Since you are planning to rent a vehicle, here are a few tips on what your policy covers and doesn't cover to help you in deciding how much coverage to buy from the rental company.
When renting a car, pickup or van in the US or Canada, your policy will pay for damage to a rental car if you carry comprehensive and collision on at least one of your vehicles. You would still have to pay your deductibles. Your credit card may also cover damage to the rental car. But, we still recommend that you purchase the Optional Collision or Loss Damage Waiver. The reason we suggest that you purchase this coverage is that your credit card or insurance policy may pay to repair the damage, but rental companies have situations in their contract that may not be covered by your insurance company. For example, after one person's auto policy paid $6000 to repair a damaged rental car, the rental car company sued them for an additional $9,000 to cover the reduction in the car's value. Rental companies can also charge you for loss of rental income while the car is being repaired. Your policy doesn't cover this, though your credit card might. Again, if you don't carry Comprehensive and Collision coverage on at least one of your vehicles, you won't have any coverage for damaging a rented vehicle.
You may also want to purchase the optional Liability protection, especially if you don't want to turn in a claim on your policy.
Rental car companies also sell "Personal Accident" coverage for medical expenses and death caused by a car accident. If you have adequate life and medical coverage, this may not be needed, but of course, we leave this decision up to you. Another option is "Personal Effects" coverage that pays for loss to your luggage and personal property by a car accident. It is very limited and duplicates coverage provided by Homeowners or Renters Insurance Policy. Again, a personal decision that the client has to decide due to deductibles and surcharges for turning in claims.
Some additional information: First, if you are renting a truck larger than a pickup, your policy doesn't pay for any damage to the truck and may not pay for liability coverage either. We suggest that you buy the extra coverage they offer. You may also want to buy their "Cargo" coverage to provide to protect you against damage to the things you are hauling.
Finally, if you will be renting a vehicle for business reasons, check with your employer to see if they will protect you. If not, we will need to know specifically what you will be renting since some vehicles, especially pickups and vans, are not covered when rented for business use.
If you have any questions, please call me. We appreciate you.
Sincerely,
Tammie Grisso D'Allura, CPCU, CIC
Revised 6/25/2018