An accident with a car hire company is the last thing you want on your holiday. However, don’t overlook the possibility of being involved in an accident while driving someone else’s car on an unknown road.

An accident in a car hire company is similar to an accident in your car. However, with the extra layers that are included in the car hire agreement, there are other features of car hire insurance that you need to be prepared for.

If you are involved in an accident with a hire car, here are six things you should do

MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER

Before you take any other action, you need to make sure that everything in your car is in order. While it may seem like a good idea to check your car, you should first check your surroundings and other vehicles before you do anything else.

As with any other accident, you should stay on the side of the road if possible. In more serious accidents, call 999 immediately if someone is injured. If there is a risk of explosion, leave the area.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Once you have ensured that the scene of the accident is safe, give contact and insurance information to all other people involved. The information should be as follows:

  • Name, Cell No,  address, and email address.
  • Telephone and email address, contact details, email address, insurance company, and policy number.
  • Address, email address, contact details, insurance company, email address, address, and telephone number.
  • If there are witnesses, you should also find out their contact details.

When the police arrive at the scene, you should present your driving license, vehicle registration, proof of financial responsibility, and your current address.

When talking to others involved in the accident, do not tell other drivers or police officers that you are responsible for the accident (even if you think it is your fault).

Be polite, but don’t say words like “I’m sorry” or “I should have been more careful”, as these can be used against you later, sometimes without the protection of insurance. Instead, use phrases like “Are you okay?”. Show compassion without admitting guilt.

If your opponent is hostile, it is best to wait for the police to arrive before acting. Do not behave in a sporting manner towards other drivers and passengers.

Be careful with other parties involved. Do not sign an admission of guilt promise to pay the other party if they offer to pay damages or excess.

TAKE NOTES AND PHOTOS

Take time to gather detailed information about the accident.

Documents should include the following information:

  • Year of manufacture, make, model, and color of each vehicle involved in the accident.
  • Other specific information.
  • The exact location of the crash, including information such as the name of the street and alley where the crash occurred.
  • How the crash occurred.

CONTACTING A CAR RENTAL AGENCY

Although the steps listed above are much the same as those you would take if you were driving your car, a car hire company accident requires a little more effort.

Call the car hire company as soon as possible to report the accident. You will often find a sticker with the emergency number in the glove compartment or the emergency number on the rental agreement.

Ask the company what to do. The car hire company will usually ask you to fill out their version of the accident report, which usually includes the same information you collected above.

CONTACT THE CAR HIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

If you have car insurance, inform them of the accident so that they can file a claim.

One way to do this is to contact your insurance company:

This requires you to report the accident to the local police or you?

Check with your insurance company to see if your policy includes comprehensive insurance in addition to compulsory liability insurance.

Find out what your excess is (the excess is the part of the damage you have to pay for from your insurance company).

For example, if your deductible is $400 and the damage is $10,000, you will have to pay the first $400 for the repair and the insurance will cover the rest. Tell your insurance company about any additional insurance you have when you rent your flat.

Accident | Find out who is responsible if you have insurance.

You need to know what your policy covers. What your insurance company can cover and what the rental company can cover. If you booked a car hire company with a credit card that offers rental car insurance. It can help cover damages in the event of an accident.

Accidental damage: If you have your accident insurance and comprehensive insurance, your crash claims accident management is usually shelter as well. If your regular insurance does not cover such damage, you should take out accident insurance with your rental company. Otherwise, you will have to pay for the damage.

Damage to others: If you already have third-party insurance, it will usually cover the rental car. If not, you can take out additional liability insurance with the car hire company. which covers damage to other people’s cars or property.

Extra days: If your policy does not include car hire insurance. You may have to pay the car hire company for extra days as if you were still hiring the car. If the car needs to repair within a week, you may have to pay another week’s ‘rent’. You can usually avoid these costs by taking out extra insurance or comprehensive insurance with the car hire company.