I previously posted about car insurance and making sure you have rental car coverage on your policy. However, if you are in an accident and don’t have that coverage, you can still get a good rate on a rental car. Most major rental companies, like Enterprise Rent-A-Car, have deals with insurance companies so that even if the insurance company isn’t paying for the rental, they are required to give you the same rate as if the insurance company was paying for it. You’ll most likely need to provide them with the claim number and they may follow up to ensure that there is an actual claim (most likely they won’t). You should also know that insurance rates for rental cars can be nearly half as much as retail rates.

You should also know that insurance companies have deals with body shops, repair centers, and dealerships. For instance, repair centers like Firestone occasionally have to pay for rentals for customer’s cars that they were not able to repair in a timely manner. They also have reciprocal relationships so that Enterprise gets great deals on oil changes and repairs and Firestone and their customers get great deals on rental cars. If you ever have your car in the shop for repair and you need a rental, check to see if they haven any such arrangement with a nearby rental company.

Lastly, shop around. Enterprise started as a neighborhood rental company focusing on renters who have cars in the shop. With a focus on this type of business, they have strong relationships with insurance companies, body shops, and dealerships. Each company has a different focus and different arrangements with insurance companies so one company may offer a better rate for your particular provider.