Driving a car is always an exciting adventure. You’re cruising the scenic highways, visiting your favorite places of interest, and nothing seems to portend trouble. But from time to time you may face mechanical problems with a rental car which can ruin your trip if you do not know what to do.
When collecting a vehicle, the company guarantees its serviceability and reliability. However, a modern auto is a complex set of mechanisms. And even with regular technical maintenance, some parts can fail, resulting in a rental car problems like breakdown and forcing you to stop the car on the road. Not the most pleasant scenario, is it?
Indeed, we don’t live in an ideal world, but the main thing is to find a way out of the situation. So what happens if you wreck a rental car? Who is responsible when a rental car breaks down? Are charges applied? Keep reading for full details.
Article outline:
- How to react when a rental car breaks down?
- Who pays when a rental car broke down on the road?
- Companies’ breakdown car rental fees
- How to get insurance for a rental car breakdown?
- Find a cheap and reliable car with Rental24h.com!
How to react when a rental car breaks down?
So, you weren’t lucky and get a rental breakdown. The degree of your responsibility depends on the availability of assistance and the reasons for the crash. It could be either your fault or the rental agency, so it is vital to identify the origin of any damage.
Thus, if your car breaks down, you should first:
- Pull over to the side of the road and stop the vehicle in a safe place. If the car already broke down on the side of the road, just install safety triangles in front of the rear of the car.
- Assess the situation and contact the rental car company. The phone number of their assistance could be found in the agreement (your rental contract).
- If you have purchased breakdown assistance or your personal policy/credit card insurance includes this option, please contact the appropriate authority for further action.
- If you need a spare tire, jump start, or fuel, ask them to send help.
- If no breakdown assistance is available, contact the local tow truck company, and ask the rental provider where to deliver the vehicle.
Emergency car rental: who do I call if my car breaks down?
What to do if a car breaks down in the middle of nowhere? Just you, a broken rental car and neck of the woods. Here are the emergency numbers for those top countries where Rental24h.com customers’ve rented a car:
| Country | Ambulance | Police | Fire |
| Australia, Europe | 112 | ||
| Canada, Brazil, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, US | 911 | ||
| Bulgaria | 150 | 166 | 160 |
| Chile | 131 | 133 | 132 |
| Israel | 101 | 100 | 102 |
| Japan | 119 | 110 | 119 |
| Mexico | 065 | 060 | 068 |
| Morocco | 15 | 19 | 15 |
| New Zealand | 111 | ||
| South Africa | 10177 | 10111 | 10177 |
| Thailand | 191 | 191 | 199 |
| Turkey | 101, 112 | 100 | 102 |
| UAE | 999 | ||
Who pays when a rental car broke down on the road?
Each company is doing everything to prevent a potential rental car breakdown. They regularly inspect the condition of the entire vehicle fleet. However, even with careful maintenance, technical faults can still occur. Often the auto breaks down without the driver’s participation, but the supplier charges the person who rented the car at the time.
The basic insurance included in the deal usually covers rental car damage cases and third-party claims. Thus, if you don’t carry additional insurance, get prepared to pay for any breakdowns. You can also find offers with breakdown cover coming by default. Unfortunately, this is the exception, not the rule. The supplier will charge you for roadside assistance, recovery, and repairs in the event of a breakdown. Carefully check the terms and conditions and related policy of a particular provider.
Companies’ breakdown car rental fees
Each supplier practices a unique approach to estimating the cost of breakdowns. The main criterion is what caused it — a flat tire, a lost/damaged key, a low battery, a broken engine, or the wrong fuel. For example, if an Enterprise rental car broke down due to incorrect fuel, a minimum fee of $670 applies. On the other hand, if a Hertz rental car broke down due to a flat tire, get prepared to pay $260 without the assistance option at hand. Check the average charges with different types of breakdowns from various companies in the following tables:
Easirent 
| Cause of breakdown | Charge |
| Flat tire | $290 |
| Lost/damaged key | $375 |
| Wrong fuel | minimum $440 |
| Damaged clutch | – |
| Damaged engine | – |
| Low battery | – |
Enterprise 
| Cause of breakdown | Charge |
| Flat tire | $540 |
| Lost/damaged key | $540 |
| Wrong fuel | minimum $670 |
| Damaged clutch | – |
| Damaged engine | – |
| Low battery | – |
Europcar 
| Cause of breakdown | Charge |
| Flat tire | $155 |
| Lost/damaged key | $145 |
| Wrong fuel | – |
| Damaged clutch | – |
| Damaged engine | – |
| Low battery | – |
Green Motion 
| Cause of breakdown | Charge |
| Flat tire | $155 |
| Lost/damaged key | $145 |
| Wrong fuel | – |
| Damaged clutch | – |
| Damaged engine | – |
| Low battery | – |
Hertz 
| Cause of breakdown | Charge |
| Flat tire | $260 |
| Lost/damaged key | – |
| Wrong fuel | – |
| Damaged clutch | – |
| Damaged engine | – |
| Low battery | – |
SIXT 
| Cause of breakdown | Charge |
| Flat tire | $240 |
| Lost/damaged key | – |
| Wrong fuel | – |
| Damaged clutch | – |
| Damaged engine | – |
| Low battery | – |
How to get insurance for a rental car breakdown?
In view of the high fees for vehicle malfunctions, purchasing appropriate insurance becomes a matter of paramount importance. Consider what USA car rental breakdown cover options are available on your trip and how to add them to your booking.
Can I use my own car rental breakdown cover?
No, you can’t. A personal policy covers only your personal auto and doesn’t apply to a rented vehicle. You can count on rental car breakdown compensation if purchasing a special additional protection plan.
How do I add a car hire breakdown cover to my booking?
You can enable it at the booking stage or at the counter. Some companies offer it as a separate option. However, most providers feature this insurance as part of an extra policy. For example, this applies to an Enterprise rental car breakdown that comes as part of Full Coverage.
Can I cover a broke car if I buy extra insurance?
My car broke down…what are the options? Full car rental insurance usually covers all possible vehicle breakdowns. However, many faults can be caused by the driver and are therefore not included in the list of covered cases. Find them in the following list:
- Refueling with the wrong fuel. The driver is the one who fuels the vehicle, and carelessness can lead to big problems with the engine. It is important to observe the correct type of fuel indicated in the agreement and on the inside of the gas tank cap.
- Damaging a transmission. The driver may damage the transmission due to improper use. It’s more of a manual gearbox, but an automatic transmission doesn’t like rough handling either.
- Ignoring rental agreements. Taking a car off the road, illegal border crossing and interstate riding, or allowing an unauthorized person to drive may be agreement violations. If the vehicle breaks down and the company proves a breach of the contract, the additional insurance stops working.
Find a cheap and reliable car with Rental24h.com!
Every road trip is a little adventure, and we want to make it a success. At Rental24H.com, you get access to multiple car rental deals from large international and small regional agencies. Our wide vehicle fleet consists of mini to full-size autos, SUVs, 7-seater minivans, convertibles, luxury/premium models, and large passenger vans. Breakdown assistance is included in most of the offers, which guarantees you a hassle-free ride.
If you’re ready to organize the perfect trip, don’t waste a minute. Fill out the search form on our website and book your favorite car now!