We don't insure the trailer or you during the rental. Your own auto insurance is what covers liability while you're towing — and even that probably doesn't cover damage to the trailer itself. Either way, you're responsible for damage that happens while the trailer is in your hands.
What we provide: nothing
Middle Tennessee Trailer Rentals doesn't carry insurance that covers you or the trailer during your rental. Our policies cover our own operations — they don't extend to rental periods. This is intentional and built into our pricing.
What your auto insurance probably covers
For most personal and commercial auto policies, the liability portion extends to a trailer you're towing — meaning if you cause an accident that injures someone or damages another vehicle, your auto policy is what responds. Your auto liability coverage is the primary source of protection for these scenarios.
What your auto insurance probably does NOT cover
This is the part that surprises most renters:
Damage to a non-owned trailer is usually excluded from personal auto policies. If you damage the trailer in a collision, roll it over, or overload it to failure, the collision and comprehensive coverage on your tow vehicle does not extend to the trailer.
Commercial auto policies sometimes include "any trailer" physical damage — but not always. Don't assume.
What this means for damage
If the trailer is damaged during your rental, we charge the repair cost (parts plus labor at standard market rates) directly to the card on file. We don't go through your insurance because, in most cases, your insurance won't cover the damage. Damage charges work like this:
Pickup and return photos through the booking app establish the trailer's condition before and after your rental
Repair from a qualified shop, or in-house at $100/hour for minor work
If the trailer is out of service while it's being repaired, you owe the daily rental rate for each lost day (Loss of Use)
A damage claim administrative fee of up to $250 may apply
Details and the full fee list are in our published Fee Schedule, shared with you at booking.
Recommended: call your insurer before booking
Before you book, call your auto insurance company and ask two questions:
"Does my policy cover liability while I'm towing a rented trailer?" (Usually yes for personal policies; verify specifics for commercial policies.)
"Does it cover physical damage to the rented trailer itself?" (Usually no for personal policies; sometimes yes for commercial; ask specifically.)
If your insurance doesn't cover physical damage to the trailer, you have a few options: book anyway and accept the financial risk (you're responsible either way), add a non-owned trailer endorsement to your policy if your insurer offers one, or look into short-term rental insurance separately.
We don't sell insurance and don't recommend specific products — but we do want you to make the booking decision with full information.
Full terms in your Rental Agreement
The legally binding version of all of the above lives in your Rental Agreement, primarily § 19 (Insurance Representation) and § 20 (Damage, Loss, Diminished Value, and Liability). Both are presented to you at booking.