Renting a car while you are on vacation can be a great way to get around without having to rely on taxis or other forms of public transportation. Many people do not know what steps to take if they are involved in an accident when in possession of the rental car. If you are involved in an accident in your rental car, use the guide below to learn what steps to take to make sure that you handle the accident properly. 

Get Information for the Other Person Involved in the Accident

The first thing you need to do is to get contact information for everyone who is involved in the accident. The rental company will need to contact the other driver or drivers directly to make sure that they know exactly what happened during the accident. 

Wait for a Police Report to be Made

Many people think that if they opted for the insurance that the company offers they do not have to worry about getting a police report because the damage to the car will be covered no matter what. That is not always the case, though. There are times when the insurance that is offered from a rental company has a capped amount that is covered. If the car is totaled, having a police report that can corroborate your story can ensure that you are not forced to pay for any damage that you did not cause to the car. The report will state who was at fault for the accident, if it can be determined on the scene. 

Contact the Rental Company

You need to contact the rental company right away. They will need to know what happened to the car and may ask you to send pictures of the damage. If the car is so badly damaged that it cannot be driven, they may send a tow truck to tow it and a replacement car for you to drive. If the car is drivable, they may ask you to drive it to a local repair shop that they work with on a regular basis and then send you a replacement car to the shop. 

Be Prepared to Testify in Court

If someone hit your car and their insurance company is refusing to pay for the damages, you may be asked to testify in court. Your testimony will be crucial to the case, and the rental company may be willing to compensate you for your time if you do testify. 

Taking the time to properly document the accident and report it is crucial after getting into an accident in a rental car. The company will be able to handle all of the logistics of the accident if you act swiftly and honestly.