1st Time Renters Insurance - Help

[VFR Transit]

Hello All,

I'm heading to Florida in 2 weeks for a quick trip to secure my Part 61.75 licence, once the checkout is done i'm planning to solo rent thus needing Renters Insurance. The place i'm using say i just need the $89 insurance from AOPA, the problem is I don't think this will cover my A**E to be fair.

AOPA have two things to cover

1: Limit of Liability (Bodily Injury & Property Damage)
$250,000 / $25,000
Premium: $83.00

plus an additional

2: Limit of Liability (Physical Damage to Non Owned Aircraft)
£5,000 / $10,000 up to $200,000
Premium: From $99
(I assume this bit is if I bend their plane, i can just walk away from it with no issues)

Now not a problem as If no issue then I can claim for 50% of the premium back. problem is I really want to make sure i cover ones personal bits.

This will be my first time renting in the USA and taking Renters Insurance.

I'm renting a C172 G1000 if it makes any difference

Advice would be good please.

Thanks
VFR

[ChickenHouse]

How experienced as a pilot are you?

Are you more individual risk aware minded - human,
or prone to fully comprehensive insurance mentality - german?

If you just passed 61.75 validation checkride at a renowned place, you should be ok with AOPA basic coverage.

[VFR Transit]

How experienced as a pilot are you?

I'm About 200 hours with experience on C172, Seneca 1, Airvan & Caravan

Are you more individual risk aware minded - human,
or prone to fully comprehensive insurance mentality - german?

I am a risk taker, however this will be the first time in the USA and want to make sure I cover all angles. Once I have flown there and have some experience then I will have an idea on what cover is needed for future flights.

VFR

[7of9]

Minimum required coverage will be $500,000 each occurrence with $50,000 per passenger and $5000 aircraft damage (to cover you for our deductible). Renter's insurance is readily available from several outside sources at very reasonable prices.

AOPA is where i get this through.

I usually cancel after my three week vacation & get back 50% of the $216.00 i paid.

Been doing this for 6 years now without any problem.

Trev


Renter's Insurance - AOPA Insurance Services (http://insurance.aopa.org/Aviation/renters-insurance)

http://insurance.aopa.org/-/media/Files/Insurance/nonowned/RentersSELApp31.pdf

[VFR Transit]

7of9

$500,000 each occurrence with $50,000 per passenger and $5000 aircraft damage (to cover you for our deductible)

you say "cover you for for OUR deductible" where do you rent from or work for?

Thanks for the coverage information

VFR

[hzottel]

Excuse my stupidity, but i never heard of renters insurance...? I am a european and rented various times in the US for XC trips. Non of the companies menationed anything about renters insurance...? So I guess RI would be some additional coverage, right?

One question remains though: Are off airport landings, sand gravel and dirt strips covered in the standard US insurance? Want to go back country flying this fall and was wondering...

[alland2012]

Excuse my stupidity, but i never heard of renters insurance...? I am a european and rented various times in the US for XC trips. Non of the companies menationed anything about renters insurance...? So I guess RI would be some additional coverage, right?

One question remains though: Are off airport landings, sand gravel and dirt strips covered in the standard US insurance? Want to go back country flying this fall and was wondering...
I use Avemco for my renters coverage, Many rental operations will have their fleet covered but they will come after you for the deductable at the very least in the event of an incident.

Also worth noting unless renting from an operation that includes back country flying, most have a clause in the rental contract stating no off airport landings, even at the best Grass Strip airfields.

I'm over in Florida every couple of months for a few weeks per trip so I like to fly as much as possible while there, one frustration is there are some great small airfields to visit but have grass strips so I'm not allowed to go there.

[MrAverage]

It's not true to say: "All rental operations will have their fleets covered"


Many do not. When something goes wrong they expect you to be covered or they will sue you, or your remaining estate if you died in the incident.

[alland2012]

It's not true to say: "All rental operations will have their fleets covered"


Many do not. When something goes wrong they expect you to be covered or they will sue you, or your remaining estate if you died in the incident.

Well I beg your pardon Sir....I've modifed the error in my post to state that "Many" rental operations will have their fleets covered.
I hope this meets with your approval and I'm sorry if my previous post caused you any distress.

Have a nice Day.. :)

[7of9]

7of9

Quote:
$500,000 each occurrence with $50,000 per passenger and $5000 aircraft damage (to cover you for our deductible)
you say "cover you for for OUR deductible" where do you rent from or work for?

Thanks for the coverage information

VFR

I rent from an FBO in Sprinfield Illinois. They insist on the renters insurance before they will hire to me.

I also rent from another municipal Airport nearby, they don't insist on the renters insurance, BUT, I suspect that if I damage any of their aircraft or someone else's property, through a forced landing, I guess I could be liable for costs! So I cover myself just in case!

Remember, their laws regarding compensation over there are completely different to ours. Those who take the risk of not taking out some kind of cover, hope they have plenty of funds just in case?

