SLI insurance explained: Supplemental liability coverage

Note: SLI is generally not offered by car rental companies outside of the United States and Canada due to differences in third party liability laws. RentalCover does not offer SLI outside of the United States. The information on this page is relevant only to vehicle rentals inside the United States.

SLI offers increased cover for liability. It can be an important type of insurance, offering peace of mind when you travel in a rental vehicle. In this guide, we'll provide all the information you need on SLI coverage and how it impacts your rental car journey.

What is Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI)?

When you rent a vehicle, Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) offers additional coverage for injuries to other drivers and damage to their vehicles. The base price of your rental vehicle may automatically factor in some level of third party liability insurance.

This is not the case in all states. Even if this coverage is included in your rental, you may want coverage that goes beyond the state minimums, which can be quite low.

This is where SLI comes in. It offers increased liability coverage, often up to $1,000,000. Your car rental company may offer SLI.

RentalCover also offers an SLI product on rentals in the United States, providing coverage up to $1,000,000 for third party costs you're liable for. This can include injuries to people and damage to property. Plus, our cover can be up to 50% cheaper than similar cover from car rental companies†.

What does SLI cover?

SLI policies often cover the following areas:

Third party bodily injury: Medical expenses and some other costs for people in other vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists if they're injured in an accident for which you are at fault.
Third party property damage: Costs to repair or replace another person's car, or damage to structures like fences or buildings.
Legal fees: Some policies include coverage for legal fees if you are sued following an accident.
Increased limits: SLI coverage can be as high as $1,000,000, far exceeding the legal minimums offered in the base rental price of many rental companies.

An SLI policy from RentalCover includes cover in all of these areas up to $1,000,000. This helps you travel with greater peace of mind in a rental vehicle.

What does SLI not cover?

SLI policies do not cover:

Accidents where you're not at fault: In general, you're only able to claim SLI for accidents where you were the driver at fault.
The rental vehicle: SLI does not cover your rental car. Policies like Collision Damage Waivers (CDWs) protect your rental vehicle by transferring liability to the rental company.
Your own injuries: Policies like Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) can provide cover if you're injured in a rental vehicle.
Your personal belongings: Theft or damage to your possessions inside a rental vehicle is covered by policies like Personal Effects Coverage.
Unauthorised use: If an accident occurs while you are not adhering to the conditions of your policy, your cover is usually voided. This could apply if the car was being driven by an unauthorised driver, used off-road or if you are driving over the legal alcohol limit.

Do I need to purchase SLI?

SLI policies are typically not legally required. In some states, rental companies are required by law to provide you with the legal minimum amount of third party liability coverage for that state.

In some states, rental companies don't need to do this, so drivers are responsible for ensuring they meet the legal threshold. For many drivers, your personal auto insurance coverage will meet this legal minimum.

If you can't meet the minimum levels through your personal insurance, an SLI policy can enable you to meet the legal requirements to drive.

Even if you aren't legally required to purchase SLI, it can still offer extremely important cover if things go wrong. The cover offered by default by car rental companies or your personal insurance can have extremely low limits.

Having coverage up to $1,000,000 through RentalCover is a great way to drive with more security and confidence.

Minimum legal liability cover around the US

Here's a guide to legal liability minimums in some states around the US:

State	Per Person	Per Accident	Property Damage	Supplier SLI Coverage
California	$30,000	$60,000	$15,000	$1 million
Nevada	$25,000	$50,000	$20,000	$1 million
New York	$25,000	$50,000	$10,000	$1 million
Texas	$30,000	$60,000	$25,000	$1 million
Pennsylvania	$15,000	$30,000	$5,000	$1 million
Illinois	$25,000	$50,000	$20,000	$1 million

Be sure to check up-to-date information about laws wherever you travel.

How does an SLI claim work?

Here's how you can make an SLI claim with RentalCover:

Inform the rental company of any third party claims against you for their injuries or property damage that you are made aware of.
Use our online claim form to inform RentalCover and our SLI insurance partner so we can advise the next steps.
Our insurance partner will assess the claim once it has been submitted.
You’ll be notified of any additional documentation or inquiries our SLI insurance partner may have pursuant to their investigation.
Our insurance partner will make you aware of anything that pertains to you or any further actions required.
Please inform our insurance partner of any new claim information or relevant developments.

Cover your rental vehicle with RentalCover

SLI coverage from RentalCover (offered in the US only) is a crucial addition to your holiday. We'll cover your costs up to $1,000,000 if you're liable for injuries to other people, or damage to vehicles and property.

Our cover can be up to 50% cheaper than the rental companies†. It's easy to pair our SLI product with our other policies, which offer comprehensive cover for your rental vehicle, with nothing for you to pay in the event of a claim.

Get your quote today and find out how we can help you travel with more peace of mind.

Hear from our rental car insurance expert

“Understanding SLI coverage is crucial to relaxing and enjoying your travels in a rental vehicle. With cover up to $1,000,000, RentalCover's SLI policy is an excellent choice for travellers in the United States.

RentalCover also offers policies covering damage to your rental vehicle with nothing for you to pay in the event of a claim. Together, these policies will help you truly relax while you travel in a rental vehicle."

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Frequently asked questions

Do I have SLI cover if I'm not at fault?

No. SLI cover only applies for accidents where you are the driver at fault.

Is SLI the same as CDW?

No, SLI offers different cover to Collision Damage Waivers (CDWs). SLI offers third party cover for injuries and damage caused to other people and property.

CDWs offer cover for rental vehicles themselves by transferring liability for damage to the vehicle from the driver to the rental company.

For more information, check out our complete guide to what rental car insurance is.

Is SLI the same as third party insurance?

SLI is one type of additional third party insurance. A basic level of third party insurance may be included in the price of your rental vehicle, depending on local state law. SLI offers additional liability insurance, with coverage that can be as high as $1,000,000.

What is the purpose of SLI?

SLI offers cover for your liabilities in case you injure someone else or cause property damage during an accident for which you are at fault. While some level of third party coverage is often included in the cost of your vehicle rental, SLI offers far higher coverage limits. This means you can enjoy true protection when travelling in a rental car.