Are you among the many Quebecers who would rather rent a recreational vehicle for their summer vacation than have one year-round? There certainly are advantages to renting one, because you can head out and enjoy the great outdoors without having to worry about maintenance and the annual costs you’d have to pay if you were the owner! But what about if a loss were to occur while you were renting a leisure vehicle for a short term? Here are a few tips from Assurances Groupe Vezina on the subject.

Call your insurance broker

Call your insurance broker as soon as you know that you’ll be renting a vehicle, so you can ensure you’re well covered in case something happens during the rental period.

• Ask your broker if you can cover the vehicle you’ll be renting by adding the Q.E.F. No. 27 endorsement to your auto insurance.
• If your auto insurance already includes this endorsement, check to see if it can be modified to cover the type of vehicle you’re planning to rent.

Q.E.F. No. 27 (Civil liability resulting from damage caused to vehicles of which the named insured is not owner) is valid in Canada and in the United States. It covers property damage to vehicles that you do not own, including certain leased vehicles. If this endorsement applies to the type of vehicle you’re planning to rent, it will protect you from having to pay for the liability waiver coverage offered by the rental company. However, it cannot be adapted to cover vehicles requiring different driving skills than those usedfor an automobile.

• Also ask your broker to let you know what you would have to do in the event of a loss during the rental period.

Some things you should check first

Whether you’re staying in Quebec or going over the border into the U.S., here are some things you should check first:

• Make sure your vehicle registration, auto insurance and driver’s licence are valid and up to date.
• If you have to use your own vehicle to tow a trailer, make sure it was designed to pull such a load.
• Have your mechanic inspect your car, particularly the cooling system, tires, brakes and electrical system.

These few things will allow you to head out with full peace of mind! Drive safe!