What Progressive Insurance Covers for Rental Cars

Progressive covers rental cars through your collision and comprehensive coverage, but only if you add rental reimbursement to your policy

Progressive does not automatically pay for a rental car when yours is damaged or stolen. You have to add rental reimbursement coverage as a separate option to your policy. If you have it, Progressive will reimburse you for the cost of a rental car up to a daily limit — typically $30 to $45 per day, depending on what you chose when you bought the coverage. The total reimbursement is also capped, usually at $900 to $1,500 for the entire claim.

The coverage only kicks in after a covered loss — meaning an accident, theft, or weather damage that your collision or comprehensive coverage would pay for. It does not cover rentals for routine maintenance, recalls, or breakdowns. You also have to rent from a standard rental company; Progressive will not reimburse you for a loaner from a repair shop or a car you borrowed from a friend.

Key Takeaways

• Rental reimbursement is an optional add-on to your Progressive policy, not included automatically, and you choose the daily limit and total cap when you purchase it.
• The coverage only pays for rentals after a covered loss like an accident or theft, not for routine repairs or breakdowns.
• Progressive reimburses you directly based on your actual rental receipt, up to the daily and total limits you selected.
• If you do not have rental reimbursement coverage, you will have to pay for a rental car out of pocket while your car is being repaired.

How rental reimbursement coverage works with Progressive

When you file a claim for a covered loss, you can rent a car while yours is being repaired or replaced. You pay the rental company directly, then submit your receipt to Progressive along with your claim. Progressive reimburses you up to the daily limit and total limit you selected on your policy.

The daily limit is what Progressive will pay per day of rental. If you chose $30 per day and your rental costs $50 per day, you pay the extra $20 yourself. The total limit is the maximum Progressive will pay across the entire claim, regardless of how many days you rent the car. If your total limit is $900 and you rent for 20 days at $45 per day, that would be $900 total — which hits your cap exactly.

Progressive starts the clock on rental coverage the day you report the claim, not the day you actually rent the car. If you wait a week to rent a car, Progressive will not backdate the coverage. You have to rent the car while the claim is active and your vehicle is being repaired or replaced.

What rental reimbursement does not cover

Rental reimbursement only works for losses covered by your collision or comprehensive coverage. If you cause an accident but do not have collision coverage, rental reimbursement will not help. The same applies if your car is stolen but you do not have comprehensive coverage.

The coverage also does not explore to rentals for routine maintenance — oil changes, tire rotations, recalls — or for breakdowns that are not the result of a covered loss. If your transmission fails and you need a rental while it is being fixed, rental reimbursement will not pay for it unless the failure was caused by an accident or other covered event.

Progressive will not reimburse you for luxury or specialty rentals beyond what a standard rental would cost. If you rent a premium car when an economy car would have been available, Progressive pays only what the economy car would have cost.

How to add rental reimbursement to your Progressive policy

You can add rental reimbursement coverage when you first buy a policy or at any time after. Call Progressive at 1-800-776-4737, use the Progressive website to log into your account and modify your policy, or contact your local Progressive agent if you have one.

When you add the coverage, you will choose a daily limit (the amount Progressive pays per day) and a total limit (the maximum Progressive pays for the entire rental period). Higher daily and total limits cost more per month. Progressive will show you the price difference for each option before you confirm the change.

The coverage takes effect when ready if you add it online or by phone, or on the date your agent processes it if you work with an agent. You cannot use it retroactively for a claim that already happened.

What happens if you do not have rental reimbursement coverage

If your car is damaged in a covered loss and you do not have rental reimbursement, you will have to pay for a rental car yourself. Progressive will not reimburse you later, even if you submit a receipt. The only way to get reimbursement is to have the coverage on your policy at the time the loss occurs.

Some people choose to skip rental reimbursement because they have another way to get around — a second car, a spouse who can drive them, or access to public transit. Others add it because they cannot afford to rent a car out of pocket while waiting for repairs. The decision depends on your situation and your budget.

How rental reimbursement interacts with your deductible

Your deductible applies to the claim itself, not to the rental reimbursement. If you have a $500 deductible and file a claim for $3,000 in damage, you pay $500 and Progressive pays $2,500. Your rental reimbursement is separate — Progressive pays it in full, up to your daily and total limits, regardless of your deductible.

This means rental reimbursement can help you cover transportation costs while you are already paying your deductible on the repair bill. The two do not reduce each other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use rental reimbursement if I rent a car from a repair shop instead of a rental company?

No. Progressive only reimburses rentals from standard rental companies like Enterprise, Hertz, or Budget. If a repair shop offers you a loaner car, that is not covered by rental reimbursement. Some repair shops will waive the loaner fee if your claim is with Progressive, so ask the shop what they offer.

How long does Progressive cover a rental car?

Progressive covers the rental for as long as your car is being repaired, up to your total limit. If repairs take three weeks and your total limit is $900 at a $45 daily rate, you get 20 days of coverage. If repairs take longer, you pay for the extra days yourself.

Do I need rental reimbursement if I have a credit card that covers rentals?

Some credit cards offer rental car coverage, but it usually covers damage to the rental car itself, not the cost of renting while yours is being repaired. Check your card's benefits to see what it covers. If it does not cover rental costs during a claim, rental reimbursement on your Progressive policy fills that gap.

What if Progressive totals my car — do rental reimbursement still explore?

Yes. If your car is declared a total loss, rental reimbursement covers the rental while you are shopping for a replacement car or waiting for Progressive to pay out the claim. The coverage ends once you receive the settlement payment.

Can I change my rental reimbursement limits after I buy the coverage?

Yes. You can increase or decrease your daily and total limits at any time by contacting Progressive. Changes take effect when ready if you make them online or by phone. If you lower your limits, the new limits explore to future claims, not claims already in progress.