Yes, ACE Rent A Car requires customers to present proof of qualifying personal insurance at pickup. If you cannot provide acceptable proof, you are required to purchase their Collision Damage Waiver and supplemental liability insurance. The policy is standard for budget rental companies and protects both you and the company from significant financial risk in an accident.
The core requirement is straightforward: you must show documentation proving your personal auto insurance policy provides full coverage that transfers to the rental car. This typically means your policy includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. Simply having mandatory state minimum liability is often insufficient. If your proof is deemed invalid or you lack such insurance, ACE will mandate the purchase of their CDW (which covers damage to the rental vehicle) and a Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) policy at the counter. Declining is not an option if you want to proceed with the rental.
The following table outlines the typical costs and coverages if you are required to purchase ACE's protection plans:
| Coverage Type | What It Covers | Approximate Daily Cost (USD) | Key Consideration |
|---|
| Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) | Damage to or theft of the rental vehicle. | $20 - $40 | This is not traditional insurance but a waiver that relieves you of financial responsibility for damage, subject to terms. |
| Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) | Third-party bodily injury and property damage claims exceeding your personal policy limits. | $10 - $15 | Provides higher liability limits, often up to $1 million combined single limit. |
| Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) | Medical expenses for you and passengers. | $5 - $10 | Often duplicates personal health or travel insurance. |
| Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) | Theft of personal belongings from the rental car. | $5 - $10 | Usually has low coverage limits and may duplicate homeowner's/renter's insurance. |
Industry data, such as analyses from MarketWatch and NerdWallet, shows that rental companies like ACE enforce this rule because secondary drivers and renters under 25 present higher risk profiles. For the company, requiring proof of insurance or selling their own coverage is a primary method of mitigating losses from accidents, which market records indicate can average over $20,000 per incident for mid-size vehicles.
Paying for CDW and SLI at the counter can increase your daily rental rate by 30% to 60%. This mandatory purchase is a significant factor for budget-conscious travelers. Before your trip, contacting your auto insurance provider to confirm your coverage extends to rental cars and obtaining a proof of coverage letter is the most effective way to avoid these extra costs. Credit card rental car benefits may provide primary CDW coverage, but you must activate it properly and it rarely includes the liability component ACE requires.
It is critical to understand that even if you purchase ACE's CDW, you may still be responsible for certain costs. Most waivers have explicit exclusions for damage from off-road use, driving on unpaved roads, windshield or tire damage, or negligence. There is also typically a "loss of use" fee for the rental income ACE misses while the car is repaired. Your personal insurance or premium credit card benefit might fill these gaps, but you must verify the specifics.
