Auto · Originally published August 23, 2016 · Updated November 2026
Most people think about insurance in terms of the big-ticket items: liability, collision, comprehensive. But after a claim, one of the first practical questions is simple: how are you going to get to work tomorrow?
That's where rental reimbursement and travel expense coverage come in. They're optional add-ons on many auto policies, and they can make a real difference after a covered loss.
Rental reimbursement helps pay for a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim, or while a total loss or theft claim is being settled. It typically has a daily limit and a maximum per claim.
Travel expense coverage, sometimes called trip interruption, is offered by some carriers. If a covered accident happens a certain distance from home, it can help with costs like meals, lodging and transportation while you're stuck. Not every company offers it, and the terms vary.
Both generally apply only when the loss is covered by your policy. In most cases, that means you need collision or comprehensive coverage on the vehicle. Mechanical breakdowns usually aren't covered.
Repairs can take longer than expected, especially when parts are back-ordered. If you're in Springfield or Joplin and you depend on one car to get to work, school or appointments, being without it even a week can cause problems.
Rental reimbursement helps you keep your routine without draining your savings or borrowing a car from family.
Picture a deer strike on I-44 halfway through a road trip. The car isn't drivable, and the nearest body shop needs days to fix it. Without travel expense coverage, you might be paying for a hotel, meals and a way home out of pocket.
Where it's available, travel expense coverage can help with those costs, up to the policy's limits. Animal collisions are common on Ozarks highways, and our article on deer collisions in Missouri covers what to do if it happens.
Even when your collision or comprehensive coverage pays for the repair, the side costs add up. A rental, a ride to the shop, a night in a hotel. These coverages turn some of those unknowns into planned, limited costs.
If you have these coverages or are thinking about adding them, look at:
Our article on what full coverage means explains how collision and comprehensive fit in, and our auto coverage checkup can help you spot gaps.
Want to know whether your policy includes rental or travel expense coverage? Call us at 417.865.4800, and see our auto insurance page for more.
Usually not. It generally applies after a covered loss, such as an accident or theft, rather than a mechanical problem.
Many companies require collision or comprehensive on the vehicle before you can add rental reimbursement. Ask your agent what your carrier allows.
Or send your details and an agent will call you back. Most auto quotes are finished on one call, and you can buy before you hang up.