Making Moves: What You Need to Know Before Renting a Moving Truck

Car insurance is not always the easiest concept to understand. For most of us lay folks, the terminology and coverage details can get a bit confusing. One place where that’s especially true is around the topic of rental vehicles. Most companies offer optional coverage for car rental that provides a temporary replacement if your vehicle is damaged or stolen. But what about other situations where you may need a bigger vehicle for a short time? Let’s say when you’re planning a DIY house move.

Does My Car Insurance Cover Truck Rental?

Short answer: No, your personal auto insurance policy will not usually cover a moving truck. If you’re renting any type of vehicle, it's important to understand the rental agreement and any insurance coverage provided by the rental company, or any additional insurance coverage you may need to purchase separately.

To clear up any confusion, we’ve laid out all the details below. So you can go forward knowing all the ins and outs of large vehicle rental and insurance coverage.

Vehicles Covered

First, let’s define what insurance companies mean by “auto” when you buy an insurance policy. The term refers to any four-wheeled private passenger motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) that does not exceed 12,000 pounds.

This typically includes:

• Cars
• Vans
• Pick-up trucks (including dual rear-axle six-wheeled)
• Sport utility vehicles (SUVs)

Note: If you have a motor home listed on your policy declaration, it would also be covered. The caveat is that you can’t use it as a residence or for any commercial business purpose, for example as an office or store.

Vehicles Not Covered

Remember that weight restriction mentioned above? Your typical auto insurance policy won’t cover any vehicle that weighs more than 12,000 pounds, so most moving trucks are out.

Types of vehicles not defined as an auto and therefore not covered:

• Step-van
• Parcel delivery van
• Cargo cutaway van or van with cab separate from cargo area
• Box truck with separate, box-like cargo area
• Motor vehicle with capacity for twelve (12) or more persons
• All-terrain or quad vehicle, dune buggy, go-cart, or golf cart
• Any vehicle designed and used primarily as an off-road vehicle
• Tractors or farm-type machines
• Any vehicle designed and primarily used for commercial purposes

Moving Trucks

If you hire a professional mover, the company will have its own insurance coverage for the truck and your belongings. But if you’re planning to rent a truck for a DIY move, you’ll want to purchase rental truck insurance. Shop around and get quotes from various insurance companies, that way you can compare rates and see what type of coverage each insurer offers.

Truck Rental Insurance

Damage Waivers: This protects the rental company against any damage or theft of the truck. A personal damage waiver (PDW) means that you won’t be financially responsible for any damage incurred. With a limited damage waiver (LDW) you may be liable for the first $500 worth of damage.

Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI): This insurance kicks in if you hit another vehicle while driving the moving van. SLI policies typically cover up to $1,000,000 but often come with certain exclusions and exceptions.

Auto Tow Protection: If you’re using a rented trailer to tow your car, this plan helps cover damage to the vehicle while it’s being towed. Towing protection typically includes any damage caused by fire, collision, flood, hail, windstorm, landslide, or explosion.

Cargo: This insurance covers your furniture and belongings from loss or damage during transit but doesn’t cover your stuff while loading and unloading.

Roadside Assistance: Some truck rental insurers offer this coverage, which includes fuel delivery service, jumpstarts, lost key replacement, and flat tire service.

Do I Really Need Truck Rental Insurance?

Moving is stressful enough — truck coverage will give you peace of mind in case you hit something or get hit. Truck rental insurance will cover certain costs, but keep in mind that you may need to buy additional cargo coverage to protect your belongings.

A Word About Van Rental

The type of trip where you need a people carrier for transport is usually a more fun trip than packing up and moving house. But if you’re traveling with a large group — say to a family reunion — you should be aware that your auto policy does not cover a motor vehicle with capacity for twelve (12) or more persons.

Insurance companies see a lot of claims from customers who were under the impression their policy covered a larger type of rental. If you plan to rent a motor vehicle with a capacity for twelve or more persons, you’ll need to get separate coverage.

Whether you’re heading to your new home or the beach, make sure to review your policy to understand the specific terms and conditions before renting any type of truck. A helpful Wawanesa agent can explain your coverage details so that you can decide whether you need to buy separate insurance for your big move or big family vacation.