario.
- Do nothing different and be out of rental coverage after the first month (meaning you’ve exhausted your policy limits), so you’ll either be required to cover the second month out of pocket or be without a rental for the remaining time of your vehicle repairs.
- Attempt to rent the most economical class of vehicle you can reasonably use in order to stretch the number of days prior to reaching your limit (Example: $15.00 per day vehicle will get you 60 days of rental before you exhaust your limit)
- Double your rental coverage limits and combine them with one of the above suggestions.
The above tips are to help you understand the reality of auto repairs at this point and time and to give you a plan to work with your carrier before a loss to ensure you have a rental for the duration of your repairs.
Hope this helps.