Having to deal with the aftermath of an accident in a rental car is one thing you want to avoid doing as much as possible while on vacation. However, given that you will be driving a car that is not yours and that you will be traveling on roads that you are not acquainted with, you should respect the likelihood that you could be involved in a car accident.

The steps you take to handle the situation are similar to those you would do if you were in a collision while driving your vehicle. However, due to the several layers of your car rental agreement, the insurance that comes with the rental car comes with a few additional complications for which you should be prepared. So, what to do if you have an accident in a rental car?

Make Sure Everyone Is OK

Before proceeding with anything else, check to see if everyone in the car is alright, even if it seems like something that should go without saying. Examine the immediate area and any other vehicles that may be involved.

In the car of an accident, it is always best to pull over to the shoulder of the road as soon as it is safe to do so. If the accident was more severe, contact 911 immediately if anybody was injured. Also, evacuate the area if there is even the slightest possibility of an explosion.

Exchange Contact Info

As soon as you have decided that the accident site is safe, you should communicate with any other parties involved and exchange contact and insurance information. The following types of information should be traded:

• Name.
• Address.
• Your email address as well as your phone number.
• The insurance provider and policy number where provided.
• A number of the driver's license, registration information for the car, and license plate information for each vehicle.

If there are any witnesses, you should also get their contact information. If police enforcement gets engaged, you should be prepared to show them your driver's license, the card that registers your vehicle, documentation that you are financially responsible, and your current residence.

You mustn't admit blame for the accident to the other drivers or the authorities while you are speaking with the other people involved in the accident. Be courteous, but avoid making remarks such as "I'm sorry" or "I should have given more attention," since they might subsequently be used against you, resulting in no coverage from insurance provider. While it is important to be nice, you should avoid making statements like these. Instead, use sentences like "Are you okay?" to demonstrate empathy without taking responsibility for one's actions.

If the other people involved are hostile, it is best to wait for the police to come before becoming involved in the conflict. You don't want to fight with the other people driving or riding in the car with you. When interacting with other parties, use extreme caution. Do not sign declarations establishing blame or promises to pay for the other party's losses. If they offer to pay for your damages or deductible, do not sign anything, even if they agree to pay for either.

Take Notes and Pictures

Spend some time gathering specific details on what happened in the accident. You should make notes (you may use the notes function on your phone for this) and take a significant number of images. Included in the information to be documented should be the following:

• The year, manufacturer, make, and model, as well as the color, of each car that was involved in the accident.
• Any additional noteworthy particulars about the vehicles in question?
• Information on the precise location of the accident, including specifics such as the names of any streets involved and the lanes in which it took place.
• What led up to the unfortunate accident?

Contact Your Car Rental Provider

In an accident involving rental car, you will need to fill out some extra documentation in addition to the processes outlined thus far, which are roughly analogous to the ones you would take if you were driving your own vehicle.

Call the customer service number for the car rental business as soon as possible and alert them about the accident. Inside the glove car is often a sticker with a phone number for emergency services, and your rental agreement should also include a number for such services.

Inquire with the firm about the next step to take. The rental car company will often want you to complete their version of an incident report, which will typically consist of the same information you gathered in the previous section.