My car won't start. Can I use my car insurance to rent a vehicle?

Rental reimbursement is an optional type of coverage you buy as part of your car insurance policy. It pays for a car rental while your vehicle is in the shop undergoing repairs from damage covered by your collision or comprehensive insurance.

Collision insurance covers damage caused by a traffic accident, and comprehensive insurance covers damage caused by factors other than a traffic accident, such as fire, natural disaster, vandalism or collision with an animal. Like rental reimbursement, collision and comprehensive are optional types of coverage.

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Rental reimbursement does not kick in if your car fails to operate because of a mechanical problem. You'll have to foot the bill for a rental car in that case if you need transportation.

Rental reimbursement coverage costs as little as $1 to $2 a month, according to the Insurance Information Institute. It's not uncommon for a badly damaged car to be in the shop for weeks. Renting a car can cost $200 to $400 in a week.

Typically, the insurer reimburses you for car rental up to a daily limit, such as $25, and a per-accident limit of several hundred dollars. The insurance company usually puts a tighter restriction on reimbursement if your car is declared a total loss.

Some car insurance companies let you pay a higher premium for the coverage to increase the daily reimbursement amount or a lower premium to save money and receive a smaller amount toward alternative transportation.

For more, see Rental reimbursement on your car insurance policy is a good idea.