You’re driving a rental car and happen to notice a windshield crack or chip. Was it there when you picked up the car? How did it happen? Will your insurance cover the cost of repair? The answers to these questions will determine whether your trip is about to get worse.
Document All Damage Before Driving Away
If you notice a small chip or crack in your vehicle’s windshield before leaving the rental car lot, the agent might say that it’s small enough not to worry about. Don’t believe it. Get out your smartphone and document all damage, including every dent, ding and scratch. Take photos of the entire car from multiple angles, and don’t forget the the wheels and the windshield. If there’s a small ding that you miss, you could be held accountable for it later on.
Why Do Car Windshields Crack?
It’s possible that your rental vehicle may pick up a windshield crack or chip while it is in your possession. A windshield can crack or chip for a variety of reasons, even when the rest of the car appears to be fine. Some of the most common causes include:
- inclement weather, such as hail
- accidents, such as tree branches falling
- debris, such as small rocks or gravel
What to Do If Your Car Windshield Cracks
Find safety and call roadside assistance if needed. If your windshield cracks so badly you cannot see through it clearly, don’t try to drive. Instead, pull over to a safe spot and call the rental car company to let them know that the car is unsafe to drive and clarify next steps. You may be able to use the rental company’s roadside assistance or get this through AAA, AARP or your credit card.
Avoid getting pulled over. Even if you think a cracked windshield is no big deal, be aware that getting pulled over for a noticeably cracked windshield is a very real possibility. Federal laws prohibit driving with a crack measuring more than three-quarters of an inch in diameter or if the windshield has multiple cracks in the same area. States laws can vary regarding driving with cracked windshields.
File an insurance claim. If your windshield cracks while you have a rental car, you may have to file an insurance claim with your car insurance company. The Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) from the rental car company should cover a cracked windshield. Likewise, your personal auto policy should cover it if your policy includes comprehensive coverage.
How to Avoid Windshield Cracks
To lower the risk of having a cracked windshield from cracking, try to park the car in an enclosed place to avoid potential hail storms or freak accidents such as a tree branch falling on the windshield. Avoid driving on unpaved roads or off-road situations. Not only can this increase the chance of a stray rock striking the windshield, but it may be a violation of your rental agreement—and in that case, you may be on the hook for damages.
Who Pays for a Cracked Windshield on a Rental Car?
Whether or not you will be held responsible for your rental car’s windshield cracking depends on a few factors, including how the damages occurred and what kind of coverage you have.
The rental car company’s collision damage waiver (CDW) should cover the damages from the cracked windshield if the damage was beyond the renter’s control. If you don’t have a CDW, you can file a claim using your personal auto insurance. If the cracked windshield did not happen as a result of a car accident, the damages should be covered by your policy’s comprehensive coverage. It’s also worth checking your credit card’s policy to see if it would cover damages to the windshield.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent or return a car to Germany?
Answering this question will depend on many factors including the vehicle type you are renting, how much time you plan to drive, and whether or not you have any special requirements such as child seats.
You don’t have to rent a car if you drive from Munich to Zurich. You might consider renting a car if you plan to drive from Munich to Barcelona during your holiday.
What do you need to rent a vehicle in Europe?
There are many websites that will help you to find the best European rental car deals. Book online to save money.
Before you rent a vehicle, it is important to have all necessary information.
- Your complete name, including any middle names (if relevant)
- The address at which you are staying
- Date, time, and location of pickup
- The vehicle to be rented must match the make and model.
- Number of the policy and insurance company
- Additional equipment or special requests?
- Details of the rental agreement, such as duration, rate, deposit and balance due at the conclusion of the trip, excess charges or limits of liability and cancellation penalties, are included.
- Payment method(s), credit card, debit card cash, personal cheque or cash
After you have obtained all the necessary information, you are able to book your vehicle with the company listed above.
Can you rent a car from one European country to return it to another?
It would make travelling easier if you could rent cars across multiple countries and have them return to the place they were rented.
This is not practical, however, as many people aren’t willing to pay more for additional mileage. A lot of rental agencies charge an additional fee for returning the car to the location it was rented.
If you don’t plan to travel often, it might be better not to choose one country.
Which countries are willing to accept US drivers licenses?
The United States does not recognize any other country’s driver’s licenses as valid on its roads. They are accepted by Canada, Mexico, the District of Columbia, and other countries.
Canada recognizes American driver licenses issued by all 50 United States and District of Columbia.
Mexico recognizes American driver’s licences. At this time they are only recognized by the state of Chihuahua.
The District of Columbia is open to American driver’s licences from all 50 United States states, with the exception of Alabama and Mississippi, Texas, Texas, West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia, Texas, Texas, Texas, and Texas.
Chase Sapphire covers car rental insurance in Ireland
You can add EUR15 per day to your vehicle insurance. A wide variety of optional extras are available, including breakdown assistance and theft insurance as well as personal accident insurance.
Can I rent a car in Italy and drop it off in France?
Renting a car from an Italian company and driving it across Europe may not be possible. You could try Europcar which provides rentals across Europe. Contact them for details on renting cars in Italy, and dropping them off at other locations.
Statistics
- If you’re a member of AAA, you might also be able to snag discounts of 10 percent at Thrifty, and 8 percent at Dollar. (afar.com)
- You can rent an automatic but these cars can cost as much as 50% more than a manual vehicle. (earthtrekkers.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)
- 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)
- Automatics are more expensive (usually about 50 percent more) and may only be available if you upgrade to a bigger, pricier car. (ricksteves.com)
External Links
avis.com
kayak.com
alamo.com
jdpower.com
How To
Here are some tips to book a car rental in Europe
Europe can be divided into cities and countries. The most popular destinations include Paris, London, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, and Berlin. Enterprise Rent-A-Car (Hertz, Avis and Europcar) offer car hire services around the world. These companies are located at major airports, stations, and urban centers. They often provide cars with drivers and gas included. Renting a Volkswagen Polo can be done for as little at EUR 40 per night.
The booking process can vary depending on the country you’re visiting. You may have different payment options in some countries like Spain. Sometimes the price includes taxes or fees. Before you make any reservations, please check the website of the car rental agency. If you do not know where you want to go or if you simply prefer to drive yourself, check out these companies:Alamo,Avis,Europcar,Budget,National, andThrifty
