What can a car rental agency do to you if you get in an accident in a rental car?

If you have car insurance, your own policy may cover accidents in rental cars -- check with your insurer. The rental agency will also make available an insurance policy that will specifically cover you in their vehicle, regardless of what your own insurance carrier may cover. Such insurance is worth the cost, in my opinion, if for no other reason than eliminating most of the hassle if you do have an accident.

Insurance purchased at the time of rental usually has a deductible, perhaps $250, that may or may not be taken out of your rental deposit. If your insurance carrier does not cover rentals, and you did not purchase insurance from the rental company at the time you rented the car, you may be legally liable for the entire cost of the car's repair