Rental Car Insurance Explained: How OreGO Protects You on Every Trip

One of the most common questions we get from guests is: "Do I need insurance for my rental?" The short answer is yes. The good news? We've made it incredibly easy. We've partnered with Bonzah, a licensed insurance provider, to offer real trip insurance directly in our booking flow. No separate websites, no phone calls, no fine print surprises.

This guide breaks down exactly what's covered, how to purchase, and what to do if something goes wrong during your trip.

Our Partnership with Bonzah

Bonzah is a licensed insurance provider that specializes in rental vehicle protection. Unlike the generic "damage waivers" that traditional rental companies sell at the counter (which are often not real insurance), Bonzah provides actual insurance policies underwritten by licensed carriers. That means real coverage, real claims support, and real peace of mind.

We integrated Bonzah directly into our booking system so you can select and purchase coverage in seconds — right alongside choosing your vehicle and dates. No separate accounts, no paperwork. Your policy is issued instantly and emailed to you as a PDF before your trip even starts.

What Coverage Is Available?

We offer four types of coverage. You can mix and match based on what you need:

How to Purchase Insurance

Purchasing coverage takes about 30 seconds during checkout. Here's how it works:

1. Choose your vehicle and dates on our fleet page.
2. On the booking page, go to Step 2 (Protection). You'll see two options: "Buy Insurance" or "I Have My Own."
3. Select "Buy Insurance." Coverage options appear with real-time pricing based on your trip length. CDW is automatically included (it's required), and you can add RCLI, SLI, or PAI with a single tap.
4. Review your total. Insurance is added to your booking total — one payment, one receipt. No separate bills.
5. Complete your booking. Your insurance policy is issued instantly. Bonzah emails you the policy PDF with your coverage details, policy number, and claims contact info.

That's it. Coverage is active from the moment you pick up the vehicle.

How You're Protected During Your Trip

Once your booking is confirmed, here's what your coverage means in practice:

• Fender bender in a parking lot? CDW covers the damage to the rental vehicle. You pay the $500 deductible, and coverage handles the rest up to $35,000.
• Someone rear-ends you? The other driver's insurance covers it. If they're uninsured, your CDW still protects the rental vehicle.
• You accidentally hit another car? RCLI covers the other person's injuries and property damage. SLI extends that to $500K if you have it.
• Your laptop gets stolen from the car? PAI covers personal effects up to $500.
• A tree falls on the car during a storm? CDW covers weather-related damage.

Your coverage runs for the entire rental period — from pickup to return. There are no blackout hours, no mileage restrictions on coverage, and no hidden exclusions for common scenarios like gravel roads or night driving.

How to File a Claim

Nobody wants to deal with an incident on their trip, but if something happens, here's the process:

1. Contact OreGO Rentals first. Call or message us immediately. We'll walk you through what to do and make sure you're safe.
2. Document the incident. Take photos of any damage from multiple angles. If another vehicle is involved, exchange information. For theft, vandalism, or significant accidents, file a police report.
3. We file the claim for you. OreGO handles the Bonzah claim submission on your behalf. We'll gather the documentation (photos, police report, repair estimates) and submit everything.
4. Bonzah processes the claim. Bonzah's claims team reviews the case and may reach out to you directly for additional details. They handle everything from assessment to payment.
5. Resolution. Once approved, Bonzah pays for covered damages. If CDW applies, you're responsible for the $500 deductible only — nothing more.

The key thing: you don't deal with the insurance company alone. We're your point of contact and we manage the process with Bonzah on your behalf.

Why Buy Trip Insurance?

We get it — insurance feels like an extra cost. But here's why most of our guests choose to purchase coverage:

• Your personal auto policy might not cover rentals. Many personal policies exclude or limit coverage for rental vehicles, especially from independent rental companies (as opposed to traditional agencies like Hertz or Enterprise). Call your insurer to check before assuming you're covered.
• Credit card coverage has major gaps. Some credit cards offer rental car coverage, but it's usually secondary (pays after your own insurance), only covers the vehicle (not liability), and requires you to decline all other coverage — which isn't possible since CDW is required.
• A single incident can be very expensive. Even minor body work on a modern vehicle can cost $3,000-$8,000. With CDW, your maximum out-of-pocket for vehicle damage is $500. Without it, you're responsible for the full cost.
• Liability claims are unpredictable. If you cause an accident and someone is injured, medical bills can escalate quickly. RCLI and SLI protect your personal assets from these claims.
• Peace of mind is worth it. You're on vacation or traveling for work. The last thing you want is to worry about what happens if something goes wrong. For a few dollars a day, you can drive stress-free.

Cost Comparison: OreGO + Bonzah vs. Traditional Rental

Here's how our insurance pricing compares for a typical 5-day rental:

Prices are approximate and vary by trip dates. Actual Bonzah pricing is calculated in real time during checkout.

Already Have Coverage? Use Your Own Insurance

If your personal auto policy extends to rental vehicles, you can use it instead of purchasing through Bonzah. During checkout, select "I Have My Own" and upload a photo of your insurance card. Our system verifies your coverage meets these minimums:

• Collision coverage extending to rental vehicles
• Comprehensive coverage extending to rental vehicles
• Bodily injury liability: $25,000/person minimum
• Property damage liability: $25,000 minimum
• Collision deductible: $2,500 maximum
• Comprehensive deductible: $2,500 maximum
• Policy must be active through your rental end date

Verification happens instantly using AI. If our system can't verify automatically, our team reviews it manually before your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions