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Travel

Renting Vehicles
while on Official Travel

  1. I will be on business travel during the next several weeks. I would like to rent an automobile at my destination. Is there anything that I should be aware of before I do this?
  2. Does NOAO use any specific car rental agency?
  3. What should I do if I have an accident in a rental vehicle?


I will be on business travel during the next several weeks. I would like to rent an automobile at my destination. Is there anything that I should be aware of before I do this?


AURA has standing contracts with several auto rental companies to provide vehicles for AURA travelers. In some cases, we have been issued credit cards for employee usage, and in others, the companies will direct bill the charges to Accounting. For more information, contact:

  • General Information - Clark Enterline, NOAO Procurement Manager; centerline@noao.edu; ext. 8277
  • Rental and Direct Billing Information, Auto Rental Credit Cards - Clark Enterline, Manager NOAO Procurement; centerline@noao.edu; ext. 8277 or Kathy McBride,  NOAO Procurement Supervisor;  kmcbride@noao.edu;  520-318-8180.
  • Auto Rental Insurance Questions – Chuck Gessner, NOAO Safety Officer cgessner@noao.edu 520-318-8211.

It is important to understand that the employee must first generate a Travel Request  (TR)  The TR is proof that the trip has been authorized and insures that all appropriate insurance is in place.

 

In general, departmental administrative assistants can make the necessary rental car arrangements for the traveler.

Agencies used by NOAO are:

  • For local (Tucson) rentals NOAO uses ENTERPRISE. Contact the airport office at 520-573-5250 and reference AURA's direct bill/corporate rate account number (contact Clark Enterline, centerline@noao.edu; ext. 8277

for that number). Billing for the vehicle will be sent directly to NOAO.

  • For late arrival (after 10:00pm Tucson) and all other domestic rentals, NOAO has accounts with:
    • AVIS. Contact the national reservation center at 1-800-331-1551 and reference the AURA direct bill/corporate rate account number (contact Clark Enterline, centerline@noao.edu; ext. 8277

for that number). We also have an Avis Credit Card for employees to check out in case they do not want to make auto reservations in advance. Billing for the vehicle will be sent directly to NOAO.

  • Other car rental agencies may be used but NOAO does not have any direct-bill arrangements with other companies. As a result, the traveler will have to pay with their own, individual credit card. Insurance coverage will only apply if the rental is made in the name of AURA. Insurance coverage will apply regardless of who pays for the rental.

Rentals Within the United States and Hawaii

AURA has an insurance policy that covers AURA employees when renting vehicles while on official travel. This policy covers auto liability, comprehensive, collision and loss-for-use for rental cars. This policy is not active when family members are driving rental vehicles.

According to the insurance company there is no restriction on the rental vehicle usage. If rented in the corporate name, insurance would apply on a 24 hours basis and would cover the corporation and driver for business use as well as personal errands while on the business trip. If the vehicle is used in such a manner, there would be no need to buy additional personal coverage.

Employees must waive liability, collision, comprehensive, loss of use and personal effects coverage when signing the rental agreement. Any such coverage agreed to by the employee will be the responsibility of the employee.

Chilean visitors can rest assured that when an auto reservation is made for them, the reservation is made in the name of AURA and complies with this requirement. Unless the visitor has family members who will be driving the vehicle, addition insurance will not be necessary.

Spouses are not covered by the AURA insurance policy when driving a rental car. If that is planned, it is suggested that the employee take out insurance with the rental car company or check with their insurance company to see if auto rentals are covered by their personal auto insurance policy. Most agencies cover the rental car for damage and such but they do not cover the agency for lost usage or income. This can be a major expense so check carefully with your insurance company.

To insure coverage, the employee must reserve and rent the vehicle in the name of AURA (i.e. AURA/Tom Jones, Tom Jones, AURA, etc.). Using AURA's corporate vehicle rental number with that specific agency identifies the rental as an official AURA rental.

In case of an accident within the Continental US, the employee must notify Deborah Narcisso at the Corporate Office in Washington, DC, 202-483-2101 of the collision. If an emergency occurs after hours, the employee must call Hartford Insurance Co. (1-800-327-3636) and reference policy number 72UENGM808. When it is convenient or as soon as the employee returns to work, they should contact the NOAO Safety Officer - Chuck Gessner at 520-318-8211. The employee will need to complete an NOAO Accident Report Form.

In case of an accident in Hawaii contact Polly Roth at Gemini 808-974-2508. After hours, call Hartford Insurance at 1-800-327-3636. Reference Policy Number 72 ABJA 4008. When it is convenient or as soon as the employee returns to work, they should contact the NOAO Safety Officer - Chuck Gessner at 520-318-8211. The employee will need to complete an NOAO Accident Report Form.

