AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 144

NEWS & NOTES

INSURANCE SERVICES

INSURANCE FILE
BY BILL SNEAD

Language decoder

President,
AOPA Insurance Services

Here's what you need to know about renter's insurance
BUYING RENTER'S INSURANCE doesn't have
to be complicated, but it helps to understand
the insurance language and what it means
to you.
Required coverage is the coverage you
need to protect against claims for bodily
injury and property damage that occur
while you're operating a rented aircraft. It
does not cover damage to the rented aircraft; that's covered under optional coverage.
Most insurers recommend that you
should protect yourself with the highest
amount of required coverage you can afford.
The amount of optional coverage you need
depends on the estimated value of the aircraft you typically fly, as well as your rental
agreement and what that rental agreement
says you are responsible for. Repair costs
can be very high, so you really need your
own coverage.
Let's say you make an emergency landing in your rented airplane on a golf course
and, while landing, you tear up the turf,
clip a golfer, and your passenger suffers a
neck injury. Required coverage covers the

damage to the course and the golfer, up
to amount of chosen coverage, with your
passenger's injuries covered by your perpassenger sub-limit amount. Your optional
coverage covers damage to the rented
airplane.
If you had a $1 million policy with a
per-passenger sub-limit of $100,000 and
optional coverage of $80,000, treatment
of your passenger would be limited to
$100,000. The remaining $900,000 could
be used to cover damage to the course and
medical care of the golfer. The $80,000
optional coverage would cover damage to
your rented airplane, including loss of use.
Some policies have per-person sublimits instead of per-passenger sub-limits.
These policies are the most restrictive, as
they consider any person involved in the

accident to be under the required coverage
sub-limits (in this case only $100,000)-
instead of making the total policy amount
available for anyone outside the plane.
There are no related premium savings with
this policy, so they should be avoided.
AOPA Insurance Services is available
to answer all your questions and help you
make a decision that is right for your needs.
AOPA Insurance Services is celebrating
20 years of serving the aviation insurance
needs of our customers. Visit us online
(www.aopainsurance.org) or call 800-6222672 for information on how AOPA can
get you the best deal on aviation and life
insurance.
Bill Snead is an aviation insurance professional with more than 35 years of experience.

AOPA INSURANCE SERVICES is available to answer all your questions and help

you make a decision that is right for your needs. AOPA Insurance Services is
celebrating 20 years of serving the aviation insurance needs of our customers.
Visit us online (www.aopainsurance.org) or call 800-622-2672 for information
on how AOPA Insurance Services can help you get the best coverage at the
very best price.

CONTACT AOPA
AOPA FOUNDATION
ADDRESS CHANGE?

Send your new address and AOPA
membership number to AOPA:

AOPA AIRCRAFT INSURANCE

800-955-9115
www.aopafoundation.org

800-622-AOPA (622-2672)
www.aopainsurance.org

AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE

AOPA PILOT PROTECTION SERVICES

421 Aviation Way
Frederick, Maryland 21701-4798

800-638-3101
www.airsafetyinstitute.org

800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
www.aopa.org/pps

Fax: 301-695-2375
www.aopa.org

AOPA CREDIT CARD PROGRAM

AOPA RENTAL CAR PROGRAM

TOLL-FREE PILOT INFORMATION CENTER

800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
www.aopa.org

800-523-7666
www.aopa.org/creditcard

866-315-9155
www.aopa.org/cars

AOPA AIRCRAFT FINANCING

800-627-5263
www.aopafinance.com

EXTENDED PILOT INFORMATION CENTER HOURS

Enjoy a whole new level of access to the team of aviation experts in our Pilot Information Center with our convenient extended weekday hours. The Pilot Information Center is available until 8 p.m. Eastern time every weekday. Call 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) Monday
through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Eastern time, with your questions and our staff will be happy to assist you.
WEB

Visit the website (www.aopa.org/aopapremier) to learn about upgrading to the AOPA Premier membership.

144 | AOPA PILOT August 2014

http://www.aopainsurance.org http://www.aopainsurance.org http://www.aopainsurance.org http://www.aopafoundation.org http://www.aopa.org/pps http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org http://www.aopa.org http://www.aopa.org/cars http://www.aopa.org/creditcard http://www.aopa.org http://www.aopafinance.com http://www.aopa.org/aopapremier

AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014