What If You Crash a Rental Car in Tempe?

Tempe is a popular destination for both tourists and business travelers—thanks to ASU, the light rail, and year-round sunshine. That also means a lot of people are driving rental cars, especially around Downtown Tempe, the airport corridor, and hotel-heavy districts. But what happens if you get into a crash while driving a rental?

Whether it was a fender bender in Meyer Park or a more serious accident near North Tempe, rental car collisions involve overlapping policies, unique legal questions, and strict reporting rules. Here’s what every driver needs to know if they crash a rental car in Tempe.

If you’re already in this situation, Tempe car accident legal support can help you sort out fault, coverage, and compensation.

Step One: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

As with any accident, your first priority should be safety. Check for injuries, call 911 if needed, and move vehicles out of the flow of traffic if possible.

Even if the damage seems minor, calling the police is a good idea—especially because rental car companies often require a police report for damage claims. To learn more about how to obtain these reports, visit the City of Tempe’s official site.

Step Two: Notify the Rental Car Company Immediately

After a rental car crash, you must notify the rental agency right away. Most contracts require immediate reporting—failure to do so could void coverage or trigger extra charges.

Each company handles accidents differently, but they’ll usually ask you to:

• Complete an incident report

• Provide a copy of the police report (if available)

• Send photos of the damage

• Clarify whether another driver or vehicle was involved

Some will also require you to return the vehicle to the nearest branch or have it towed for inspection.

Who Pays for the Damage?

That depends on the type of coverage in place at the time of the crash. Rental car accidents typically involve one or more of the following:

1. Your Personal Auto Insurance

If you have a valid auto policy in Arizona (or another state), it may extend to rental cars. This includes liability coverage and, in some cases, collision and comprehensive coverage.

However, deductibles and policy limits still apply—and filing a claim could increase your premium.

2. Rental Car Company Coverage

If you purchased the rental agency’s collision damage waiver (CDW) or loss damage waiver (LDW), that typically covers physical damage to the rental car itself. But it may not cover:

• Injuries to others

• Damage to other vehicles

• Administrative or loss-of-use fees

3. Credit Card Coverage

Some major credit cards (especially Visa, Amex, and Mastercard) offer rental car collision coverage if you used the card to pay for the rental and declined the rental company’s CDW. These policies are often secondary, meaning they kick in after your own insurance.

You can check your credit card’s coverage terms or file a claim through the issuer’s benefits administrator.

4. Other Drivers’ Insurance

If you weren’t at fault, the other driver’s insurance should cover the damage. This includes liability for both vehicle repairs and medical bills, even if the vehicle you were driving wasn’t yours.

You can also explore state insurance regulations and consumer complaint options through az.gov.

What If You Were Hurt in the Crash?

Just because it’s a rental car doesn’t change your right to pursue an injury claim. If you were injured by another driver’s negligence, you can file a personal injury claim the same way you would in any crash.

Common injuries in rental car crashes include:

• Neck and spine trauma

• Concussions or mild TBIs

• Fractures from seatbelt or airbag deployment

• Emotional distress or driving anxiety

• Long-term pain or reduced mobility

For serious conditions, such as spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injury, medical documentation is essential to prove the full scope of harm.

What If You Were Hit by Someone Driving a Rental?

If another driver hits you while driving a rental car, your claim typically goes through their personal auto insurance, not the rental company itself.

However, if the driver had no personal coverage or was operating the rental in violation of the contract, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may be triggered. These situations can be legally tricky, especially if the driver was underage, intoxicated, or not an authorized user on the rental agreement.

To learn more about your rights in these cases, visit our resource on uninsured driver accidents.

Can You Be Sued for Damaging a Rental Car?

Yes. If you were at fault and didn’t have adequate insurance, the rental company may:

• Sue you for vehicle repairs

• Demand loss-of-use fees for every day the car was out of service

• Pursue recovery for administrative fees and diminished value

If injuries were involved, the other driver could file a separate personal injury claim. Arizona civil courts handle these cases regularly, and procedures are outlined at the Arizona Judicial Branch.

Common Defenses in Rental Car Claims

Whether you're filing a claim or defending against one, these issues often come up in rental-related crashes:

• Unauthorized use: If someone not listed on the rental agreement was driving, coverage may be denied

• Policy exclusions: Some credit cards or insurers won’t cover trucks, exotic vehicles, or international rentals

• Late reporting: Failing to report the crash in time can hurt your claim

• No third-party involvement: Solo crashes (e.g., hitting a pole) are harder to recover from unless CDW was purchased

Document everything early, including photos, correspondence, and rental paperwork. These details often determine how smoothly the process goes.

Final Thoughts

Crashing a rental car in Tempe can turn into a logistical headache—but it doesn’t have to derail your finances or your recovery. What matters most is acting fast, documenting everything, and understanding how insurance and liability interact.

Whether the crash occurred in Escalante, involved a rideshare, or resulted in injuries that affected your long-term health, your legal rights don’t change just because the car wasn’t yours.

Start your recovery process at the Arizona car accident attorney hub, and make sure your claim is built on facts—not confusion.