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  1. World Nomads
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  5. Rental Car Protection

Rental Car Damage Travel Insurance Benefit

Learn how travel insurance benefits can help if your rental car gets damaged

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At a glance

  • World Nomads offers plans that include travel insurance benefits for rental car damage (except for residents of Washington)
  • You may be reimbursed for the reasonable and customary cost of repairing a rental car if it gets scratched, dented, or seriously damaged, up to maximum benefits
  • Incidents such as collision, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters may be covered, provided the cause is beyond your control and the vehicle is in your possession at the time.

Why should you consider travel insurance that covers rental car damage?

Sometimes even the best vacations come with a few bumps in the road. If you’re driving along the narrow roads in Italy or dodging potholes in Costa Rica, accidents can happen. But cars can get dinged up while sitting in a parking lot, too. Nobody thinks about these things when they’re picking up the keys for their rental car, but if it gets damaged, you may be responsible for the costs of fixing it. That can add on some unexpected expense. But a single-trip or annual travel protection plan that includes travel insurance benefits for rental car damage may help reimburse you for the cost of repairing the damaged rental car.

What’s Covered for Rental Car Damage

  • Collision
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Natural Disasters
  • Any cause beyond your control while you’re in possession of the car

Coverage Exclusions

  • Rentals of trucks, pickups, full-size vans mounted on truck chassis, heavy duty trucks, jeep-type vehicles, campers, trailers, motor bikes, motorcycles, off road vehicles, recreational vehicles, and exotic vehicles aren’t covered
  • Belongings stolen from an unoccupied car are not covered.
  • Damage to other vehicles and structures aren’t covered
  • Limits, terms, and conditions of coverage vary depending on the plan you buy. Terms and conditions apply; read your plan documents to understand the coverage

Plans and Rental Car Damage Maximums

Standard PlanExplorer PlanEpic PlanAnnual Plan
Not covered

Get a quote		 Up to $35,000

Get a quote		 Up to $50,000

Get a quote		 Up to $35,000 per trip
(Not available for residents of
Missouri, Montana, New York,
or Washington)
Get a quote
Compare all benefits and plans

If my rental car is damaged, what should I do?

  • If you’ve had a car accident, first make sure you and your passengers are ok.
  • Report the incident to the local authorities.
  • Reach out to the 24/7 Non-insurance Emergency Assistance Team to let them know what happened. If you need medical care, they may be able to help direct you to a place where you can get the care you need.
  • Notify the company that you rented the car from. The rental car company will advise you on what to do with the vehicle. You’ll want to take all necessary steps to protect the vehicle and prevent further damage to it.
  • When you turn in the car, you’ll need to find out how much it is going to cost to fix it or have it replaced. You will need to get an official written estimate that details exactly what may need to be repaired, and the costs associated with it. Make sure that you keep this, and all documents that include information about the incident. This includes the police report, rental agreement, and damage estimate. Pictures of the damaged vehicle will be helpful as well.
  • You can make a claim for your travel insurance benefits for rental car damage, but make sure you have all of your documentation to submit.

Recommended tips for renting a car when traveling

We love renting cars when we travel, and apparently so do others. According to Grand View Research*, rental car usage is expected to grow by over 10 percent by 2030. If you’re one of the millions of people renting a car, take a few of our personal tips.

  • Try renting from a rental car facility that’s not located at the airport – it may save you some money.
  • Rent the type of car you’ll need for your destination. For example, if you’re in a snowy destination, you may need a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • Double check and make sure what types of vehicles are covered by your rental car damage travel insurance benefit.
  • When you pick up your rental car, take a walk around and make sure the tires are in good condition and properly inflated. Also, make sure the wipers and lights work properly and there’s no warning lights flashing.
  • If you see any damage, show the staff. It could be a good idea to snap photos of any scratches or dents before you leave the car rental facility so you can prove it was there when you rented the car.
  • If they have printed maps, grab one. We know it seems old school, but if you lose your internet connection or your phone battery dies, it could be nice to have a paper map as a back-up.
  • Before you leave home, print a copy of your plan documents to show that you have rental car damage travel insurance benefits. You won’t want to be searching for those if something happens. Also save the 24/7 Non-insurance Emergency Assistance Team phone number and plan number in your phone.

