CASCO and OSAGO when renting a car: what insurance covers

How car rental insurance works at Rent-Trip

Every Rent-Trip car is insured under two policies at once, CASCO and MTPL, and their cost is already part of the daily rate. You do not need to buy insurance separately, choose add-on packages at the office or pay extra when you get the keys. The price quoted when you book already includes both policies.

It is important to understand that these are two different documents with different jobs. MTPL protects other road users from you; CASCO protects the car you are driving. Together they cover most of the trouble that can happen on the road, but not all of it. Below I go through each policy separately; the full rules are in our rental terms and in the contract you sign when the car is handed over.

MTPL on a rental car: whose liability it covers

In Kazakhstan, what people commonly call OSAGO is officially OGPO VTS: compulsory civil liability insurance for vehicle owners, known internationally as motor third-party liability (MTPL). Driving without a valid policy is not allowed, so every rental car has one, with no exceptions.

Who the policy protects

MTPL pays the people you have harmed: the owner of the car you hit, a pedestrian, an injured passenger, the owner of a fence or barrier. If the accident is your fault, the other party is compensated by the insurance company instead of claiming money from you personally. MTPL payout limits are set by law, so for ordinary city accidents they are usually sufficient. What matters most to you: if the accident is recorded properly, a large claim from the other party will not turn into your personal debt.

What MTPL does not do

MTPL does not repair the car you were driving. If you caused the collision, a scratched wing on the rental car is not covered by this policy; that is what CASCO is for. And the other way round: if the other driver is at fault, the repair of our car is paid by their MTPL, and we handle the settlement with their insurer ourselves.

CASCO on a rental car: protecting the car itself

CASCO is voluntary insurance of the car itself. This policy covers damage to the rental car: in an accident, including one caused by you, damage in a car park, falling branches, hail, theft and other events listed in the insurance programme. Thanks to CASCO, a renter who followed the rules is not liable for the full cost of repairs.

The excess and your share of the damage

CASCO almost always has an excess, the part of the damage the insurer does not reimburse. Under the rental contract, the renter compensates damage caused through their fault to the extent not covered by insurance. So before signing, ask the manager what excess applies to the car you have chosen: the amount is fixed in the contract, and it is better to know it in advance than after a minor bump. One more tip: when you collect the car, walk around it with our specialist and photograph the body, wheels and glass. If the car already has a chip or a scratch, it is recorded before the rental starts, and there will be no questions when you return it.

When CASCO will not pay

The insurer is entitled to refuse payment if the conditions of use were broken. The list is much the same across insurers, and some of the points are written directly into our public offer:

• the driver was someone not named in the rental contract;
• the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• the car was used for racing, competitions, driving lessons, towing or carrying dangerous goods;
• the driver left the scene of the accident or did not report it to the police and the rental company;
• the car was damaged on purpose or driven where there is no road at all.

In such cases the loss usually falls entirely on the renter. This is not a quirk of car rental but a general rule of insurance: a policy pays for accidents, not for violations. A separate note on leaving the city: intercity trips are allowed by prior agreement with the rental company, so mention this in advance as well so that the route is stated in the contract.

CASCO and MTPL for car rental compared

A short summary of how the two policies differ and who is responsible for what.

Insurance, deposit and mileage: what the rental price includes

A Rent-Trip daily rate is more than just the car. The price already includes CASCO and MTPL, mileage of up to 200 km per day, an inspection and wash before every handover, and round-the-clock support, weekends included. Beyond the mileage limit there is a per-kilometre charge, with the rate agreed in the contract.

Why a deposit if there is insurance

Insurance and the deposit do different jobs. The policy covers major risks, while the deposit covers what the insurer does not pay: the excess, traffic camera fines, missing fuel, a late return. The deposit depends on the car class: 50,000 ₸ for economy and comfort, 100,000 ₸ for business, SUVs, minivans and commercial vehicles, 150,000 ₸ for premium and 200,000 ₸ for unique models. It is returned within 1–3 business days after the car is handed back without damage or fines.

How much a rental with insurance costs

There is no separate insurance line on the bill; it is already in the daily price. Guide prices by class: economy from 12,990 ₸ per day, comfort from 15,990 ₸, SUVs from 22,000 ₸, business from 35,000 ₸, premium from 54,990 ₸, exclusive cars from 49,990 ₸ per day.

The more expensive the car, the higher the deposit: repairing a premium saloon or a sports car costs more, and the excess on such policies is higher too. When choosing a class, consider not only the daily price but also the amount that will be held on your card for the rental period.

An accident in a rental car: how to keep your car rental insurance valid

Even the most careful driver can have an accident. The insurer only pays out on a properly recorded case, so the key thing is not to panic and to act step by step.

The first minutes at the scene

1. Stop, switch on the hazard lights and put out the warning triangle.
2. If anyone is injured, call an ambulance (103) and the police (102), or dial the single emergency number 112.
3. Call Rent-Trip on the number in your contract: we will tell you how to handle the case with this particular car and arrange a tow truck if needed.
4. Do not move the cars until the scene is recorded, unless they block traffic or create a hazard.

Photos and documents

Photograph the scene from different angles: a general view, close-ups of the damage, the number plates of both cars, road signs and markings. Write down the other driver's full name, phone number and policy number. Keep every document you are given; the insurer will need them. Settling without calling the police is not always allowed: if in doubt, it is better to wait for the officers than to prove the circumstances later.

What not to do

• leave the scene of the accident, which is a direct reason to refuse payment;
• make a deal on the spot and take money from the other party: repairs to a rental car are handled by the company;
• sign an admission of fault under pressure without talking to us first;
• repair the car yourself before it has been inspected.

If you plan to leave Almaty, tell us your route when booking: the terms of intercity trips are agreed in advance. And if you would rather not drive at all, you can book a car with a driver, and then our driver is behind the wheel.

Questions about car rental insurance

Do I need to pay extra for insurance when renting?

No. CASCO and MTPL are included in the daily rate of every car, and there is no separate insurance line on the bill. Extra charges can only come from other terms of the contract, such as mileage over 200 km per day.

Who pays if the accident was my fault?

Damage to third parties is covered by MTPL, and repairs to the rental car by CASCO. The renter only covers the part not paid by insurance, such as the excess, plus the full loss if the contract terms were broken.

Does the insurance cover traffic camera fines?

No. Fines for traffic violations have nothing to do with insurance: we forward them to the renter, and unpaid fines are deducted from the deposit.

Can someone else drive the car?

Only if they are named in the rental contract. If the car was driven by someone not in the contract, the insurer may refuse to pay. If you need a second driver, tell us when booking.