As someone has pointed out, if you damage any of their aircraft you rent, they will come after you for the deductible.

Better safe than sorry.

T

[Gertrude the Wombat]

Also worth noting unless renting from an operation that includes back country flying, most have a clause in the rental contract stating no off airport landings, even at the best Grass Strip airfields.
I've had people in Australia try to rent me cars with "no unsealed roads" clauses. For heaven's sake, if you accept that there's very little point in going to Oz! - much more reasonable would be to put a spade in the car so you can dig yourself out of the sand or whatever. (The "kangaroo damage at renter's expense" clause I can accept, once it had been pointed out to me that this means "don't drive in the countryside at night".)

[MrAverage]

alland2012

My post was in no way pointed at you, it was solely to protect the OP from possible financial problems that he would have been unaware of otherwise.


There was no need for any sarcasm.

[enq]

TBH, even if the rental co have insurance, the rental co's insurers will seek to recover their outlay if blame can be laid elsewhere (ie on the pilot) - this is also where personal renters insurance can come in useful.

[alland2012]

MrAverage

I beg your pardon sir, you mistake my sense of humour for sarcasm

But it's an easy mistake to make when one doesn't have a sense of humour ...:p

[Victorian]

This subject can generate emotive replies. For the OP, please have in mind that the type of Renter's Insurance we are talking about is designed for US residents who have a US address and credit card registered to that address. It's possible to persuade at least one of the companies on the phone to accept a foreign credit card, but they will still insist on a US mailing address. It may be a good idea to make them note your foreign residency, but if you do, the premium may vary or not be available.

Some UK pilots use a convenience address like a hotel or the FBO. One broker told me that a hotel was OK, but the FBO not.

There doesn't seem to be any actual prohibition about insuring foreigners, although the brokers policies do vary on this. And there's no evidence of any payment being withheld on the basis of a claimant giving a convenience address. But in UK, you'd be very wary of giving an incorrect address to an insurance company!

[Maoraigh1]

I've never had renter's insurance in the US. I asked insurance guys at their stand at an airshow in 2010. They said they wouldn't cover me as a non-resident legal alien.
I've checked with FBOs that their deductible was about the same as my UK Group expect me to pay, and checked insurance position before renting.
As regards off-airport landings, usually only if you've made a Mayday call. I fly our Group plane into strips in Scotland. The cost to a commercial renter of even a minor mishap in these places makes it very expensive for anyone to rent for this to unknown solo pilots.
But some FBOs offer courses in back-country flying, eg Colorado Flight Centre at Grand Junction.

[custardpsc]

Stay clear of anywhere that insists on renters insurance and doubly so at the places that insist you buy their renters insurance. This is a way to reduce costs and offer attractive hourly rates but leaves you with the hidden cost of the insurance. Rent only from places that have fair and straightforward insurance included in the hourly rates and ask what the deductible is and be prepared to pay if you prang it. Ask yourself why some places are insistent on it and some places absolutely don't care .... As for protecting yourself from being sued, what make you think the renters insurance company will be any different?

[VFR Transit]

Thanks for the replies, I don't have a USA address other than my hotel however I do on the other hand have a full USA $ Checking account and Credit Card so that's no issue.

I think that I will just get basic renters insurance.

Body $250,000
Building $50,000
Aircraft $5,000

The above should cover me and the Aircraft will cover the deducible, which is $1,000 for fixed and $5,000 for retractable.

Premium about $200 with 50% claim back if cancelled without issue.

[Maoraigh1]

I have a Wells Fargo account and card. It didn't matter as I don't have a US address. Insurance obtained by a false statement about residency might be invalid.

[tmmorris]

This is why I gave up flying when on holiday in the US. For the amount I was doing the risk of not insuring, or the cost of doing so, plus medical insurance, wasn't worth the amount I was saving.

[Cusco]

I have a Wells Fargo account and card. It didn't matter as I don't have a US address. Insurance obtained by a false statement about residency might be invalid.

This is nonsense.

I, having never had Renters' insurance in USA before, decided with my fellow pilot for the first time in 2006 for a 2 week rental trip ,to get renters' insurance through AIG, using, with the FBO's permission, the FBO's address we were renting from.

They just need an address fromwhich to contact you.

It was a good move as I totalled a beautiful rented Archer 2 in the mountains.
The the renters' insurance paid up the $5,000 deductible without a peep.
We paid 120 bucks for premium and no refunds. Money well spent IMHO.

Don't rent in USA without Renters' Insurance. Period.

[caroberts]

My understanding is that the excess is not the full extent of your liability in the USA, as we understand it to be in the UK.

In the event of damage, if they believe that you are in any way at fault, the owner's insurance company will sue you for their costs.

From confirmatory discussions I have had in the USA with local renting pilots, I would not rent an aircraft in the USA without renters insurance, whether it was specifically required by the owner/FBO or not.