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Thrifty Rental Car Optional Damage Waiver and Insurance

Renting a car with Thrifty and looking for answers on rental car damage waiver and insurance options? You’ve come to the right place. For peace of mind in case the unexpected happens, Thrifty offers additional protection packages that are available for purchase with your rental reservation.

Rental Car Damage Waiver and Insurance Overview

At times, these optional products may duplicate coverage provided by your personal automobile insurance or insurance you may have through another source. Consider speaking with your personal automobile insurance company to get the full details on your rental car coverage. Purchase of optional products is not required to rent a vehicle with Thrifty. Representatives at all Thrifty locations would be happy to answer any damage waiver/insurance questions that you may have regarding your rental, and separate brochures that summarize the optional products are also available at all locations.

Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)

• Covers all vehicle damage to Thrifty rental car, regardless of fault*, provided the renter is not in violation of the Rental Agreement
• No need to file a claim with your personal auto insurance
• No deductible for you to pay to Thrifty

Personal Accident Insurance and Personal Effects Coverage (P & P )

P&P includes Personal Accident Insurance ("PAI") and Personal Effects Coverage ("PEC"). Where offered, they must be purchased together.

Subject to applicable limits, PAI provides benefits to you and your passengers for:

• Accidental medical expenses
• Ambulance expenses
• Accidental death benefits during the rental
• 24hr coverage during the rental period, whether in vehicle or not
• Passengers in a Thrifty vehicle are only covered for accidents occurring while they occupy the Thrifty vehicle
• Coverage is subject to various exclusions, terms and conditions 

PEC insures covered personal effects of:

• The renter
• Any member of the renter's immediate family traveling with the renter
• A member of a renter's immediate family must permanently reside in the renter's household
• The total maximum coverage in any rental period is $1,800 ($1,500 in NY)
• PEC pays covered claims even if the renter's homeowner's policy provides coverage
• Coverage is subject to various exclusions, terms and conditions

Personal Accident Insurance and Personal Effects Coverage (PAI/PEC) (Canada)

In Canada, where available, optional Personal Accident Insurance and Personal Effects Coverage (PAI/PEC) may be purchased. Where offered, they must be purchased together.

PAI provides coverage for accidental death and/or dismemberment caused by an accident, subject to applicable limits and in accordance with a schedule of benefits. The renter will be covered for any such accident during the rental period, limited benefits are also payable to passengers who may be injured in an accident but only while they are occupants of the rental car. Coverage is subject to various exclusions, terms and conditions.

PEC provides coverage for covered personal effects owned by any covered person while such personal effects are in the rental car. Maximum coverage in each rental period is $500 per covered person up to a maximum of three (3) persons, after a deductible of $25 per covered claim. Total benefits in any rental period are limited to $1,500. Coverage is subject to various exclusions, terms and conditions.

Liability Insurance Supplement (LIS)

You are absolutely liable for any third-party claims for bodily injury, including death, and property damage resulting from an automobile accident in the Thrifty vehicle during the rental period.
However, to protect yourself against this liability, you may purchase Liability Insurance Supplement (LIS), where available.

If accepted, LIS provides the renter or any additional authorized operator listed in the Rental Agreement (excluding the renter's and any additional authorized operator’s family members related by blood, marriage or adoption and any other person residing with the renter or additional operator), with automobile liability coverage against third party claims for bodily injury, including death, and property damage resulting from an automobile accident in the Thrifty vehicle, during the rental period, in excess of the coverage provided under the Rental Agreement up to a maximum protection of $1,000,000 combined single limit (CSL) per occurrence in all states but California and Florida where the coverage for liability only is $2,000,000. The availability, cost and coverage can vary from location to location depending on the program details. Check with the rental location for details of their program. LIS also provides uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for bodily injury up to $1,000,000 per accident. LIS does not apply in Mexico. Coverage is subject to various exclusions, terms and conditions.

Car Rental Optional Damage Waiver and Insurance FAQs

Do you really need damage waiver / insurance on a rental car?

When you rent a car, it can be difficult to know if you need damage waiver or insurance coverage. Be sure to check your personal car insurance policy beforehand to see what your coverage provides for rentals to make sure you are getting all the protection you need. If your personal car insurance policy provides adequate coverage for rental cars, you may not need rental car damage waiver or insurance.

Do credit cards cover for rental car damage waiver/ insurance?

Your credit card could provide some rental car coverage. Check with your credit card company for full details, and to make sure you are fully covered, consider looking into Thrifty coverage options like LIS and PP.

Is third party liability protection included in car rental?

Except in certain states, primary third party liability protection is not included in your standard Rental Agreement. Thrifty offers many different protection plans that can be purchased in addition to your rental reservation.

Are rental cars covered by my insurance?

This varies on a case-by-case basis. The best thing to do is to personally check with your insurance representatives or credit card company to see if your auto policy provides rental car coverage.

Do you have to show proof of insurance when renting a car?

This varies on a case-by-case basis. The best thing to do is to personally check with your insurance representatives or credit card company to see if your auto policy provides rental car coverage.

Do you have to show proof of insurance when renting a car?

No proof of insurance is required at time of rental.

*In IL, for a vehicle with an MSRP of $50,000 or less, your responsibility for loss or damage due to causes other than theft will not exceed $18,500 through May 31, 2019 and will increase by $500 per year starting June 1, 2019. Your responsibility for theft will not exceed $2000 unless it is established that you or an authorized operator failed to exercise ordinary care while in possession of the Car or aided in the commission of the theft. For a vehicle with an MSRP of more than $50,000, your responsibility for loss or damage due to causes other than theft, and for theft, will not exceed $47,500 through September 30, 2019, which limit will increase by $2500 per year starting October 1, 2019. In CA, NY, IA and NV, you are only responsible for theft if it results from your fault.