Yes, your insurance will usually cover a rental car while your hail damage is being repaired, but only if you carry rental reimbursement coverage on your policy. Rental reimbursement is a separate, optional coverage, not something that comes automatically with comprehensive or collision. If you have it, it pays for a rental while your car is in the shop for a covered hail claim, up to a daily and total dollar limit. If you do not have it, you are generally responsible for the rental cost yourself.
After a Colorado hailstorm, this is one of the first questions drivers ask, often before they have even chosen a repair shop. Here is exactly how rental coverage works during a hail repair, what it pays, and what your options are if it is not on your policy.
Does Insurance Cover a Rental Car While My Hail Damage Is Being Repaired?
It comes down to one thing: whether you have rental reimbursement coverage. Hail damage is handled as a comprehensive claim, which is a covered loss, and rental reimbursement pays for a substitute vehicle while your car is being repaired after a covered loss. So if rental reimbursement is on your policy, your insurer will cover a rental during your hail repair, subject to the limits on that coverage. If it is not on your policy, comprehensive coverage alone does not include a rental, and the cost falls to you unless you have another option.
What Is Rental Reimbursement Coverage?
Rental reimbursement, sometimes called rental car coverage or transportation expense coverage, is an optional add-on to your auto policy. It exists specifically to pay for a rental or other transportation while your vehicle is in the shop for a covered repair. Insurers generally require you to carry comprehensive or collision coverage before you can add it. It is usually inexpensive, which is why many drivers have it without remembering they do. The fastest way to find out is to check your declarations page or call your agent.
How Much Does Rental Reimbursement Pay?
Rental reimbursement pays up to a set limit, not unlimited. Two numbers define it:
- A daily limit, commonly around $30 to $50 per day.
- A per-claim maximum, often in the range of $900 to $1,500 total.
Those numbers vary by policy, so check yours. The practical catch is the daily cap: if your coverage pays $30 a day and the rental costs $50 a day, you pay the $20 difference. Choosing a rental at or below your daily limit is the simplest way to avoid any out-of-pocket cost.
Do I Have to Pay a Deductible for the Rental?
No. Rental reimbursement coverage does not carry its own deductible. The deductible that applies to your hail claim is tied to your comprehensive coverage and the repair itself, not to the rental. The rental coverage simply pays up to its daily and per-claim limits while your car is being fixed. If you are still deciding whether to file at all, our guide on whether to file a hail claim or pay out of pocket walks through the math.
What If I Don’t Have Rental Reimbursement Coverage?
If rental reimbursement is not on your policy, your comprehensive coverage will still pay to repair the hail damage, but the rental is generally your own expense. You still have options: some drivers arrange a short-term rental on their own, and a credit card or a membership program sometimes offers rental benefits worth checking. A good repair shop can also help here. Mile High Dents works directly with your insurance adjuster to process a rental claim when you have the coverage, coordinates your vehicle drop-off and rental pick-up, and if your policy has no rental coverage, you can ask us about alternative assistance options. The goal is to keep you on the road while your car is repaired.
Can I Add Rental Reimbursement After the Hail Storm?
Generally, no. Insurance covers losses that happen after a coverage is in place, so you cannot add rental reimbursement after a storm and have it apply to a claim for damage that already occurred. If you do not have it now, adding it will help with future claims, not the current one. This is a good reason to review your policy before hail season rather than after.
How Long Does Rental Coverage Last During Repairs?
Rental reimbursement pays while your car is actually being repaired for the covered loss, until you hit the per-claim maximum. Most hail repairs do not run long enough to exhaust the limit (see how long paintless dent repair takes), but a severe repair or a backlog after a big storm can. One thing to know: if a vehicle is declared a total loss rather than repaired, rental coverage typically ends when the insurer issues the settlement, though some insurers allow a few extra days. If your car may be a total loss, ask your insurer to confirm the rental end date in writing.
How Mile High Dents Makes the Rental Part Easy
Dealing with a rental on top of a damaged car is exactly the kind of hassle drivers do not want after a storm. Handling hail claims is the core of what we do, and the rental is part of that. We coordinate with your insurance adjuster to process your rental claim, set up your rental, and arrange drop-off and pick-up so the handoff is smooth. We also offer free pickup and delivery of your vehicle. You can see how our hail claim and repair process works, learn how to file a claim, or reach us directly to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does comprehensive insurance include a rental car?
No. Comprehensive coverage pays to repair hail and other non-collision damage, but a rental is only covered if you separately carry rental reimbursement coverage.
Will a hail claim rental raise my insurance rates?
Hail damage is a comprehensive, no-fault claim, so it does not affect your rates the way an at-fault accident can. Using rental reimbursement on that claim does not change that. Check with your insurer about your specific policy.
Who pays for the rental up front?
Depending on your insurer and the rental company, the cost may be billed directly to your insurer or reimbursed to you afterward. Your adjuster or repair shop can tell you which applies to your claim.
How do I know if I have rental reimbursement coverage?
Check your policy declarations page or call your insurance agent. It is listed as rental reimbursement, rental car, or transportation expense coverage.
Does the rental have to be the same type of car I drive?
Usually, the coverage pays for a comparable, economical rental up to your daily limit, not necessarily a match for your exact vehicle. You can rent something nicer and pay the difference.
This article is general information about how rental reimbursement typically works and is not insurance advice. Coverage, limits, and terms vary by policy, so confirm the details with your own insurer.
Get Your Hail Damage Handled
A hail-damaged car should not mean days without a way to get around. Mile High Dents handles hail claims and rental coordination together, so you stay on the road while your car is repaired right. Contact us at (720) 772-0133 to get started.
At Mile High Dents, we specialize in paintless dent repair (PDR) for all types of vehicles across the Denver metro area. Whether you’re dealing with hail damage, an annoying door ding, or a larger dent, our expert technicians restore your vehicle to like-new condition without repainting, sanding, or fillers.
