Alamo Car Rental Insurance: Know Your Options

Introduction to Alamo Collision Damage Waiver

Alamo Car Rental is a global leader in the car rental industry, providing rental services in several countries worldwide. When renting a car from Alamo, customers have the option of purchasing insurance protection to cover any damages or losses that may occur during the rental period. Alamo offers various types of insurance coverage to suit the needs of their customers, including Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Supplemental Liability Protection (SLP), Personal Effects Insurance (PEC), Roadside Plus, and Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) International. Customers are advised to carefully review the details of each insurance coverage and select the appropriate option based on their specific needs. It’s important to note that if you don’t have your own car insurance, you could end up responsible for significant expenses if you’re in an accident with the rental car. Therefore, it’s recommended to consider purchasing additional insurance coverage from Alamo or through other insurance providers such as CarInsuRent to ensure that you’re fully covered in the event of an accident or loss. 

Alamo Car Rental Insurance Explained – Types of Alamo Car Rental Insurance

Alamo Car Rental offers various types of insurance coverage to protect renters from financial responsibility in case of accidents, theft, and damage to the rental vehicle. Here are the different types of insurance options that Alamo offers:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): This insurance option is designed to relieve renters of the financial responsibility if the rental car is damaged or stolen. LDW is not an insurance policy but rather a waiver of Alamo’s right to pursue the renter for the full value of the car. Although it is a part of your rental fee, there is an excess. Should something happen to your rental car, you are financially responsible for this excess. The excess amount at Alamo for economy car € 1,000. Alamo’s collision damage waiver covers the following:
  • All damage to the Alamo rental car
  • Coverage for vehicle theft up to the car’s full value.

• Supplemental Liability Protection – This coverage provides additional third party liability protection, through an excess liability policy, with limits of the difference between the Primary Protection and a combined single limit of $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, death and/or property damage to others arising out of the use or operation of the rental Vehicle by renter.
• Personal Effects Insurance (PEC): PEC is offered at the time of rental for an additional daily charge. If accepted, the PEC contained in the policy insures the personal effects of the renter, additional drivers or anyone who is traveling with the renter against risks of loss or damage. The purchase of PEC is optional and not required to rent a car.
• Roadside Plus – You may purchase Roadside Plus (RSP) from Alamo for an additional fee. If you purchases RSP, Alamo agrees, subject to the actions that invalidate Collision Damage Waiver, to contractually waive your responsibility for the cost to provide 24/7 roadside assistance (where available) which includes replacement of lost keys (including remote entry devices), flat tire service (if no inflated spare is available, the vehicle will be towed. Cost of a replacement tire is not covered by RSP), lockout service (if the keys are locked inside the vehicle), jumpstarts, and fuel delivery service for up to 3 gallons (or equivalent liters) of fuel if Vehicle is out of fuel. Roadside Plus services are only available in the United States and Canada.

Alamo Excess Protection Cost

It’s important to note that these insurance options are not mandatory, and you may decline them. However, if you choose to decline the insurance options, they may be responsible for the full cost of the car in case of damage, theft, or accidents. 

Alamo Car Rental Insurance coverage options can vary by location, so it’s essential to check with your local Alamo office to understand which plans are available to you. It’s also important to note that rental car insurance coverage options are not mandatory, but they offer added protection and peace of mind while driving a rental car.

Alamo Rental Protection Products Cost

The answer to the question “how much is Alamo car rental insurance?” can vary depending on the coverage options selected. 

While the Alamo collision damage waiver is part of your rental fee, it is subjected to an excess. Should something happen to your rental car, you are financially responsible for this excess which ranges between € 950 – € 1500.

Excess Protection, a package offered by Alamo, lowers the excess for the majority of cars to  € 0. The daily fee for this service is $ 22.58 per day. If you purchase CarInsuRent car rental insurance, the excess amount can be eliminated and reduced to zero for as low as $6.49 per day* to $94.90 for an annual policy. 

*Prices based on 10 days coverage

Roadside Protection – cost $ 5.42 per day and provide 24-hour emergency service that includes providing a replacement vehicle in the event that the vehicle key is lost, shipping the key, on-site assistance in the event that a tire blows out, towing service, forced vehicle unlocking if the keys are locked inside, jump-start assistance, and fueling up to 5 litres.

The Personal Effect Coverage (PEC) offers personal effects insurance coverage for the renter and the renter’s travelling companions. The product offers protection against theft, loss, or damage to luggage, electronics, and mobile devices. Also covered are lost or delayed personal belongings and travel documents. This is merely a summary. It is not necessary to purchase PEC in order to rent a car. Regardless of the length of the rental period, the PEC insurance coverage is limited to 50 days and/or a total price of 200 EUR. The cost of Alamo’s PEC is $5.42 per day. 

How does CarInsuRent differ from Alamo Car Rental Insurance?

• CarInsuRent car hire excess insurance starts from as low as $6.49 per day* to $94.90 for an annual policy. Alamo Excess Protection + Roadside Protection + PEC can be purchased separately for the total of $ 32.30 per day. 
• CarInsuRent covers baggage and personal belongings – up to US$ 1,500 included at the price (compared to EUR 200 covered by Alamo).
• CarInsuRent covers the replacement of a lost or stolen Rental Car key.
• CarInsuRent covers exorbitant rental company fees added to your repair bill – including fees for loss of use, processing, relocation and towing.
• CarInsuRent covers single-vehicle accidents – claim even if the damage or theft to your car was not your fault.
• CarInsuRent offers annual worldwide car hire excess Insurance for hiring cars around the world for up to 45 days.

