Do I need to buy insurance coverage when I rent a car? Do I need to buy insurance coverage when I rent a car? It is up to you. That is a personal choice. You have to decide depending on your situation and circumstances. Usually, you don’t really need to buy an additional insurance from the car rental company for the reason that this may be included in your coverage. Most of the time, credit and travel cards include auto coverage when they use the car for the car rental charge. Provisions that give you some liability and other coverage might be included on your health, homeowner’s, renters or auto insurance policies.