Rental Cars & Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions

When it comes to rental cars, the coverage provided by your insurance company varies depending on your policy. In some cases, your car insurance may include coverage for rental vehicles, or offer a rental car if you submit an insurance claim because your car was damaged or stolen.

If you're looking for more information about rental cars and car insurance, you've come to the right place. From rentals after an accident to leisure rental car coverage, we’ve answered some of your most frequently asked questions below.

If you drive an electric or hybrid vehicle, we'll do our best to get you an electric or hybrid equivalent temporary replacement rental vehicle when you visit a TD Insurance Auto Centre (or a body shop within our preferred vendor network) to repair your car following a claim. If an electric or hybrid vehicle isn't available, we'll reimburse you for the reasonable cost of gas for your gas-powered temporary replacement rental vehicle as outlined in your policy.

If your car has been damaged, it’s also a good idea to think about who's going to tow your vehicle and where they’re going to take it. Click here for some helpful tips for choosing towing and repair services.

Wondering whether a temporary replacement rental vehicle or insurance for a rental car is included in your TD Insurance car insurance coverage? You can check your policy on the TD Insurance Mobile App, by logging in to MyInsurance, or over the phone at 1-866-848-9744. If you’re covered for a rental, your coverage starts once your vehicle is in for repairs or when it’s deemed not driveable.

Your insurer will pay for the cost of your temporary replacement rental vehicle until your vehicle is repaired, up to the limits of your coverage. If the vehicle is a total loss, your temporary replacement rental vehicle is due back the same day we offer settlement.

If you’re unsure of what’s covered under your car insurance policy or if you'd like to learn more about your coverage options, a TD Insurance Advisor would be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you don’t have car insurance yet, it’s easy to get a car insurance quote online in just a few minutes.

Yes! In fact, that’s one of the reasons we opened TD Insurance Auto Centres. After you've reported your claim, our TD Insurance Auto Centres can help get you back on the road with on-site claims advisors, repairs, and rentals. However, remember that if your policy doesn't include coverage for a temporary replacement rental vehicle, this will be an extra expense. You also have the option to use a car rental service of your choice.

Absolutely. If temporary replacement car rentals are included in your insurance coverage, a TD Insurance Claims Advisor can work with you to e arrange for a rental subject to any applicable coverage limits.

Your existing coverage might extend to cars you're renting while on vacation in the US or Canada. It all depends on your policy and add-ons. For example, if you’re insured with us and have opted to add on our Grand Touring Solution, you'll be covered for car rentals in both Canada and the United States.

There’s one caveat, though: Always check with the rental car company before you pick up your vehicle to ensure there won’t be any hiccups with your coverage. Some US rental agencies may have certain conditions about accepting out-of-country insurance. A quick call ahead can save you potential headaches down the road.

But what if you don’t have our Grand Touring Solution (or a similar add-on if you’re insured elsewhere)? Unfortunately, most car insurance policies don’t cover rental cars for leisure use without a purchasing this specific coverage, so you’ll likely need to buy additional insurance from the car rental company at the time of rental. Rental companies usually offer several options, so you can choose the coverage that best suits your needs.

Whether or not you’ll need to purchase additional insurance when renting a car depends on your existing car insurance coverage and why you're renting the car.

If you need a rental after an accident, while your car is being repaired, and your policy or add-on coverage includes the cost of a rental car, you’ll be covered for any physical damage to that rental vehicle, according to the terms of the policy. But, if your existing insurance policy doesn’t cover the rental charge (for example, if you’re involved in an at-fault or partially at-fault collision and you don’t have an add-on like our Grand Touring Solution) you’ll need to purchase additional insurance from the car rental company.

The situation looks a bit different if you’re renting a car for leisure purposes. You won’t need to purchase additional insurance if you have add-on coverage like our Grand Touring Solution, which covers rental cars in the US or Canada. But If you don’t have this add-on coverage, your policy likely won’t cover your car rental. This is where rental companies come in handy—they offer insurance at the counter, making it easy for you to purchase the additional rental car coverage you need.

Yes, when renting a car outside of the US and Canada, purchasing additional insurance from the car rental agency is almost always necessary. This is because Canadian car insurance policies (and any additional coverage for rental car coverage) don’t offer coverage protection for international car rental situations.

Always inquire about insurance options from your rental car provider when you make your reservation. This way, you can obtain the necessary coverage to comply with local laws and rental terms and avoid any potential financial stress.

You may also want to consider purchasing umbrella coverage before your travels, like our Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance, which provides you with worldwide coverage, to enhance your existing liability coverage while you're abroad.

Interested in adding Travel Insurance? We have a range of insurance options to help protect you and your family from unexpected medical costs while away and we provide 24/7 emergency assistance.

Still have questions? We can help. Use the TD Insurance Mobile App or log in to MyInsurance to check your policy or learn more about your coverage options. Of course, you can always contact a TD Insurance Advisor with claim questions at any time by calling 1-866-848-9744.