Does non owners insurance cover rental cars?
Sarah Martinez
Published Jan 20, 2026
If you rent cars on an occasional basis or you regularly borrow a car, consider purchasing non-owner car insurance. With rental cars, you are generally required to take full responsibility for any damages you cause to the car unless you pay to sign a loss damage waiver (also known as a collision damage waiver).
How much does a non owner policy cost?
Non-owner car insurance costs between $200 and $500 annually. Since drivers with non-owner insurance aren’t on the road as much as the average policyholder, they’re less likely to file a claim and pay less for coverage as a result.
Can I get car insurance for a car I don’t own?
Can you insure a car you don’t own? In short, yes, though the process can be challenging. Insurance companies almost always require that a policyholder have an insurable interest — or a level of ownership — in the vehicle being insured.
Can you have 2 names on car insurance?
In most cases two or more names can be on the title to a car. Once you have your name on the title, you can take out an insurance policy on the vehicle — even if you live at a separate address as the other title holder. The next best option would be to get a non owner car insurance policy.
Which is cheaper rental car or non owner insurance?
If you rent vehicles often, a non-owner policy could easily be cheaper in the long run than repeatedly buying rental car insurance. Insurance from the rental company usually costs at least $20 a day, so if you’re renting a car for, say, 50 or more days a year, it will likely add up to more than the annual cost of a non-owner auto insurance policy.
Is it worth it to buy non owner car insurance?
If the extent of your driving is renting a car once a year or occasionally borrowing a friend’s car, non-owner car insurance might not be worth the expense. It may be cheaper to simply buy insurance at the rental counter or rely on your friend’s insurance policy to cover you if the worst happens.
Do you have to pay for car insurance when you rent a car?
Of all these gotchas, the biggest one may be the unexpected fees you have to pay for car rental insurance. Your car doesn’t come with auto insurance. If you damage the vehicle, you have to pay for it. Car rental employees are trained to upsell you on a policy that may not be necessary.
Which is an example of a non owner car insurance policy?
Example: A great benefit of purchasing a non-owner policy is to protect your driver risk status. Many insurance companies consider drivers with no prior insurance high risk. A non-owner auto policy would prove you had financial responsibility as a driver without an owned vehicle.