We offer optional coverage that can pay for some or all of your car rental charges. Simply check your policy or contact your claims representative to see how your coverages apply. Even if you're not covered for car rental charges, your claims representative can help you find a rental vehicle and offer you a discount. A car insurance deductible is what you pay “out of pocket” on a claim before your insurance covers the rest.
Collision protection, all-risk, coverage for uninsured and personal injury drivers typically have an auto insurance deductible. You can generally choose between a low deductible and a high deductible. A low deductible means a higher insurance rate, while a high deductible means a lower insurance rate. Insurance companies generally consider several years of your driving record to determine the rate of your car insurance.
For example, if you have reimbursement coverage for a rental vehicle, you may be entitled to a rental vehicle while it's being repaired. Although you won't submit the claim to your insurance company, call your insurer as soon as possible to report what happened. You can opt for a higher car insurance deductible because you're betting against having an accident, but if you've had accidents in the past and drive often on higher-traffic roads, you're more likely to file a claim and pay a deductible. If you file a third-party claim yourself, you can create an at-fault party's insurance account and access their online claims portal, where you can file your claim and track the progress of the claim.
If you have a car accident caused by someone else, you can file a third-party claim with the other driver's insurance to cover expenses related to the accident. Otherwise, simply call the other party's insurer to file your claim using the information your insured provides you with about their car insurance. After you've had a car accident, the first steps are to ensure everyone's safety, report the accident to the police, exchange insurance information with the other driver, and start the insurance claim process. If you have rental vehicle reimbursement coverage under your own policy, you will have coverage for a rental car regardless of fault, within the limits of your policy.
If your car insurance deductible is greater than the cost of damage to your vehicle, you'll pay the full cost out of your pocket, since the insurer only covers damages that exceed the amount of the deductible. You can also tell your own insurance company about the accident in case you need to file a claim against your own policy because the at-fault driver had no insurance, was underinsured, or was denied liability by your insurance company. You can also purchase Progressive Accident Forgiveness when you purchase your Progressive policy for the first time or during the policy renewal. Don't expect the at-fault driver to contact your insurance company; it's up to you to report the accident to the other driver's insurance company.
You file a collision claim against your own insurance policy because you need a new car as soon as possible. Through subrogation, your insurance company can now try to recover the payment you made to the insurer that originally denied fault. Progressive customers automatically get minor accident forgiveness in most states for free as soon as they start their Progressive policy.
