Having an accident in a rental car is something nobody wants to deal with during a trip. Knowing in advance what to do, however, can help you handle the situation correctly and avoid mistakes that could also have financial consequences.
The procedure is not very different from what you would normally do when driving your own car, but there is one important difference: the vehicle belongs to the rental company, which must therefore be informed about the accident and may require specific procedures to be followed.
In this guide, we explain what to do after an accident in a rental car, who pays for the damage, what happens if you or another driver are responsible, and how third-party liability insurance, the excess and additional protection work.
Before setting off, it is always advisable to be familiar with the terms and conditions of the rental agreement, as reporting deadlines, required documentation, roadside assistance and liability rules may vary from one rental company to another.
What to do immediately after an accident in a rental car
The first priority after an accident is not insurance or the excess, but the safety of everyone involved.
If anyone is injured, in danger or requires immediate assistance, contact the emergency services. In Italy and throughout the European Union, you can call the single European emergency number 112.
Once the immediate safety issues have been dealt with, you should collect the information needed to document the accident and notify the rental company.
As a general rule, you should:
- make the scene as safe as possible;
- check whether anyone has been injured;
- contact the authorities when necessary;
- collect the details of the vehicles and people involved;
- take photographs of the vehicles, the damage and the accident scene;
- identify any witnesses and keep their contact details;
- complete the CAI/CID accident report form, where possible;
- contact the rental company as soon as possible;
- follow the instructions provided regarding roadside assistance, vehicle recovery and any replacement vehicle.
It is important not to arrange repairs, vehicle recovery or towing independently, except where immediate safety requires it, unless you have first checked the rental agreement or received authorisation from the rental company.
Should you call the rental company immediately?
Yes. In the event of an accident, you should notify the rental company as soon as possible, using the contact details and procedure set out in the rental agreement.
The company needs to know that its vehicle has been involved in an accident and can give you instructions on what to do next.
Depending on the circumstances, the rental company may tell you:
- how to report the accident;
- which documents must be completed;
- whether the police or other authorities need to be called;
- which roadside assistance or towing service to use;
- where the vehicle should be taken, if necessary;
- whether you may continue the rental;
- whether a replacement vehicle can be provided.
Procedures are not identical across all rental companies. For this reason, it is always better to contact the rental provider directly rather than making decisions about the vehicle on your own.
What information should you collect after the accident?
If another vehicle is involved, try to collect all the information needed to identify it and accurately document what happened.
The most important details include the registration number, vehicle make and model, the driver’s name and contact details, the owner’s details where available, and information about the other driver’s insurance company.
It is also very useful to keep:
- photographs of the damage to the rental car;
- photographs of the other vehicle;
- images showing the position of the vehicles and the accident scene;
- the other vehicle’s registration number;
- the contact details of any witnesses;
- the police or authorities’ report, where applicable;
- a copy of the CAI/CID accident report form;
- any other documentation relating to the accident.
Your photographs should ideally show not only the extent of the damage but also, where possible, the position of the vehicles and the wider context in which the accident occurred.
How to complete the CAI or CID accident report form with a rental car
In Italy, the form commonly referred to as the CID is officially known as the CAI, or Constatazione Amichevole di Incidente. It corresponds to the European Accident Statement commonly used to record road accidents.
The form should include the details of the drivers and vehicles involved, their insurance companies, the circumstances of the accident, any visible damage and a sketch showing how the collision occurred.
With a rental car, the driver and the vehicle owner are not the same person, so it is particularly important to complete the relevant sections correctly using the information contained in the vehicle documentation.
Does the CAI need to be signed by both drivers?
Not necessarily.
If both drivers agree on how the accident happened, having both signatures is extremely useful because it records a shared version of events and can make the claim easier to handle.
If the parties do not agree, the form can still be used by one driver to report their own version of the accident.
With a rental vehicle, however, you must also consider the rental company’s contractual requirements. The provider may impose specific documentation obligations and may give particular importance to an accident form countersigned by the other driver when handling possible charges.
For this reason, whenever both parties agree on the circumstances, it is advisable to complete the form fully and have it signed by both drivers. You should never, however, sign a statement that does not accurately reflect your version of events.
