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Rental Car Agency










 

Licensing

  1. Application, Form 3700 [pdf 286k]
    The application is to be completed by an officer of the rental car company.  Upon completion, the application should be submitted to the licensing and appointing insurer.  The licensing and appointing insurer must ensure that the application is completed properly. 
      
  2. Certificate of Authority, Certificate of Existence or Partnership Agreement
    A Certificate of Authority or Certificate of Existence is required if the rental car company is organized as a corporation.  A partnership agreement is required if the rental car company is organized as a partnership.  If the rental car company has been licensed in any other manner, that certification of licensure must be provided.
     
  3. Appointment Form, Form 3705 [pdf 89k]
    The appointment form should be completed by the licensing and appointing insurer and the insurer must indicate the type of coverage the rental car company is authorized to offer or sell on its behalf.
     
  4. License fee of $40
    The check must be issued by the insurer and made payable to the South Carolina Department of Insurance.
     

The insurer must submit the entire application packet to the Department for review and consideration.  If approved by the Department, the license will be mailed directly to the rental car company.  The rental car company is responsible for notifying the insurer upon receipt of the license.

Please do not highlight any areas of the documentation being submitted to the Department.  Highlighted documents may be returned.

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General Information and Restrictions

  • Only employees of the rental car company who have received training on the insurance product may offer or sell insurance.
     
  • Before employees are eligible to offer or sell insurance products, they must receive training on the protection afforded under the policy to include, but not limited to, the respective policy's insuring agreements, exclusions and/or conditions.  Rental car companies must retain all records of training provided to employees regarding insurance products and maintain those records for a minimum of five years. Training records must be made available immediately upon request for inspection by the Department.
     
  • The rental car company and appointing insurer will be held liable for any acts and/or omissions of individuals offering or selling insurance products to renters.
     
  • Insurance may not be offered or sold by a limited licensee unless:
     
    1. The rental agreement is for a period of less than ninety consecutive days.
    2. The rental car company's licensee must first inform the renter that they may already have insurance policies in place that provide the same coverage being offered by the rental car company.  The rental car application must contain a section for the renter's initials or signature reflecting their acknowledgement.
    3. Every location where rental agreements are executed involving the offer or sale of insurance products must have brochures or other written materials readily available to prospective renters.
       
  • The written material must clearly:
    1. Summarize the material terms of coverage offered to renters, including the identity of the insurer.
    2. Disclose that the coverage offered by the rental car company may be a duplication of coverage already provided by a renter's other insurance policies or other sources of coverage.
    3. State that the renter's purchase of insurance coverage offered by the rental car company's limited insurance license is not required in order to rent a vehicle.
    4. Describe to the renter the process for filing a claim if the renter elects to purchase coverage and in the event of a claim.
    5. Disclose to the renter information regarding dispute handling.
    6. Disclose that disputes involving insurance must first be handled with the rental car company and the insurer. 
        

  • The rental agreement must contain a section on the application for the renter's initials or signature reflecting his/her acknowledgement that insurance written material was provided and that they understood the insurance requirements before coverage was purchased.

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Types of Rental Insurance That May Be Offered

  1. Personal Accident Insurance
    This provides coverage for the risks of travel including, but not limited to, accident and health insurance, as applicable, to renters and other rental vehicle occupants for accidental injury or dismemberment and reimbursement for medical expenses resulting from an accident that occurs during the rental period.
     
  2. Liability Insurance
    This insurance, at the exclusive option of the rental company, may include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage offered separately or in combination with other liability insurance that provides protection, as applicable, to renters and other authorized drivers of rental vehicles for liability arising from the operation of the rental vehicle.
     
  3. Personal Effects Insurance
    This insurance provides coverage, as applicable, to renters and other vehicle occupants for the loss or damage to personal effects that occur during the rental period.
     
  4. Roadside Assistance and Emergency Sickness Protection Programs
    This coverage provides protection to renters for emergency vehicle and emergency health services required while traveling.
     
  5. Other Coverage
    This includes any other travel or vehicle-related coverage that a rental company offers in connection with, and is incidental to, the rental of vehicles.

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Multiple Rental Car Company Locations

Only one limited insurance license will be required for rental car companies with multiple locations.  The application for a limited insurance license requires that all rental car outlets be identified in the licensing application.  Rental car companies must notify the Department within 10 days of the effective date of any additions or changes in locations. The notification must be on the rental car company's official letterhead, signed by an officer of the company and mailed to the Department.

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License Renewal

Rental car company licenses are renewed in December of even numbered years.

Rental Car Company Renewal 2008 Memo [pdf 266k]

Rental Car Company Renewal Application 2008 [pdf 67k]

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SCDOI Contact Information

Phone: 803-737-6095
Email: agntmail@doi.sc.gov

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Link to lookup SC licensees