Nobody ever plans to be in a car accident. That’s why when they happen to us, it happens at the worst possible timing. Possible injuries, insurance companies, finding a body shop, being without your car…the list for all the many stresses that come after being in an accident seem to be endless.
We at Roccos Collision Center are here to help Pennsylvania drivers throughout their automotive repair process, including answering any questions you might have about your rental car coverage.
Are you covered?
One of your biggest concerns is wondering if you are covered for a rental car under your policy while your car is at the shop. While we can’t answer for everyone, the quickest way to check is to call your insurance company. It’s not required to have this type of coverage, but we highly recommend for all drivers to have it. You never know when you might be without your car, which is why it’s always good to have rental car coverage, even if you weren’t in an accident. Plus, the rate is extremely reasonable from just about every insurance company.
It’s important to know that certain policies only pay for a portion of the rental during the time your car is being repaired and you’ll have to pay for the difference.
What if the repair takes longer than I’m covered for?
Most policies have a time period for the length of the rental, based on two different things: how long the repair takes or when the coverage limit reaches its limit. However, if the repair takes longer than the estimate because there’s a delay due to the insurance adjuster or the shop needs to order parts from the factory, then you’ll most likely run out of rental time covered by your insurance. This also happens when your car is totaled (aka “total loss”), and you now have to shop around for a replacement vehicle. When any of those scenarios happen, you’ll be required to pay out of pocket for the cost of the rental.
What if the other driver was at fault?
If you were not at fault in the accident, then you should have the other driver’s insurance company pay for your rental car directly. You can do this by filing a claim and presenting sufficient enough evidence (including a police report) to prove you are innocent. That said, there are a couple of scenarios where you’ll need to seek reimbursement for your rental retroactively. One scenario would be if the other insurance company is slow to accept responsibility. This does happen often, especially when there’s a lot of back-and-forth going on between who did what, etc. The other would be if you need a rental car right away but you don’t have any other methods of transportation. If this happens, check with your insurance policy to see if you have rental reimbursement.
What if I don’t have insurance?
In all states, it’s illegal to be driving without insurance. There are serious consequences for this, which can include losing your license and possibly jail time.
If someone else caused the accident, every state has its own expense limit on what you can recover when you don’t have insurance. However, if you caused a car accident and you don’t have insurance, then you need to be ready for the other drivers to sue you.
This process is different if you’re in one of the 12 “no-fault” insurance states. Pennsylvania is one of them. Because Pennsylvania is known as a “no-fault” state, that also means it is one of the 12 states that require something known as, “Personal Injury Protection,” aka “PIP.” Personal Injury Protection pays for any injuries caused by a car accident, no matter who is at fault. PIP also pays for medical bills, funeral costs, services you’re unable to perform such as child care and housework, and much more. Since Pennsylvania is one of the no-fault states, it’s a requirement to have PIP. To learn more about PIP, ask your insurance provider or click here.
Never drive without insurance, because the consequences might even be worse than the accident itself.
What body shop in Pennsylvania can I trust?
Here at Rocco’s Collision Center, our customers are our number one priority, which is why we are committed to helping you throughout the entire repair process. You probably have many questions about the repair process, including any you might have regarding your rental car. We will work with you and your insurance company to ensure you have a stress-free repair!
We at Rocco’s Collison Centers know that you have many choices when looking for a car repair shop, especially in the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey areas. We aim to show you why we are the best out there, which is why we are dedicated to giving you the best repair possible for your car!
We have six different locations across Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. We invite you to see for yourself why Rocco’s is the best out there! Feel free to give us a call at anytime at (888)-9-ROCCOS. Or to schedule an appointment or to call any of our locations directly, click here.
We look forward to hearing from you!
