Verifying Auto Insurance Isn't Enough at a Car Rental Agency

Published on

April 16, 2025

Contributors

Elizabeth Reed

Content Marketing Manager

Elizabeth is a content marketing manager with a deep understanding of the startup landscape. She specializes in driving impactful content strategies for early-stage companies. Having honed her skills within a dynamic small marketing agency environment, she has extensive experience across crafting compelling content and growing community engagement.

For most rental car companies, verifying a customer’s car insurance information is a manual, inconsistent process—if it’s done at all. Rental agents may ask for proof verbally, accept a paper ID card, or in some cases, skip the check entirely.

This isn’t due to negligence. It’s because verifying insurance accurately and efficiently has always been a challenge.

But that gap creates risk—and also opportunity.

The Real Risk of Assumptions

Most renters believe their personal auto insurance extends to a rental vehicle. And in many cases, it does. But that doesn’t mean the coverage is sufficient. A renter might lack comprehensive or collision coverage. They might have a high deductible. Or they could be on a nonstandard policy with strict limitations.

For rental operators, relying on self-reported or paper-based proof opens the door to disputes, declined claims, and expensive repairs that aren’t covered.

An Untapped Sales Opportunity

There’s another side to this story.

When rental agents have a clear view into the renter’s insurance coverage, they’re better equipped to offer protection plans tailored to the customer’s actual needs.

For example:

If the renter doesn’t carry comprehensive coverage, it’s a great time to recommend a collision damage waiver.

If the policy shows a high deductible, agents can highlight how the protection plan can help avoid out-of-pocket surprises.

Rather than selling based on assumptions or scripts, agents can use verified data to guide a smarter, more relevant conversation.

Smarter Insurance Checks, Without the Guesswork

Today, tools, like Policy Check, exist that make it easy to verify if an insurance policy is active and what types of coverage it includes—without the back and forth. Instead of reading through documents or asking customers to interpret their own coverage, rental companies can quickly check if the policy meets their needs. Whether it’s confirming the presence of comp and collision or identifying high deductibles, these insights can lead to more informed decisions at the rental counter.

It’s a better experience for your team, a smarter approach to risk, and a new way to increase protection plan sales with confidence.