Everything You Need to Know About Ace Rental Car Insurance Costs

Renting a car can be convenient for road trips and travel but it also comes with some risks. An accident or damage to the rental vehicle can lead to huge out-of-pocket expenses if you don’t have proper insurance coverage. When renting from Ace Rent A Car understanding your insurance options is crucial to avoid surprise charges. In this guide, we’ll break down Ace’s rental car insurance costs so you can make informed decisions to protect yourself on the road.

What Insurance Is Offered by Ace?

Ace provides several insurance products at the time of rental:

• Liability Insurance – Covers injury to others and damage to their property if you cause an accident. Required by law.

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) – Waives your responsibility for damage to the rental car, Optional but recommended

• Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) – Extra protection beyond state minimums.

• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) – Covers medical expenses for driver and passengers.

• Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) – Protects items stolen from the car.

• Emergency Sickness Protection (ESP) – Pays for transport home if you become ill.

While liability insurance is required, the other coverages are optional add-ons.

What Does Each Type of Insurance Cost?

Ace’s rental car insurance pricing depends on your rental location, vehicle type, and other factors. Here are some typical costs:

• Liability Insurance – Included in base rental rate.

• Collision Damage Waiver – $9 to $45 per day.

• Supplemental Liability – $6 to $12 per day.

• Personal Accident Insurance – $3 to $7 per day.

• Personal Effects Coverage – $3 per day.

• Emergency Sickness Protection – $3 per day.

These prices can add a significant amount to your total rental cost. Collision damage waiver alone could add $270 or more to a week-long rental.

Should I Purchase Ace’s Insurance?

Whether to buy coverage from Ace depends on your situation:

• If you have auto insurance, check if it extends to rentals. If so, Ace’s collision and liability insurance may be unnecessary.

• If using a credit card, see if it provides rental car coverage. Many cards offer CDW/liability when renting.

• Without adequate personal coverage, Ace’s insurance can protect you from large out-of-pocket costs after an accident or damage.

• Extra products like PAI and PEC can be useful additions, especially for international rentals.

If you decline Ace’s optional insurance, be prepared to pay for any damages or losses yourself. Carefully review your options to make the right choice.

Tips for Saving on Insurance with Ace

Here are some tips to get the coverage you need while minimizing costs:

• Pay with a premium credit card that includes rental car insurance.

• Adjust your auto insurance policy to add rental car coverage if available.

• Consider a non-owner insurance policy as a lower-cost alternative.

• Waive supplemental liability unless your personal policy limits are very low.

• Purchase a collision damage waiver but decline other optional products.

• Rent for shorter periods – daily CDW rates can be cheaper than weekly.

• Compare quotes across Ace locations – pricing varies.

• See if an annual policy or membership for coverage is cheaper than paying daily.

• Avoid renting expensive luxury vehicles which cost more to insure.

Beware of the “Soft” and “Hard” Sell Tactics

Ace representatives may push optional insurance products very hard, which consumes time at the counter. Be aware of aggressive “soft sell” and “hard sell” tactics:

Soft Sell

• Emphasizing unlikely worst-case scenarios like major accidents.

• Using presumptive language like “who would you like to add as a secondary driver?”

• Repeating benefits of add-ons continuously.

• Glossing over exclusions and limitations.

Hard Sell

• Refusing rentals unless you purchase optional insurance.

• Misrepresenting insurance regulations and rental company policies.

• Implying your personal insurance is inadequate.

• Insisting coverage is required when optional.

Stand firm if you don’t want extras. Obtain quotes ahead of time so you aren’t pressured.

Common Questions about Ace Insurance

Does my car insurance cover rentals from Ace?

Maybe. Contact your provider. Personal policies often include secondary rental coverage but with certain limitations. Review the details.

Can I use supplemental liability instead of the CDW?

No. Liability only covers damage to others, not to the rental car itself. You need CDW/collision coverage to waive damage responsibility.

Is Ace’s insurance mandatory for all rentals?

Liability is mandatory, but collision and other add-ons are optional. However, without CDW you could pay large damage costs out-of-pocket.

Is Ace’s insurance more expensive than competitors?

Not necessarily. Comparison shop, but Ace’s rates are fairly typical industry-wide for major brands. Local chains may be cheaper.

Can I decline everything except liability?

Yes, but you accept full financial risk for any damage, loss, or expenses. Make an informed decision on adequate coverage for your situation.

The Bottom Line

Understanding rental car insurance options takes some homework, but it pays off by preventing surprise charges down the road. Evaluate your personal coverage, research Ace’s offerings, and selectively choose what makes financial sense for each trip. With the right protection, you can vacation or travel with greater peace of mind.