When should you call the police or other authorities?
Not every minor accident necessarily requires police attendance.
However, there are situations in which contacting the authorities may be advisable or necessary, especially when someone is injured, there is a safety risk, one of the drivers leaves the scene, the other party cannot be identified or there is a serious dispute about what happened.
The rental company may also require a police report or formal report in certain situations under its terms and conditions.
If you are unsure, contact the rental company immediately and follow the instructions provided.
Who pays after an accident in a rental car?
There is no single answer, because at least two different categories of damage need to be considered:
damage caused to third parties and damage to the rental vehicle itself.
These are separate issues and are handled through different insurance and contractual mechanisms.
Damage caused to third parties: how liability insurance works
Rental vehicles must be covered by compulsory third-party liability insurance.
This insurance is intended to cover, within the applicable policy limits, damage caused by the insured vehicle to third-party property or people.
This means that if you cause an accident while driving a rental car and damage another vehicle, the damage suffered by the other party will generally be handled under the vehicle’s third-party liability insurance.
Third-party liability insurance should not, however, be confused with protection covering damage to the rental car itself.
Damage to the rental vehicle is governed by the rental agreement and any applicable limitations of the customer’s liability.
You can find out more in our guide to car rental insurance.
Who pays for damage to the rental car?
If the rental vehicle is damaged, you need to check what level of financial liability remains with the customer under the rental agreement.
Many rental rates include a limitation of liability for certain types of vehicle damage, commonly referred to as CDW, or Collision Damage Waiver.
CDW does not necessarily mean that every type of damage is fully covered.
For covered damage, the rental agreement may set a maximum liability amount, commonly referred to as the excess.
If, for example, the rental agreement limits your liability for certain damage to €1,000:
- chargeable damage of €300 may result in a charge of €300;
- covered damage of €2,500 may generally result in liability limited to the maximum amount stated in the rental agreement.
This only applies where the damage falls within the protection provided and all the terms of the rental agreement have been complied with.
The excess and the liability insurance limit are not the same thing
The third-party liability insurance limit and the excess are two separate concepts.
The third-party liability insurance limit is the maximum amount covered by the insurance policy for damage caused to third parties.
The excess or maximum liability for damage to the rental vehicle, on the other hand, concerns the relationship between the customer and the rental company for certain types of damage.
The third-party liability insurance limit should therefore not be used to determine how much the customer may have to pay for repairs to the rental vehicle.
What happens if the accident is my fault?
If you are responsible for the accident, damage caused to third parties will be handled under the applicable third-party liability insurance.
For damage to the rental vehicle itself, you need to check the rental agreement.
If the damage falls within the applicable liability limitation, the customer may be required to pay the chargeable amount up to the stated maximum limit.
If you purchased additional protection that reduces or waives that liability, the amount may be lower or, for covered events, reduced to zero.
This does not necessarily mean that every cost is eliminated: there may still be exclusions, administration fees, roadside assistance costs or types of damage that are not covered.
What happens if the accident is not my fault?
The situation is different when the accident is entirely caused by another driver.
In this case, compensation for the damage may be claimed from the responsible party’s insurer in accordance with the applicable procedure.
However, if you are driving a rental car, this does not necessarily mean that no amount can be temporarily held or charged.
The rental company may have to wait until the other driver’s liability has been established and the insurance claim has been settled.
Depending on the rental terms, the company may therefore place a temporary hold on your card or initially charge an amount relating to the damage, with a possible refund or adjustment once compensation has been received.
Complete documentation is especially important in this situation.
A CAI signed by the other driver, photographs, complete insurance details, witness statements and any police report can help establish liability.
What happens with Ellepi if the customer is not at fault?
Ellepi’s rental terms provide for a specific procedure.
When a claim is reported by the customer as non-fault, meaning that liability is attributed to the other party, but the CAI is signed only by the customer, Ellepi may place a precautionary charge based on the damage identified while waiting for the insurance claim to be settled.
If insurance compensation is subsequently received, that amount is used to offset any charge previously applied to the customer.
If, on the other hand, the customer submits a CAI duly signed by the other party as well, Ellepi’s terms provide that the amount corresponding to the customer’s liability for the damage is not initially charged, subject to the final outcome of the claim.
