How safe is it to hire a rental car in Ft Lauderdale?
If you are going to rent a car in Ft Lauderdale, it is quite likely that you have already asked yourself the million dollar question: What kind of insurance should I take out, and although I like extreme adventures there is one kind of risk I am not willing to take: the risk of renting a car without insurance coverage.
I had previously explained that can save a lot of money by taking out insurance at the time of booking online and not waiting until they arrive at the airport to collect the car.I did not explain which insurances are recommended.
Today I am going to tell you what types of insurance are available, from the most basic to the most complex, and which ones I think are necessary or which ones you might need on your trip to Ft Lauderdale.
The first thing you need to know is that no two routes or two trips are the same, some people may want to go to Fort Lauderdale for a food tour, others will probably want to just go to the beaches and others like me will be looking for hiking and outdoor opportunities. It will also depend on who you are travelling with, some people will probably be travelling as a family with young children, others will be travelling with their friends, others will be travelling as a couple or travelling alone, so the first thing you need to do is identify what type of trip you are going on and what the risks are; this will help you choose what type of car is right for you and once you are clear on those two variables you are almost ready to go. travel Ft Laurerdale by rental car.
Once you have assessed the above, you should check the coverages offered by the rental company of your choice. I always recommend using a broker or an online price comparator so that you can find the best rate and your budget will not be affected. When you are comparing the prices of car rental companies, make sure you choose one that is well known in the market, this will allow you to have different types of insurance and several options to suit the type of trip you are going to have.
Below is a list of existing insurance policies and for which types of travel I recommend them:
- Car insurance CDW or LDW.
CDW insurance (Collision Damage Waiver and LDW insurance (Loss Damage Waiver covers all damages or losses that the car may have during the rental period, focusing mainly on crashes, theft or accidents and exempts you from liability for the damage or loss of the car. This is one of the most basic and economical insurances and one of the ones I always recommend you to take out, no matter what kind of trip you are going to have. No one, not even the most experienced driver, is exempt from having an accident, whether it is their own responsibility or the responsibility of someone else. In addition to this, if you are going to park your rented car in public car parks or on the street, it is always better to cover yourself against possible theft of parts or accessories; Fort Lauderdale is a safe area but it never hurts to take precautions.
- LIS, EP, ALI or Supplemental Liability Insurance.
LIS insurance (Supplemental Liability Insurance in English), also known as ALI (Additional Liability Insurance in English) or as EP (Extended Protection is a liability policy that covers possible damages you may cause to other vehicles and other drivers. Generally in other countries this insurance is compulsory (for example, in Spain it is), however, in the United States there is no such obligation, so whoever rents the car is responsible for damages caused to third parties. Although it is not a requirement for renting a car in Fort Lauderdale, rental companies recommend that you purchase it and it is certainly not worth the risk of having to respond for accidents that nobody can control, just to save a few euros.
- PAI insurance.
The PAI insurance (Personal Accident Insurance provides cover for the driver and passengers in the event of a road traffic accident resulting in injury during the rental period. This policy covers medical consultation, hospitalisation, surgery and medication to treat injuries resulting from a possible accident and having this cover offers unparalleled peace of mind when travelling. It is not compulsory but, if your trip includes being on roads where you will be driving at high speeds or even areas where the road conditions are not optimal, it is an insurance that is worth investing in, especially because it takes care of you and the people in the car with you.
- PEC insurance.
The PEC insurance (Personal Effects Coverage covers the loss or theft of the driver's and passengers' belongings during the time the car is rented, even if the theft or loss occurs while you are out of the vehicle. This policy works well for travellers planning to shop in the famous Ft Lauderdale shopping malls, as if you leave your bags in the car and a theft occurs, you can make use of this coverage. It also works very well for people like me who take all their audiovisual equipment with them on their trips to take the best shots of their adventures, if for any reason this equipment is taken out of the car it is insured and will not be a total loss.
- PR Insurance
PR insurance (Roadside Plus is a service for mechanical assistance and other minor contingencies that are common when driving, for example, loss of keys or having left them inside the car, replacement of tyres or changing oil, water or petrol when you are already on the road. This is one of the coverages that I always include, my trips tend to be in natural environments, with unpaved roads and I wouldn't want to be left in the middle of my trip with a flat tyre. I recommend this policy when you are going to have a trip away from urban areas, where asking for mechanical help would be quite complex, however, it doesn't hurt to have a professional available in case the car fails, especially in a city where you are a tourist and you don't know much around you. I also recommend it for people who are not very expert in the subject of car mechanics.
These are the most popular insurances in the car rental agencies in Ft Lauderdale, however, as I mentioned before you don't need to purchase all of them, this will depend on the type of trip you want to have. It is also important to note that not all companies offer the same policies and I always recommend using agencies that are well positioned in the market to guarantee better prices. The lesser known ones usually charge for each of these insurances separately and this increases the rates, whereas if you rent your car with Hertz, Alamo, Avis, Budget or any of these, you will find more variety and breadth of insurances and you will be able to choose the one that best suits your trip and your budget. Another recommendation that I always stress when it comes to renting a car is to use a broker or an online price comparator such as Miles Car RentalOn these platforms you will be able to see which company is offering you the best rate and compare the coverage, even, if you book online with them and depending on the conditions, they will offer you additional benefits such as a Free Travel Insurance, which includes even more coverage that will probably help you on your trip,
Fort Lauderdale is a wonderful destination and touring it in a rental car does not have to be expensive if you book and purchase your insurance correctly. Don't forget to read the conditions and exceptions of each policy, as they are policies that change depending on many factors. I hope you enjoy your trip and that these recommendations have been useful. When travelling, insurance against risks is the one thing you want to buy and never use, always keep in mind that these policies give you financial protection against possible damages and that no one is exempt from suffering accidents.