*Prices based on 10 days coverage

Here’s How CarInsuRent Car Hire Excess Insurance saved Our Client a Significant Amount of Money

Mr .Peretz, a customer from Israel, rented an intermediate SUV from Alamo car rental at Heathrow airport.

Mr. Peretz Alamo Rental Agreement

Despite declining the rental company’s insurance coverage due to its high cost, Mr. Peretz decided to purchase standalone annual car hire excess insurance from CarInsuRent after reading about its benefits.

Copy of Mr. Peretz Car Hire Excess Policy

While driving in the UK, Mr Peretz had a flat tire and he damaged the left front whel.

Alamo rental car damage to left front wheel

Unfortunately, Sixt charged Mr. Viktor GBP 344.77 + VAT for the damage.

Alamo Car Rental Damage – Repair Costs – Mr. Peretz

However, M. Peretz had purchased car hire excess insurance, which covered the excess amount he would have to pay in such situations. As a result, he was able to file a claim with CarInsuRent, and we reimbursed him for the repair costs incurred by the rental company. This saved Mr. Peretz hundreds of British Pounds, as he only had to pay US$ 115.90 for the car hire excess coverage instead of the full repair bill. Needless to say, that due to the fact taht Mr. Peretz purchased an annual car hire excess policy, he was able to use his coverage for the remainder of the year.

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How much could you save on Car Hire Excess Insurance for your Alamo car hire?

Car hire excess insurance for 10 days rental in Europe with CarInsuRent will cost US$64.90 compared to US$ 323.00 when purchasing the equivalent coverage from Alamo. Total potential saving: US$ 167.90.

Do You Need Insurance to Rent a Car From Alamo?

Alamo typically requires that renters have some form of insurance coverage, although the specific requirements may vary depending on the location and type of rental.

In many cases, your personal car insurance policy may provide coverage for rental cars. You should check with your insurance provider to see what type of coverage you have and whether it applies to rental cars.

Alternatively, you may be able to purchase insurance directly from Alamo when you rent the car.

What are Alamo Car Rental Insurance Requirements?

What are Alamo Car Rental Insurance Requirement?

Alamo rental car insurance requirements can vary depending on the location and type of rental, but here are some general guidelines. you must meet minimum requirements related to age and have a debit card in place.

Renters must have a debit card with them at the time of renting so that money can be taken out of their account to pay for the fees.

Alamo will advise you against driving without insurance, and will try to sell you their costly Alamo excess protection. Although it is unwise to drive a rental car without insurance, they aren’t being completely honest with their suggestion, thus it seems to reason that you will enroll in a car hire excess insurance.

How to File a Claim

What to Do in Case of an Accident or Damage – If you are involved in an accident while driving a rental car, there are certain steps you should follow to file a claim with the rental car insurance company. First, exchange personal information with the other driver, including name, address, license plate number, rental vehicle information, insurance company, and policy number, and document the accident with pictures and notes. If the other driver is at fault, you should get their contact and insurance information and call their insurance company directly to file a claim. If you are at fault or have non-collision damage, you can file a claim with the rental car insurance company. The process for filing a claim with the rental car insurance company may vary depending on the provider, but typically, you would need to provide details of the incident, including the date, time, and location of the accident, as well as any police report numbers, if applicable. Additionally, you may need to provide documentation of the damage, such as photographs or repair estimates.

Required Documentation for Filing a Claim

• A copy of the Certificate of Insurance
• A copy of the rental agreement
• A copy of the police report if:
  • you got in an accident with a third party
  • It is legally mandated in the country of incident
  • your claim is about stolen personal belongings
• A copy of the damage report given by the rental company, detailing each cost incurred. Photographs of the damage are optional but may help ensure that the charges are reasonable.
• Detailed repair receipts, invoices or other documents showing the breakdown of the amount the rental company charged you for the accidental damage or loss
• A copy of your credit card statement that reflects your payment for the claimed damages
• A copy of the driver’s license of the person driving the car during the accident

What Documents Do I Need to File My Claim?

Tips for a Smooth Claims Process: Filing an insurance claim can be a complicated and stressful process. The following tips can help ensure a smoother claims process:

• Document everything: Documenting all the details of the accident or loss, including taking photos and notes, can help speed up the claims process and reduce the possibility of disputes.
• Communication: Communication is key in any insurance claim process. Keep thorough records of all communication with the insurer, and discuss your expectations for the claims process with the adjuster. You can also ask about the frequency of updates and the preferred type of communication.
• Avoid duplicate claims: Avoid submitting duplicate claims, as it slows down the claims payment process and creates confusion.
• Understand your coverage: It’s important to understand your insurance coverage, including the limits and deductibles, before filing a claim. Understanding your policy can help ensure that you receive the maximum benefit to which you are entitled.
• Be patient: Claims processing can take time, so it’s important to be patient. 

Claims Process

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Alamo Car Rental provides various protection and coverage options to its customers, including options for LDW (Loss Damage Waiver), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance), and ALI (Additional Liability Insurance). 

Alamo Car Rental’s website offers some information on its protection and coverage options, it does not provide specific details on its insurance exclusions. You should carefully review their rental agreement and contact Alamo directly with any questions or concerns they may have about their insurance coverage.

While Alamo offers LDW rental car insurance, it’s important to review the policy carefully to ensure it meets your needs. If you’re looking for additional coverage, you can save money by shopping around and buy car rental insurance online for as low as $6.49 per day* to $94.90 for an annual policy.