Rental Car Accidents: What Happens If You Crash in a Rental (or Get Hit by One)

If you crash a rental—or get hit by someone driving one—what happens next is usually determined by who was at fault and what insurance applies. But unlike a typical crash, rental car accidents often involve multiple overlapping policies, including your personal auto insurance, the rental company’s coverage, and sometimes even credit card protections.

At Big Auto, we’ve seen firsthand how rental car claims can turn into disputes between insurers, lead to delays in compensation, and cause unnecessary stress for injured victims. Below, we break down exactly how liability works, who pays, and what you should do next to protect your case.

Common Issues Associated With Rental Car Accidents

• Insurance companies denying or shifting responsibility
• Confusion over primary vs. secondary coverage
• Questions about who was authorized to drive the vehicle
• Multi-state complications

Who Is Liable in a Rental Car Accident?

In most cases, the driver who caused the accident is responsible for the damages. That includes:

• Property damage
• Medical expenses
• Other losses tied to the crash

However, rental car accidents can involve multiple layers of liability, especially when insurance coverage overlaps.

According to the Insurance Information Institute’s guide to rental car insurance, coverage can come from:

• Your personal auto policy
• The rental company
• Additional protections you may already have

That means more parties involved and more opportunities for disputes.

What Happens If You Crash a Rental Car?

If you were driving the rental, your responsibility depends on your coverage. In many cases, your existing auto policy extends to rental cars. For example:

• Liability coverage typically pays for damage you cause to others
• Collision coverage may pay for damage to the rental

However, this is only within your coverage limits.

Rental companies offer protection like:

• Collision Damage Waivers (CDW)
• Loss Damage Waivers (LDW)

These can reduce or eliminate what you owe for damage to the rental vehicle, but they usually don’t cover injuries or damage to others.

Finally, some credit cards offer rental car coverage if you use the card to pay for the rental. However:

• It’s often secondary coverage
• It usually applies only to vehicle damage, not liability

What If Someone Hits You In a Rental Car?

If another driver in a rental hits you, your claim typically starts with the at-fault driver’s insurance. But depending on coverage, additional policies may come into play.

For example, after a rental car accident, you may need to deal with:

• The driver’s personal insurance
• The rental company’s policy
• Supplemental insurance purchased at the counter

As explained in Nolo’s legal guidance on rental car accident liability, multiple insurance sources may apply depending on the situation and the type of coverage involved.

What To Do Immediately After a Rental Car Accident

1. Call 911: A police report is critical for proving what happened.

2. Document the Scene: Take photos of:

• Vehicle damage
• Road conditions
• License plates
• Any visible injuries

3. Exchange Information: Be sure to collect:

• Driver’s license details
• Insurance information
• Rental company details

4. Notify the Rental Company: Most agreements require immediate reporting.

5. Seek Medical Attention: Even if you feel okay, injuries can appear later. Crash-related injuries are a major health concern and may not always be immediately obvious.

Can You Recover Compensation?

If you were injured, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage

Even in more complex cases—like shared fault or multiple policies—you may still have a valid claim. The challenge is proving:

• Who is responsible
• What coverage applies
• The full extent of your damages

Talk to a Lawyer Today

If you crash a rental car or get hit by one, you’re likely dealing with multiple insurance policies, unclear liability, and companies trying to limit what they pay. Luckily, you don’t have to figure that out alone.

Through our nationwide network of top auto and truck accident attorneys, Big Auto combines local legal insight with national-level resources to position your case for the strongest possible outcome. Our team has handled high-stakes, complex injury claims across the country, working with trusted co-counsel and leveraging deep experience in litigation strategy, case funding, and insurance negotiations. That means when insurers start shifting blame or minimizing your claim, we’re already a step ahead.

Whether you were behind the wheel or hit by a rental, we’re here to help. Contact us today to start your free case review; there’s no fee unless we win, and we’re available 24/7.

Content reviewed by managing attorney, Nic Edgson. Nic has been an Arizona-licensed lawyer for more than a decade and focuses his law practice on helping people seriously injured in car accidents and truck accidents. He has represented thousands of clients and recovered more than $50 Million Dollars fighting for their injuries and medical bills. Throughout his legal career, Nic has helped those injured through some of the most difficult times in their lives.