The at-fault driver’s insurance should pay for your rental car after an accident in Georgia if they accept liability. If the at-fault driver’s insurance accepts liability, they are typically responsible for covering your rental car costs while your vehicle is being repaired. Once liability is accepted, the insurance company pays for the rental car, but it is important to understand the claims process to ensure you receive proper coverage. If not, your collision coverage may cover the expense, and your insurer can seek reimbursement from the other party’s insurance company. Understanding how this process works can ease your concerns about rental car costs and other expenses after a crash.
How Do I Get a Rental Car After a Car Accident in Georgia?
You should report the collision to the police before you take the following steps to get a rental car. Having a police report is vital documentation that is useful for proving liability and seeking compensation for rental car fees and other losses.
To get a rental car after a crash in Georgia:
- Contact your insurance company — Even if the other party caused the crash, contact your car insurance company promptly after the accident. Give your insurer the other party’s name, insurance company, and further details.
- Obtain proof of damage – Take clear photos of your damaged vehicle. Make a list of any personal items damaged or lost in the crash. Take your car to a repair shop for an estimate and keep a copy, which should contain a rundown of the damage to your car.
- Review your insurance policy – Most drivers aren’t familiar with their insurance coverage until they need it. Read your insurance policy to determine whether your insurer will provide rental car benefits.
- Get professional assistance – Insurance policies are not always easy to interpret. If you have questions, talk to a Georgia car accident attorney. You might not have to use your insurance if the other party is at fault.
- Determine fault for the crash – A car accident lawyer can review the evidence and facts from the crash to determine liability. In Georgia, the person responsible for the collision should pay for a rental car through their insurance coverage.
- Choose a rental car – Select a rental car that meets your needs and complies with any coverage limits. Save all receipts and agreements from the rental car agency. Return the vehicle in the agreed-upon condition (such as a full gas tank) when your repaired vehicle is safe to drive.
If you do not have rental car coverage and the at-fault driver’s insurance does not cover your rental, you may need to pay out of pocket for temporary transportation and later seek reimbursement. Some rental car companies and insurers offer direct billing, but if not, you may need to pay upfront and submit receipts for reimbursement. Always keep all receipts and documentation related to the rental, as you’ll need to provide this information to the insurance company when filing your claim. Rental cars serve as temporary transportation while your vehicle is being repaired.
Can My Own Insurance Pay for the Rental Car?
Depending on the terms of the policy you purchased, your insurance might pay for a rental car if:
- You have comprehensive/collision coverage.
- The other party does not have insurance.
- You were in a hit-and-run.
Rental reimbursement coverage is an optional add-on to your auto insurance policy that can pay for a rental car regardless of fault, but it comes with daily and total limits. If you use your own driver’s insurance or auto insurance policy, you may have to pay upfront for the rental car and then seek rental reimbursement from your driver’s insurance company. Be sure to check if your policy includes rental reimbursement coverage, as this specific benefit can help cover your rental expenses while your vehicle is being repaired.
However, you and your insurer shouldn’t have to pay the costs of someone else’s negligence. If the other party is responsible for the crash and you’ve filed a rental car coverage claim with your insurer, they can pursue reimbursement from the other driver’s insurance company.
What Type of Vehicle Am I Allowed to Rent?
Insurance companies have specific guidelines for car rental insurance coverage. To ensure you stay within those parameters:
- Review the insurance policy to understand the limits on what they pay for a daily rental rate and the total reimbursement amount. If you have a car accident attorney, they can clarify these specifics.
- Identify a car rental agency and make sure the insurance company approves it. Some insurers have relationships with car rental companies that enable you to get extras or free upgrades.
- Coordinate with the repair shop to determine how long you need the rental car. Their repair timeline could change, so be confident you have the vehicle as long as you need it.
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Rent a vehicle that falls within the rental car insurance guidelines and meets any requirements. For example, a two-person coupe won’t be helpful if you have young children and need a sedan for their car seats. You are entitled to a comparable vehicle, such as a compact car if that matches your original vehicle. Rental coverage and insurance cover may have policy limits and exclusions, and some insurance policies exclude luxury or specialty vehicles from rental reimbursement coverage. Insurance companies may only reimburse rental charges or rental expenses up to a reasonable amount, and may dispute higher rates or additional costs. Be sure to document all rental expenses, as insurers may have daily or total caps on reimbursement and may only pay what they consider reasonable.
How Long Do I Get to Keep the Rental Car?
Insurance car rental provisions typically cover the cost of a rental car for a reasonable amount of time while your vehicle is being repaired or until a total loss settlement is reached. If your car is declared a total loss, the insurance company will usually only pay for rental car costs for a limited or extended period—often one to two weeks—unless you have extended coverage that provides protection beyond the standard timeframe.
Insurance companies often try to limit how long they’ll pay for a rental car, claiming you kept it too long, so it’s important to communicate with your insurer to understand your policy limits and avoid gaps in coverage.
If repairs or settlements are delayed, you may be responsible for additional rental expenses once your coverage limit is reached. If there are delays, such as the repair shop waiting on a back-ordered part, contact the insurance company or your car accident lawyer to negotiate the additional rental days.
What Other Compensation May I Be Owed After a Georgia Car Accident?
Car rental costs are only one expense after a Georgia car accident. If the other party caused the crash, you could pursue compensation in addition to car rental fees, such as:
- Medical care, including emergency treatment, surgery, imaging and other diagnostic medical tests, hospitalization, doctor’s visits, and prescriptions
- Rehabilitation and other follow-up care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential due to injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
If your car is declared a total loss, most insurers will only cover the rental car until a settlement offer is made. The insurance payout is typically based on the actual cash value of your vehicle, which reflects its worth before the accident minus depreciation and salvage value, not the cost of a new car. Insurance companies typically handle loss of use through rental car compensation or reimbursement for the use of a comparable vehicle.
How Long Do I Have to File a Georgia Car Accident Claim?
Georgia’s statute of limitations allows two years to file a car accident lawsuit against the party that caused the crash. If you miss this deadline, you cannot pursue compensation for car rental costs, medical bills, and other expenses related to the accident. Working with a car accident lawyer can help you exercise your legal rights and seek payment for your physical, emotional, and financial injuries.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer
After a car accident, you might have several questions, including who pays for your rental car. At Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., we focus on helping car accident victims recover compensation from the party responsible for their pain and loss. We handle many types of car accident claims, including:
- Drunk driving (DUI) accidents
- Distracted driving crashes
- Rear-end collisions
- Reckless driving accidents
- Work-related vehicle crashes
- Accidents involving commercial vehicles
Contact Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., today for a free consultation. If you choose our award-winning law firm to help you, you pay nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe nothing unless we win your case. A Georgia car accident attorney from our firm can answer your questions and demand fair compensation from those responsible. Call now to learn more.
