Getting a rental car after accident

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? WI

We were stopped at a stop sign when a person making a right hand turn was going to fast on a snow and iced covered road and slid into our Ford Expedition. Their insurance company set up a compact car rental for us but we requested a 4-wheel drive vehicle because we live on an un-plowed road. We used to have a KIA Optima and got stuck in our driveway 5 times one winter. Both of us sustained injuries and there is no way we could push a car and, it's 80 miles to go see our doctors and I don't want to drive a small compact when it's snowing. Their insurance guy said they only had to supply us with minimum car rental. I feel it should be comparable to the car that was wrecked which we were driving. My husband told him that and he said he would have to talk to his supervisor. That was early Friday a.m. and here it is Sunday evening and we still haven't heard back from him. Wondering what the law is on this issue. Thank you.

How long will the repair take? Is there snow on the ground now or expected to happen before your repairs are done?

Car rental after accident

Don't have an idea yet on when the car will be repaired. Their insurance guy is looking at it Monday. There is a lot of snow and ice on the ground. We live in the country and our roads are plowed a bit, but they are not salted so they are always snow and ice covered until spring.

If 4wd is legitimately necessary for where you live, then it is reasonable for you to expect a 4wd rental from the insurance company. Call them back on monday (you should not have expected to hear anything over the weekend).

This is assuming your vehicle is not driveable. If it is, you should expect to drive it until you are ready to start the repairs.

You will probably have to pay the difference between the basic rental and a 4 wheel drive vehicle. It is not the insurance companies fault you live where you do or the fact there is snow on the ground.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions with rental cars. People think they should get an "equal" trade.

The reality is no, you only get what your rental car insurance coverage pays for. Most cases, it is $30/day, and that only gets a compact car!

OP will have to pay for the difference, if they want the 4x4, out of there own pocket.

Since this is not OP's own insurance company but the insurance for someone who hit him, it is reasonable to get a rental car that meets his useage requirements, even if it's more then a minimum rental.

ecmst12 said:

Since this is not OP's own insurance company but the insurance for someone who hit him, it is reasonable to get a rental car that meets his useage requirements, even if it's more then a minimum rental.

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No. They are only required to get a vehicle, whatever that might be on the lot at the rental car agency and whatever the other insurance company is willing to provide. Anything more than that is at the cost of the renter, and not the insurance company or the rental car agency.

Perhaps, but the company I used to work at would approve a more expensive rental for a claimant with legitimate need for it. Not likely they would have done that without a reason - it was a non-standard company, not trying to impress anyone with customer service.