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for rental car damage. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.

  • Do car rental companies require insurance?

    All car rental companies are different, but most car rental companies have their insurance requirements listed on their website. If they don’t, call them. We suggest that you read the wording in your World Nomads travel protection plan to make sure you understand the rental car damage travel insurance benefit that’s included in some plans. If you have questions about coverage, you can contact us and ask

  • What is covered by rental car travel insurance benefits?

    Rental car damage travel insurance benefits may provide reimbursement for reasonable and customary cost of repairs and rental charges imposed by the rental company while the vehicle is being repaired, if the car is damaged due to a collision, theft, vandalism, natural disaster or any cause beyond your control while in your possession. If you have questions about coverage, you can contact us and ask.

  • What happens if I total a rental car?
    If you have a World Nomads plan that includes travel insurance benefits for rental car damage, you could be reimbursed for the actual cash value to replace the car if it’s a total loss, up to the maximum benefit amount. Terms and conditions apply.
  • Which travel protection plan could be the best if I’m renting a car?

    World Nomads has four plans that include three single-trip plans and an annual plan. Most of the travel protection plans may include travel insurance benefits for rental car damage except the Standard Plan, which is the most basic plan. If you want to have rental car damage benefits included in your travel protection plan, you’ll want to select from the Explorer, Epic, or Annual Plans. (Coverage for rental car damage isn’t available for residents of the state of Washington, and the Annual Plan isn’t available for residents of Missouri, Montana, New York, or Washington.) When you get a quote, you can compare the maximum benefits amounts of each plan and decide which has the appropriate rental car damage benefits for your needs.

  • Are all types of automobiles covered?
    No, rentals of trucks, pickups, full-size vans mounted on truck chassis, heavy duty trucks, jeep-type vehicles, campers, trailers, motor bikes, motorcycles, off road vehicles, recreational vehicles and exotic vehicles aren’t covered by car rental damage travel insurance benefits.
*This website is not affiliated with United States Fire Insurance Company, World Nomads, or Trip Mate.
20251226-5082983. This is not a full list of what is and isn’t covered, so please check your plan document for a full list of maximums, terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions that may apply to your state specific plan. Any example scenarios provided above are not a guarantee of coverage. All claims are subject to review, require documentation and are considered individually. Exclusion applies to Adventure or Extreme Activities.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Protection

Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.

  • Standard Plan: $2,500
  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Epic Plan: $15,000
  • Annual Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalized?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

  • Standard Plan: $125,000
  • Explorer Plan: $150,000
  • Epic Plan: $250,000
  • Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Evacuation

We'll provide assistance to get you to the hospital or home quickly.

  • Standard Plan: $400,000
  • Explorer Plan: $500,000
  • Epic Plan: $700,000
  • Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Evacuation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medevac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Covers the loss, theft or damage of your bags, tech and gear.

  • Standard Plan: $1,000
  • Explorer Plan: $2,000
  • Epic Plan: $3,000
  • Annual Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Passport or tech stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

The amounts listed represent the maximum benefit amount.

Protect your health

  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance Help Line
  • Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
  • Emergency Evacuations
  • Bedside Companion Travel
  • Emergency Medications

Protect Your Trip

  • Trip Cancellation
  • Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
  • Trip Delay & Trip Interruption
  • Missed Connection (Explorer or Epic)
  • Rental Car Damage (Explorer, Epic or Annual)

Protect Your Stuff

  • Baggage Delay
  • Passport and Visa Loss
  • Lost or Stolen Bags
  • Personal Tech, Equipment & Gear
  • Baggage Return After Evacuation

Non-Insurance Services

  • Medical & Non-Medical 24/7 Emergency Assistance Line
  • Translators Available
  • Pre-Departure Telehealth Services
  • Portable Health Records
  • Delayed or Lost Baggage Tracking and Delivery
This is a general summary for US residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefits limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the plan documents for full details.