Rentals Outside the United States and Canada

AURA's insurance coverage does not include vehicles rented outside of the United States and Canada. To ensure adequate protection in case of an accident, the employee must accept the liability and physical damage coverage when signing the rental agreement.

In case of an accident, the employee must notify the rental agency per the instructions provided when accepting the insurance.

Excess liability insurance provided by Great Northern Insurance Company, policy #3537 8763. In an emergency and after hours, call Great Northern Teleclaim 1-800-699-9916.

When it is convenient or as soon as the employee returns to work, they should contact the NOAO Safety Officer - Chuck Gessner at 520-318-8211. The employee will need to complete an NOAO Accident Report Form.


Does NOAO use any specific car rental agency?


AURA has standing contracts with several auto rental companies to provide vehicles for AURA travelers. In some cases, we have been issued credit cards for employee usage, and in others, the companies will direct bill the charges to Accounting. For more information, contact:

  • General Information - Clark Enterline, NOAO Procurement Manager; centerline@noao.edu; ext. 8277
  • Rental and Direct Billing Information, Auto Rental Credit Cards - Clark Enterline, Manager, NOAO Procurement; centerline@noao.edu; ext. 8277

Actual auto reservations can be made through departmental secretaries.

Agencies used by NOAO are:

  • For local (Tucson) rentals NOAO uses ENTERPRISE. Contact the airport office at 520-573-5250 and reference AURA's direct bill/corporate rate account number (contact Clark Enterline, centerline@noao.edu; ext. 8277

for that number). Billing for the vehicle will be sent directly to NOAO.

  • For late arrival (after 10:00pm Tucson) and all other domestic rentals, NOAO has accounts with:
    • AVIS. Contact the national reservation center at 1-800-331-1551 and reference the AURA direct bill/corporate rate account number (contact Clark Enterline, centerline@noao.edu; ext. 8277

for that number). We also have an Avis Credit Card for employees to check out in case they do not want to make auto reservations in advance. Billing for the vehicle will be sent directly to NOAO.

  • Other car rental agencies may be used but NOAO does not have any direct-bill arrangements with other companies. As a result, the traveler will have to pay with their own, individual credit card. Insurance coverage will only apply if the rental is made in the name of AURA without regard as to whether the charges are direct-billed to AURA or paid by the traveler.

To insure AURA insurance coverage, the employee must reserve and rent the vehicle in the name of AURA (i.e. AURA/Tom Jones, Tom Jones, AURA, etc.). Using AURA's corporate vehicle rental number with that specific agency identifies the rental as an official AURA rental.

Spouses are not covered by the AURA insurance policy when driving a rental car. If that is planned, it is suggested that the employee take out insurance with the rental car company or check with their insurance company to see if auto rentals are covered by their personal auto insurance policy. Most agencies cover the rental car for damage and such but they do not cover the agency for lost usage or income. This can be a major expense so check carefully with your insurance company.

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What should I do if I have an accident in a rental vehicle?

In case of an accident, the employee should notify the authorities, if required (public property, significant damage, etc.), and exchange insurance information with the driver of the other vehicle.

Depending on where the acccident occurs, the instructions vary:

In case of an accident within the Continental US, the employee must notify Deborah Narcisso at the Corporate Office in Washington, DC, 202-483-2101 of the collision. If an emergency occurs after hours, the employee must call Hartford Insurance Co. (1-800-327-3636) and reference policy number 72UENGM808. When it is convenient or as soon as the employee returns to work, they should contact the NOAO Safety Officer - Chuck Gessner at 520-318-8211. The employee will need to complete an NOAO Accident Report Form.

In case of an accident in Hawaii contact Polly Roth at Gemini 808-974-2508. After hours, call Hartford Insurance at 1-800-327-3636. Reference Policy Number 72 ABJA 4008. When it is convenient or as soon as the employee returns to work, they should contact the NOAO Safety Officer - Chuck Gessner at 520-318-8211. The employee will need to complete an NOAO Accident Report Form.

In case of an accident outside the Continental US or Hawaii, the employee must notify the rental agency per the instructions provided when accepting the insurance.

Excess liability insurance provided by Great Northern Insurance Company, policy #3537 8763. In an emergency and after hours, call Great Northern Teleclaim 1-800-699-9916.

When it is convenient or as soon as the employee returns to work, they should contact the NOAO Safety Officer - Chuck Gessner at 520-318-8211. The employee will need to complete an NOAO Accident Report Form..

For further information, contact Chuck Gessner (cgessner@noao.edu, ext 8211).

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  Last updated 11/12/2004.