If the other party’s insurer subsequently rejects the claim, or shared liability is established, the amounts provided for under the rental agreement may still apply.
What happens if both drivers share responsibility?
Responsibility for an accident is not always attributed entirely to one driver.
In some cases, shared liability may be established, meaning that each driver is held partly responsible for the accident.
In this situation, compensation may also be proportionate to the percentage of liability established.
As regards damage to the rental vehicle, the customer’s financial liability will also depend on the rental agreement and any protection purchased.
You should therefore not assume that an accident in which the other driver is partly responsible will automatically be treated as a completely non-fault accident for rental purposes.
What happens in a single-vehicle accident?
A rental car accident can also happen without another vehicle being involved.
For example, you may hit a wall, a post or another fixed object.
Even in this situation, you must notify the rental company promptly and document what happened.
The fact that there is no other vehicle involved does not remove the obligation to report the incident in accordance with the rental terms.
Any damage to the vehicle will be dealt with according to the customer’s liability under the rental agreement and any additional protection purchased.
What happens if the other driver leaves the scene?
If the other vehicle leaves the scene without providing its details, try to record as much information as possible immediately, especially the registration number, make and model, colour and any other details that may help identify it.
Keep photographs, video footage and the contact details of any witnesses.
It is advisable to involve the authorities and notify the rental company immediately.
Whether the damage can be recovered, and which procedure applies, will depend on whether the responsible vehicle can be identified and on the specific circumstances of the accident.
What happens if the other driver is uninsured?
An accident involving an uninsured vehicle also requires particular care.
In these cases, it is advisable to involve the authorities, collect all available information and notify the rental company.
The fact that the other driver is uninsured does not necessarily mean that the rental customer will ultimately have to bear the full cost of the damage, but the compensation procedure may be different and may involve the bodies provided for under applicable law.
Does the protection always apply?
No.
Liability limitations and additional protection are generally subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the rental agreement.
They may therefore cease to apply, either fully or partially, in certain circumstances or where the vehicle has been used in a prohibited manner.
Depending on the rental company, examples may include:
- driving by a person who is not authorised under the rental agreement;
- using the vehicle in unauthorised territories;
- driving on roads prohibited by the rental terms;
- improper or negligent use of the vehicle;
- serious breaches of road traffic laws;
- damage to parts of the vehicle expressly excluded from the protection.
The specific terms of your booking should always be your main point of reference.
Which types of damage may be excluded from the protection?
Even comprehensive protection should not automatically be interpreted as covering every possible type of damage.
Depending on the rental company, exclusions may apply to certain categories of damage involving:
- windows and windscreens;
- tyres and wheels;
- interior components;
- the undercarriage;
- mechanical components;
- keys;
- prohibited uses of the vehicle;
- driver negligence.
It is therefore important to check not only the maximum amount of your liability, but also which types of damage that limit actually applies to.
How Ellepi’s Car Protection and Car Protection Plus work
Ellepi rental rates include third-party liability insurance and a limitation of liability for damage and theft in accordance with the amounts specified in the rental terms.
Customers can also choose Car Protection, which reduces the maximum charges applicable for damage, theft and fire, or Car Protection Plus, which removes those charges for the events to which the relevant clause applies.
It is important to clarify that Car Protection and Car Protection Plus are not insurance policies, but contractual waivers that limit the customer’s financial liability.
Specific exclusions and costs may still remain payable by the driver even when these clauses have been purchased. For this reason, you should always check the terms and conditions in force at the time of booking.
What happens to the security deposit after an accident?
The security deposit does not necessarily correspond to the excess or the customer’s maximum liability.
In the event of an accident, the rental company may use the guarantee provided by the deposit in accordance with the rental agreement.
If the cost of the damage cannot be determined immediately, the company may also place a temporary hold on a certain amount while waiting for the damage assessment and settlement of the claim.
The security deposit, liability for damage and any actual charges should therefore be considered separately.
How is the cost of the damage assessed?
The method used to calculate the cost of damage depends on the rental company.
Some companies use standard damage assessment tables, while more complex damage may require a technical inspection or repair estimate.
