SiCarro/Rental car insurance in El Salvador
Rental car insurance in El Salvador
At SiCarro, insurance isn't an add-on sprung on you at the counter: every listed vehicle must have an active policy, and basic coverage is included in the rental price. Here's what it covers, what it doesn't, and what to do if you have an accident.
What the included insurance covers
Every vehicle listed on SiCarro must have active insurance. When you rent, basic coverage is built into the rate, with no separate insurance charge at checkout.
- Liability: damage to other people's vehicles or property.
- Collision damage: damage to the rental car in a traffic accident.
- Injuries to third parties caused by the rental vehicle.
- Vehicle theft, subject to filing a police report.
- Fire, and certain natural-disaster damage depending on the policy.
- Nationwide coverage, on any route you drive.
What it does NOT cover, so you're not caught off guard
The coverage is basic and has standard exclusions. The ones that come up most often in practice:
- Personal belongings: laptops, cameras, luggage. For those you need your own travel insurance.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: this voids coverage entirely.
- Unauthorized drivers: only the person named on the rental agreement is covered. If someone else drives, the insurance is void.
- Off-road driving in a vehicle that isn't a 4x4: damage from that kind of use isn't covered.
Insurance and the deposit are not the same thing
The deposit is a cash guarantee the provider collects when handing over the car and returns when the car comes back in the same condition. It isn't insurance or a premium: it's money that's held during the rental and goes back in your pocket.
That's why you should look at both before booking: the rate includes insurance, and the deposit is separate. In the current fleet, the median deposit is $50, and some cars require no deposit at all.
If you have an accident
- People come first: check whether anyone is hurt and call 911 right away. Don't move an injured person unless they're in immediate danger.
- Call the police and don't leave the scene: the police report is what activates coverage, especially in the case of theft.
- Take photos of the vehicles, the license plates, their position on the road and the surroundings.
- Notify the vehicle's provider and SiCarro on WhatsApp, with the photos and the report number.
- Don't agree to any repairs or payments on the spot outside the insurance policy.
How to check that the car is insured
SiCarro requires proof of insurance and a vehicle registration card before a vehicle can be listed. Before booking, you can ask the provider for the details of their policy, especially if you're planning a demanding route or leaving the main roads. If a listing won't give you that information, that's a sign you should pick a different one.
Frequently asked questions
- Is insurance included in the rental price?
- Yes. Basic coverage is included in the rate you see on the listing and at checkout: there's no separate insurance charge when you pick up the car.
- What happens if I crash the rental car?
- Call 911 if anyone is hurt, call the police and don't leave the scene, take photos, and notify the provider and SiCarro on WhatsApp with the police report. That report is what activates coverage, especially in the case of theft.
- Does the insurance cover anyone who drives?
- No. Only the person named on the rental agreement is covered. If someone else drives the vehicle, coverage is void.
- Is the deposit the same as insurance?
- No. The deposit is a cash guarantee the provider returns when the car comes back in the same condition. Insurance is coverage included in the rate, and you don't pay for it separately.
- Can I drive off-road?
- Only in a 4x4 and with the provider's approval. Damage caused by taking a non-4WD vehicle off-road is excluded from coverage.
