Do you need insurance to rent a car from Hertz?

[DiDylan]

No, you are not required to buy Hertz's optional insurance, but you must have valid coverage from another source to drive the vehicle legally and avoid significant financial risk. If you decline Hertz's protection and lack personal auto insurance or adequate credit card benefits, you become fully responsible for all damage costs, which can easily exceed thousands of dollars.

Your primary options are personal auto insurance, credit card coverage, or purchasing Hertz's plans. Most standard U.S. auto insurance policies extend to rental cars for physical damage and liability, but you must confirm this with your agent, especially for coverage limits and exclusions (e.g., rentals abroad or luxury vehicles). Credit card benefits are frequently secondary and come with strict conditions, such as rental period caps (often 15-31 days) and excluded vehicle categories like trucks or high-value models.

Hertz includes a basic state-mandated liability coverage minimum in the rental rate, but these limits are often low—for instance, $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in some states—and insufficient for a serious accident. Their optional products fill these gaps:

• Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): Not insurance but a waiver that relieves you of financial responsibility for damage to or theft of the rental car.
• Liability Insurance Supplement (LIS): Increases your third-party liability coverage to much higher limits, typically $1 million combined single limit.
• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) & Personal Effects Coverage (PEC): Covers medical costs for you/passengers and personal belongings in the car.

The financial decision hinges on your existing coverage's robustness. Industry analysis suggests that for renters without personal auto insurance (e.g., those relying solely on a credit card), the potential out-of-pocket cost from a single incident can be 5 to 10 times the cost of purchasing a full protection package from Hertz for that rental period. The table below summarizes the risk assessment:

Coverage Source	Typical Protection Level	Key Limitations & Financial Risk
Personal Auto Policy	Often covers collision & liability.	Deductibles apply; may exclude certain rentals or have coverage caps. Risk: Paying your deductible.
Credit Card Benefits	Often secondary collision damage.	Primary coverage is rare; excludes liability, specific vehicles, and long rentals. Risk: High out-of-pocket if primary insurance denies claim.
Hertz LDW/LIS	Primary coverage for vehicle damage and high-limit liability.	Adds to daily rental cost. Risk: None for covered incidents, assuming terms are followed.
No Verified Coverage	None beyond state minimum liability.	You are the "insurer." Risk: Full cost of vehicle repair/replacement and third-party claims.

Ultimately, "need" is defined by your risk tolerance. The mandatory requirement is proof of some form of acceptable coverage at the counter. Conducting a verification call to your insurer and credit card company before you travel is the most critical step to make an informed choice.

[VanTaylor]

As someone who rents for work every month, I never buy Hertz's insurance at the counter. My company's auto policy covers rentals, and my gold card has secondary coverage. But I always call my insurance agent before a big trip or if I'm renting a fancy car for a weekend. That five-minute call saves me from nasty surprises. I learned the hard way that my card doesn't cover pick-up trucks, which almost cost me a huge repair bill once. My rule is simple: know exactly what you have before you say "no" to their offer.

[DiEmmanuel]

Think of it as transferring risk. Hertz isn't selling insurance you "need"; they're selling peace of mind you might want. The core question is: can your existing coverage absorb a total loss or a major injury lawsuit? State minimum liability is frighteningly low. An at-fault accident could mean personal bankruptcy. If your personal insurance has high deductibles or gaps, Hertz's LDW and LIS become a predictable cost versus a catastrophic, unknown liability. It's a financial calculation, not a yes/no requirement. For infrequent renters or those with thin personal coverage, the Hertz package is often the safer bet.

[PrestonRose]

Let's break it down simply. Hertz gives you the bare legal minimum liability coverage. You must bring the rest. Option A: Use your own car insurance. Option B: Use your credit card's rental insurance benefit. Option C: Buy Hertz's plan. The problem? Options A and B are full of holes. Your own insurance might not cover a van. Your credit card likely won't help with liability. If you use Option A or B and crash, you could be stuck paying your deductible plus any costs your primary coverage denies. Hertz's plan (Option C) closes all those holes for a daily fee. So, you don't need it, but the gaps in your other options might make it necessary for your situation.

[HannahAnn]

My advice centers on verification. The requirement is to have valid coverage, not necessarily to purchase Hertz's. Start by pulling your auto policy declaration page and calling your insurer. Ask: "Does my policy fully cover rental cars in [country/state]? What are the deductibles and limits?" Next, call your credit card's benefits line. Ask: "Is rental coverage primary or secondary? What vehicle types are excluded? What is the maximum rental day coverage?" Document the answers. At the Hertz counter, you can then confidently accept or decline based on facts. If your checks reveal gaps—like low liability limits or no coverage for loss of use fees—then purchasing Hertz's supplement is a prudent choice. Never assume; always verify.