The customer should receive documentation relating to the damage and the amount charged in accordance with the applicable procedure.
If the customer believes that the damage did not occur during their rental period, or that the amount charged is incorrect, they can use the rental company’s dispute or complaints procedure.
This is another reason why it is useful to photograph the vehicle carefully both when collecting it and after any accident.
Who pays for towing after a rental car accident?
It depends on the rental agreement and on the circumstances that made recovery of the vehicle necessary.
You should not automatically assume that towing is always free or included in your protection.
Before calling a towing company yourself, unless immediate safety requires it, it is advisable to contact the rental company or the roadside assistance service listed in the rental documentation.
The rental company can tell you which provider to use and whether the cost is included or payable by the customer.
Will I get another car after the accident?
Not necessarily.
The availability of a replacement vehicle after an accident depends on the rental company, the rental terms, vehicle availability and the circumstances of the accident.
A replacement car should therefore not be considered automatic.
If the vehicle can no longer be driven, contact the rental company and follow its instructions before arranging alternative transport yourself.
What not to do after an accident in a rental car
Certain actions can make the claim more difficult to handle.
You should avoid leaving the scene without collecting the necessary information, signing an account of events that you do not agree with, arranging repairs yourself or taking the vehicle to a repair shop without authorisation.
You should also not ignore damage simply because it appears minor.
Even a small collision should be reported in accordance with the rental company’s procedure.
What to check before driving away in a rental car
The best time to understand what would happen in the event of an accident is before collecting the vehicle.
In particular, check:
- the maximum liability for damage;
- any applicable theft excess;
- excluded types of damage;
- any additional protection purchased;
- the number to call in the event of an emergency or accident;
- the towing and roadside assistance procedure;
- how and when an accident must be reported;
- the conditions for obtaining a replacement vehicle.
You should also inspect the condition of the car when you collect it and make sure that any pre-existing damage is correctly recorded on the vehicle condition report.
Photographs and videos taken before you drive away can be very useful if any dispute arises later.
Frequently asked questions about rental car accidents
If I have an accident in a rental car, do I have to pay for all the damage?
Not necessarily. It depends on who is responsible for the accident, the type of damage, the liability limits set out in the rental agreement and any additional protection purchased.
Do I have to pay if the accident was not my fault?
If the other party is entirely responsible, the damage may be compensated by the responsible driver’s insurer. However, the rental company may still place a temporary hold or precautionary charge until liability has been established, especially where the available documentation does not allow this to be confirmed immediately.
If I have zero excess, will I pay nothing after an accident?
Not necessarily. Reducing or waiving the excess only applies to events covered by the relevant protection. Exclusions, administration fees, roadside assistance costs or uncovered types of damage may still apply.
Should I complete the CAI even if the accident was not my fault?
Yes. It is very useful to document the accident correctly even when you believe you were not responsible. A fully completed CAI, signed by the other party where both drivers agree on the circumstances, can make the claim considerably easier to handle.
Is the CAI valid with only one signature?
Yes. The signatures of both drivers are not essential for one driver to use the form to report the accident. A jointly signed form is nevertheless important because it records a shared account of what happened. With a rental vehicle, you should also check any specific documentation requirements imposed by the rental company.
Do I need to call the police for every rental car accident?
Not necessarily for every minor accident. However, it is advisable to contact the authorities if anyone is injured, there is a dangerous situation, the other driver leaves the scene or cannot be identified, there is a serious dispute about the circumstances, or the rental company’s conditions require it.
Can I keep driving the rental car after the accident?
Only if the vehicle is genuinely safe to drive and the rental company authorises you to continue. If there is damage that could affect the vehicle’s safety, do not continue your journey until you have received instructions.
Can I take the rental car directly to a repair shop?
Generally, no. The vehicle belongs to the rental company, and repairs should not be arranged independently. Contact the rental provider and follow the procedure it gives you.
Can I get a replacement car?
It depends on the rental company’s terms, vehicle availability and the circumstances of the accident. A replacement vehicle is not always automatically guaranteed.
If you are planning your trip to Sardinia, you can choose the rental car that best suits your needs and find the most suitable option for your trip.
