Handling an accident in your Hertz rental car

When you’re navigating roads that you’re unfamiliar with or you’re driving on the other side of the road than what you’re used to, you may be more at risk of getting into an accident. While it’s still unlikely to happen, it’s important to know who to contact and what happens if you damage a rental car.

What to do before you drive away

Before you rent a car, it’s important to know what you’re covered for in case of a rental car accident.

Automotive insurance

Many rental companies require that you have insurance, and you may not be able to rent a vehicle without it. If you already have personal insurance, make sure that it extends to rental vehicles too.

Rental company insurance

Your rental car provider may offer their own type of insurance. Hertz offers both Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) and Limited Loss Damage Waiver (LLDW) policies.

The LDW waives your financial responsibility for any damage or loss to your rental vehicle. It’s not the same as insurance and only covers damage to the car – not any person or property. Sometimes a LDW is a more affordable option than insurance – but you need to carefully consider this decision and consult the terms and conditions of the waiver policy.

The Hertz LLDW is very similar to the Hertz LDW. In fact, the only difference is that the Limited Loss Damage waiver has a cap of $1,000 for theft and damages. The Loss Damage Waiver has no cap.

What to do after an accident in a rental car

Check everyone is okay

The first thing to do after an accident in a rental car is to check that everyone involved in the accident is okay. Check that you, your passengers and anyone else on the scene are unharmed. If anyone is injured, call emergency services immediately.

You should also check the vehicle and make a judgement on whether you need to clear the area. Dangers may include fallen power lines, anything that can obstruct the traffic and fire risks.

Document the Accident

You need to exchange details with anyone else involved in the rental car accident. Take down the names and contact details of all passengers, eyewitnesses and anyone else that could help. Make sure to write down the license plate and model of the other car involved. Record any damage to your rental car – and take pictures.

Take pictures and videos of the accident and make a note of the location, weather conditions and time of day. Make a note of the street name and anything else that seems important.

Contact the authorities

The first people to contact are the police. They need to come and make a report, secure the area and make sure that it’s safe. It’s important to obtain a copy of the police report too for your records.

Contact your rental company to find out what to do in the event of an accident. They’ll ask questions and tell you how to proceed.

Your rental car company will be able to handle recovery, repairs and a replacement rental car if you need one. Once you’re safely off the road, contact Hertz's roadside assistance team. Hertz offers Basic Emergency Roadside Assistance with every rental. This covers any mechanical defects of the vehicle. You can opt into Hertz Premium Emergency Roadside Assistance for more advanced features. This includes a 90-Minute Roadside Guarantee[1], Out of Gas Service, Lost Key Service[2] and more.

Determine the extent of damage

How much you’ll need to pay depends on your automotive insurance, or whether you opted for any additional waivers through your rental agency. It may also vary depending on if there is major or minor damage to the rental car.

If you didn’t purchase an LDW, your insurance company may pay the rental company (if you have first-party coverage). So regardless of whether the accident was your fault or not, you may have to pay your policy’s deductible to the rental company.

If rental insurance isn’t included in your policy, you may have to pay for the additional days you were supposed to have the rental car – even if you can’t drive it.

If you did purchase an LWD or a LLWD your claim will be treated differently. You will only need to pay the policy premium to the rental company and your insurance deductible.

When you rent a car from Hertz, in most states, you will be financially liable for the full value of the vehicle at the time of rental (minus the salvage value) plus towing and other expenses – even if the accident isn’t your fault. You can check your responsibility in paragraph four of your rental agreement.  

Returning the rental car

If the car is drivable, you should take it back to the rental office. If not, call your rental company for roadside assistance and have it towed.

You must complete a Vehicle Incident Report for each incident that occurs while you’re renting your Hertz vehicle. In the damage description, you must detail any injuries or fatalities as a result of the crash. You will be asked for:

• Your personal details
• Your rental information including your rental vehicle
• The driver
• Details of any third party involved
• Description of the incident

A rental car accident isn’t something that anyone plans for. But if the worst was to happen, it pays to be prepared. Find out more about Hertz’s optional protection plans. 

[1] 90 minutes begin after Emergency Roadside Service Representative received receives the phone call. If we are unable to get to the customer within 90 minutes, we will credit back the daily charge for the Premium Emergency Roadside Service.

[2] Lost Key Service and Spare Tire Mounting are provided through the terms and conditions of some corporate contracts. Consult your Company Travel/Personnel Departments for details. Restrictions apply.