Last Updated on January 8, 2023 by Michael
Are you a non-U.S. citizen renting a car in the United States? If so, your rental car company may offer an insurance option called Emergency Sickness Protection (ESP). Don’t fall for it.
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Instead, before you travel to the U.S., take out travel insurance that includes coverage for medical expenses abroad. Otherwise, know that there are no reciprocal health care agreements in place for visitors to the USA from foreign countries.
What happens if you have no insurance? You can get medical treatment in the U.S., but you will have to pay for it in full. American medical fees can be extremely high compared to other countries. The final bill for treating a common injury such as a broken ankle can run into thousands of dollars.
What is Emergency Sickness Protection in a Rental Car?
ESP is an insurance product offered by some rental car companies. It theoretically provides sickness protections for international visitors to the US. It’s offered by a third party, which typically charges the rental car company 75 cents per rental day. In turn, the rental car company can then charge $3 or more per day to the renter. That’s called gouging.
It’s a markup that’s fantastic for commissions, so the agents at the counter are highly motivated to sell. But this insurance will duplicate coverage you already have through your travel insurance policy.
Fine print for Emergency Sickness Protection
Even worse, the typical Terms and Conditions shows many exclusions in which a claim could be denied.
- Any illness that starts before or after the rental
- Any pre-existing condition
- Vision, dental, or hearing coverage
- Any form of accident
- Participation in organized sports
- Cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes
- Cancer or tumors
- Congenital conditions
- STDs
- Anything related to pregnancy
- Travel against physician orders
- Travel to seek medical care
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Companies Offering Emergency Sickness Protection
- Avis
- Budget
- Dollar
- Hertz
- Payless
- Thrifty
The Enterprise Holdings Companies (Alamo, Enterprise, and National) plus Sixt don’t even bother to offer Emergency Sickness Protection. We consider that a customer-friendly position.
Related:
- Ultimate Glossary of Car Rental Terms
- Do You Need Personal Accident Insurance When You Rent a Car?
- Should You Buy Car Rental Insurance?
The post Do You Need Emergency Sickness Protection When You Rent a Car? appeared first on AutoSlash.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you need to rent an automobile in Portugal?
Portugal has an international driving permit that is required for renting a car. A valid credit card and proof of insurance are required for payment purposes.
When making a booking, rental companies will often ask you for a passport/national ID card.
Portugal may ask you to provide two forms of identification when renting a vehicle.
These are required by law to comply with the European Union regulations on road traffic safety. If you have any doubts as to your identity, access may be denied to the vehicle.
If you do NOT have an International Driving License, you will need to obtain a translated copy from the Driver Licensing Authority of your home country.
This document must be translated into Portuguese, and all documentation required to support it must also be included. It costs approximately $20-30 USD to translate this document depending on where you live.
You may not be allowed to enter the vehicle if you fail to provide a copy your official translation.
Are you looking for a car in Europe and need one?
The best solution to your problem depends on where you live, what you do and how you think. A typical European city might have different priorities from a rural area.
Consider how long you intend to stay in each place. You may need an economical car if there are frequent trips and you don't plan on staying in one place for long.
In most cases, buying a second-hand car is better than renting one. A used car is usually cheaper than renting in Europe for many reasons. For instance, you save money on fuel, parking fees, maintenance costs, insurance, taxes, etc.
Another benefit is that the car can be driven safely.
You can find excellent information on car rental in Europe on a variety of websites. Check out our recommendations.
Do I have to insure my car for rental cars in foreign country?
As part of their general policy coverage, insurance companies increasingly cover rentals in foreign countries. If you rent a car through Hertz Europe, for example, you might be covered for any damage or losses that occur while the vehicle is being rented. Mexico is no different. Some policies include additional protections like waivers for liability or collision damages. Ask your agent for information about these types policies.
Is it possible for you to rent a car and then drop it off at Spain?
You can, and it's possible. This is known as "car hire". Many companies offer this service online.
Just make sure to check with the Spanish or Portuguese authorities if they have licensed them.
It is best to reach them via their websites. You will find all the information they need.
Are there automatic transmissions in Europe for rental cars?
Yes. It is a rule that rental agencies will not rent vehicles without an automated transmission. This is because it can be costly to repair any damage caused by driving around. It would be far too costly to replace all these parts every time you drive away with dents in the bodywork.
Rent a car in Europe with an automatic transmission.
You can rent a car to Europe using a US driver's license.
It depends on which country you are visiting. It is possible to rent cars if traveling to France. You cannot do so if travelling to Italy.
Statistics
- Automatics are more expensive (usually about 50 percent more) and may only be available if you upgrade to a bigger, pricier car. (ricksteves.com)
- In 2019, the most crucial factor is the cost and fees of the rental (accounting for 28% of overall satisfaction with the rental experience), followed by the rental car itself at 25% and the pick-up process at 23%. (cnet.com)
- American Airlines, for example, offers AAdvantage members 35% off Budget and Avis — but you need to rent from an airport. (nerdwallet.com)
- The perks vary from partner to partner, but you can expect discounts of up to 35 percent on some rentals and the ability to earn anywhere from 50 bonus American AAdvantage miles per day or 500 per rental. (afar.com)
- I'd say 70% of the time, we have a hassle-free encounter, but there have been certain companies that we prefer not to use anymore. (theworldpursuit.com)
External Links
sixt.com
kayak.com
autoslash.com
jdpower.com
- 2021 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study
- 2019 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study | J.D. Power
How To
How do I make sure that pre-existing damage isn't charged to my rental car?
If you take a rental car for a few days, what happens when the vehicle is returned to the rental agency? If there is a scratch on your rental car, do you get charged for this damage? This is a common problem, especially for people who rent vehicles from different companies. Some agencies charge customers even if they did not cause any damage while driving their rented cars. In order to avoid these charges, it is important that you ask whether the rental car will be charged for any scratches and dents. These are the steps you can take to ensure that no charges will be made for damage done before renting a car.
- Ask for a copy of the agreement;
- Please read the entire description.
- Take care to read all the fine print.
- Get a complimentary cleaning service
- Be careful with the condition of the car;
- Don't leave anything behind inside the car;
- When renting a car, always have cash.
- Keep all receipts;
- It is your responsibility to ensure that no one touches the car without you permission.
- Never accept a gift of the company.
- Do not rent from a dubious agency.
- Remember to bring the contract along with you;
- The car must be returned in good condition.
- Your contact information should be given to the agent
- Do not use the same company too often
- Note important information about your car such as its mileage, model, engine size and color. ;
- Take photos to show the extent of the damage.
- Do it yourself.
- Get the car inspected by an independent party
- Do not agree to pay additional fees
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