What USAA Car Insurance Covers When You Rent a Vehicle

USAA's rental car coverage depends on which policy you hold

USAA car insurance includes rental reimbursement coverage as an optional add-on, not as a standard feature in every policy. Whether your USAA policy covers a rental car depends on whether you purchased this coverage when you set up your policy, and what limits you chose. If you did not add rental reimbursement, USAA will not pay for a rental car if yours is damaged or stolen.

The coverage works by reimbursing you for the daily cost of renting a car while yours is being repaired after a covered loss. USAA does not typically arrange the rental directly — you rent the car yourself and then submit the receipt to USAA for reimbursement, up to your chosen daily limit.

Key Takeaways

• Rental reimbursement is an optional add-on to USAA policies, not included automatically, so check your current declarations page to see if you have it.
• The coverage reimburses you for rental car costs after your car is damaged in a covered loss, up to a daily limit you select when you purchase the coverage.
• USAA typically reimburses you after you pay for the rental and submit a receipt, rather than paying the rental company directly.
• The coverage applies only to losses covered by your collision or comprehensive coverage, so a rental is not covered if the damage to your car would not be covered.

How USAA rental reimbursement coverage works

When you have rental reimbursement coverage and your car is damaged in a covered accident or weather event, you can rent a replacement vehicle while yours is in the shop. You pay the rental company out of pocket, then send USAA your rental agreement and receipt. USAA reimburses you up to the daily limit you chose — common limits are $30, $45, or $60 per day, with a total limit of 10 to 30 days depending on your policy.

The reimbursement covers the base rental rate only. It does not cover insurance the rental company sells you, fuel, tolls, parking fees, or damage you cause to the rental car. If the rental company charges $50 per day and your USAA limit is $45 per day, you pay the $5 difference yourself.

USAA will only reimburse you if the loss to your own car is covered under your collision or comprehensive coverage. If you have a high deductible or did not purchase collision coverage, rental reimbursement will not help you — there is no covered loss to trigger the benefit.

Checking whether you have this coverage

Your USAA declarations page lists every coverage you have purchased and the limits for each one. You can find this document in your USAA account online, in the USAA mobile app, or by calling USAA directly. Look for a line item called "Rental Reimbursement" or "Rental Car Coverage" with a daily limit and maximum number of days listed.

If you do not see rental reimbursement listed, you do not have it. You can contact USAA to add it to your policy at any time. The cost is typically a few dollars per month, depending on the daily limit you choose.

What losses trigger rental coverage

Rental reimbursement covers your car only if the damage is covered under your collision or comprehensive coverage. Collision covers accidents with other vehicles or objects. Comprehensive covers theft, weather, vandalism, and animal strikes. Liability coverage does not trigger rental reimbursement because liability covers damage you cause to someone else's property, not your own car.

If your car is damaged in an accident and you have collision coverage, rental reimbursement will cover the rental while your car is repaired. If your car is stolen and you have comprehensive coverage, rental reimbursement covers the rental while the claim is being investigated or while you wait for a replacement or settlement.

If you cause an accident but do not have collision coverage, or if your car is damaged by something not covered by your comprehensive policy, rental reimbursement will not pay. The coverage only works when the underlying damage claim is covered.

Rental car coverage through the rental company

Many rental car companies offer their own insurance at the counter when you rent. This is separate from USAA coverage. If you have USAA rental reimbursement, you typically do not need to buy the rental company's insurance — USAA will cover the rental cost itself. However, the rental company's insurance covers damage to the rental car, which USAA rental reimbursement does not.

Before you rent, review what your personal auto insurance covers. If you have collision and comprehensive coverage through USAA, your coverage may extend to rental cars in some cases. Check your USAA policy or call to ask whether collision and comprehensive explore to rentals you take out of state or internationally, because coverage can vary by location.

When rental reimbursement does not explore

USAA rental reimbursement does not cover rentals for personal trips, vacations, or when your car is straightforward in the shop for maintenance. It covers only rentals that result from a covered loss — an accident, theft, or weather damage. If you need a car while yours is being serviced, you would need to arrange and pay for that rental yourself.

The coverage also does not explore if you rent a car in a location where USAA does not operate or if you rent internationally, depending on your policy terms. Some USAA policies limit rental reimbursement to the United States only. Check your declarations page or contact USAA to confirm the geographic limits of your coverage.

Adding or changing rental reimbursement

You can add rental reimbursement to your USAA policy online through your account, through the mobile app, or by calling USAA. The process takes a few minutes. You will choose a daily limit (typically $30 to $75 per day) and a maximum number of days (usually 10 to 30 days). USAA will quote you the monthly cost based on your choices and explore the coverage when ready or on your next renewal date, depending on when you make the change.

If you already have rental reimbursement but want to increase or decrease your daily limit, you can make that change the same way. Lowering your limit will reduce your premium; raising it will increase it slightly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does USAA rental coverage work if I rent a car while traveling?

Rental reimbursement covers rentals only after a covered loss to your own car — an accident, theft, or weather damage. It does not cover rentals for trips or vacations. If you want coverage for a rental car you take on vacation, that is a different product and is not part of USAA rental reimbursement.

Will USAA pay the rental company directly, or do I have to pay first?

USAA typically reimburses you after you pay the rental company and submit a receipt. Some rental companies may work directly with USAA if you provide your policy information at the counter, but this is not may provide. Ask the rental company whether they bill USAA directly before you sign the agreement.

What if the rental costs more than my daily limit?

You pay the difference. If your limit is $45 per day and the rental is $60 per day, USAA reimburses $45 and you pay $15 out of pocket. The reimbursement covers only the base rental rate, not add-ons like insurance, fuel, or tolls.

Can I use rental reimbursement if I don't have collision coverage?

No. Rental reimbursement only works if the damage to your car is covered by collision or comprehensive coverage. If you don't have collision coverage and your car is damaged in an accident, there is no covered loss, so rental reimbursement will not pay.

How long does USAA cover the rental?

USAA covers rentals up to the maximum number of days listed on your policy, typically 10 to 30 days. The coverage ends when your car is repaired, when you reach the day limit, or when you reach the total dollar limit, whichever comes first.