Frequently Asked Questions

Rental Vehicle Coverage

Q. If I want to rent a vehicle while on university-related business, where can I get information about renting a vehicle, and how is rental vehicle insurance provided?

A. If you are an employee of the University of Colorado and are planning on renting a vehicle for official university business, please make sure to review the vehicle insurance information found in any of the following resources:

• Call the Procurement Service Center Help Desk at (303) 315-2846
• Review Procurement Service Center’s, “A Quick Reference Guide to University Travel”
• Procurement Service Center’s Website: http://www.cusys.edu/psc, click on Payable Services then travel.
• State of Colorado’s Website: http://www.colorado.gov/travel/
• VISA Auto Rental Insurance Program- Click on Visa Business Card for full details.

The State of Colorado selects the vendor(s) to supply rental vehicles for all State of Colorado agencies, including the University of Colorado. The current vendors include AVIS, Budget and Enterprise. When renting a vehicle from any of these state authorized vendors, please conduct the following:

• Charge the rental to the traveler’s CU Corporate US Bank Visa Card and identify yourself as a State of Colorado employee.
• Decline the CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) and LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) as US Bank Visa provides this coverage, except, if the traveler does not use the CU Corporate US Bank Visa Card, then he or she must be covered by other means i.e. personal credit card insurance or personal vehicle insurance.
• When renting with our state rates from one of the contract rental vehicle agencies, the agency will provide liability insurance at no additional cost.
• Should an employee of the university need to rent a vehicle from a company other than the state contracted vendor, then the traveler must purchase liability insurance.
• Other types of liability insurance (personal belongings, etc.) may be offered by the rental vehicle agency.  These insurances are optional as only the CDW and LDW insurance are included with the US Bank Visa Card and State contract.  Loss of personal belongings/property are not covered by the US Bank Visa Card, State contract nor the University of Colorado.  Personal losses will need to be submitted to your personal automobile liability policy for consideration.

Trucks, cargo-vans and 15 passenger vans are excluded from the US Bank Visa Insurance.  The Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) will be provided by Enterprise when a traveler rents a 15 passenger van.

Q.  What if I am renting a vehicle in a foreign country?  Will the rental vehicle insurance through my CU Corporate US Bank Visa Card apply?

A.  The coverage is available on a 24-hour basis in the United States and most foreign countries.  No coverage is provided for motor vehicles rented in Israel, Jamaica, or the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.  Coverage is not available where precluded by law or in violation of the territory terms of the rental agreement.  BECAUSE REGULATIONS VARY OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU CHECK WITH THE VISA PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR (1-800-VISA-911) BEFORE YOU TRAVEL TO MAKE SURE YOUR VISA COMMERCIAL AUTO RENTAL INSURANCE WILL APPLY.

Q. What is covered and not covered under the US Bank Visa automobile rental insurance?

A.  Please remember that the US Bank Visa automobile rental insurance is a “benefit” for the cardholder and is NOT a University of Colorado provided insurance.  All terms and conditions of the automobile rental insurance are between the cardholder and US Bank Visa.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THE YOUR US BANK VISA CORPORATE CARDHOLDER AGREEEMENT FOR FULL DETAILS.

The Visa Commercial Auto Rental Insurance reimburses you for the repair or replacement of covered losses to a rental vehicle while it is your responsibility. 

COVERED LOSSES include:

• Physical damage and theft of the covered rental vehicle.
• Valid loss-of-use charges imposed and substantiated by the rental agency.
• Reasonable and customary towing charges, due to a covered loss, to the nearest qualified repair facility.

• Loss or theft of personal belongings.
• Personal liability.
• Rental periods that either exceed or are intended to exceed 31 consecutive days.
• Loss or damage as a result of the cardholder’s lack of reasonable care in protecting the rental care before and after damage occurs (for example, leaving the vehicle running and unattended.)
• Losses reported more than 20 days from the date of loss.

Q.  What should I do if I incurred damage to the rental vehicle? Am I personally responsible for payment of the damages?

A.  PLEASE READ YOUR US BANK VISA COMMERCIAL CARD HOLDER AGREEMENT CAREFULLY FOR DETAILS.

If the US Bank Visa cardholder is involved in any situation in which the rental vehicle is damaged, they must contact the Program Administrator at 1-800-VISA-911 to report the loss. All claims must be reported immediately following the loss, but in NO event later than 20 days following the date of the loss.  If you, the cardholder, do not report the claim to the Program Administrator within 20 days of the date of loss, your claim will be denied.   

When your speak to the Program Administrator, request a claim form and return it to the Program Administrator within 90 DAYS of the loss.    If the claim is NOT SUBMITTED TO the VISA Program Administrator within the 90 DAYS time period, IT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR PAYMENT AND THE RENTING PARTY WILL BE HELD PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE. 

It is important to read the benefit and insurance information found in the US Bank VISA Corporate Card Insurance and Programs Terms and Conditions pamphlet that each cardholder is sent when provided with a corporate card. Claim procedures and contacts are located within the pamphlet.

You can also submit a claim online directly to VISA at www.visa.com/visaeclaim

VMc 10-20-2005