Quick Summary:
- PEC can reimburse stolen personal items from your hire car, up to limits.
- Expect exclusions for cash, electronics misuse, and unattended visible valuables.
- Check travel insurance, home contents, and card benefits before buying PEC.
- In Florida, choose PEC mainly for gaps and faster, simpler claims.
When you arrange car hire in the US, you will often see optional add-ons that sound similar, but protect very different things. Personal Effects Coverage, usually shortened to PEC, is one of the most misunderstood. PEC is not about damage to the vehicle, and it is not about injury to people. It is specifically aimed at your belongings, such as luggage, clothing, and personal items, if they are stolen from the hire car or sometimes damaged during a covered incident.
Florida visitors can be especially unsure whether PEC is necessary. Many trips involve airports, beach stops, shopping outlets, theme parks, and hotel check-ins, which increases the chance that bags are left in the vehicle, even briefly. The key is understanding what PEC typically covers, where it commonly does not pay out, and how often you are already protected by travel insurance or other policies.
If you are comparing pickup locations for car hire in South Florida, Hola Car Rentals has pages covering major hubs such as Miami Airport car rental and Fort Lauderdale Airport car rental, where insurance options may appear during the quote or at the counter.
What Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) is, in plain English
PEC is an optional protection that may reimburse you if personal property is stolen from the hire vehicle, or sometimes from the immediate area around it, depending on the policy wording. It is usually sold as a daily add-on and either stands alone or is bundled with other products (for example, together with roadside assistance or accident cover).
Most PEC policies focus on theft from the vehicle. That means the claim is about your items, not the car. If the vehicle itself is stolen or damaged, PEC is not the relevant protection, that would fall under separate products such as loss damage waiver style cover or similar.
What PEC typically covers
PEC coverage varies by provider, but these are the most common “covered” scenarios for US car hire products:
Theft of personal items from the hire car, for example luggage taken during a break-in. Some policies require signs of forced entry, such as a smashed window or pried lock.
Damage to personal items during a covered theft, such as a suitcase damaged when a boot is forced open.
Coverage for named drivers and passengers, depending on the wording. Some policies only cover the renter and immediate family, others cover any passenger whose property is in the car.
Stated maximum benefit limits. PEC almost always has a maximum payout per incident and sometimes per person or per item. Limits can be lower than the value of a single laptop or camera, so the numbers matter.
Because car hire in Florida often includes day trips, it is worth thinking about what is actually in the vehicle. If you travel with high-value electronics, designer items, or expensive sports gear, PEC may not fully match the potential loss, and it may exclude some categories entirely.
Common PEC exclusions and conditions that surprise people
PEC is not a blank cheque for anything missing from your car. It is full of conditions. These are typical exclusions that frequently reduce or eliminate payouts:
Cash and financial instruments. Many policies exclude cash, coins, gift cards, cheques, tickets, and similar items. If your wallet is taken, PEC might cover the wallet itself but not the cash inside.
Unattended items left in plain sight. A very common condition is that valuables must be kept out of view, typically in a locked boot. Bags left on seats, even for a short stop, may be excluded.
Unlocked vehicle or keys left in the car. If the vehicle was not locked, or keys were left inside, many policies will deny the claim. Some will also exclude cases where doors were unlocked but there was no forced entry.
Electronics and “high value” items. Laptops, cameras, phones, and jewellery are often limited, excluded, or capped per item. Some policies cover them only up to a low sub-limit.
Wear and tear or mysterious disappearance. If you cannot show theft evidence, such as a police report, or if an item is simply missing with no clear incident, PEC may not apply.
Commercial or business property. Work tools, samples, or equipment used for business can be excluded.
Property of non-authorised users. If a passenger is not allowed under the rental agreement or the driver is unauthorised, the PEC claim can become complicated or invalid.
In other words, PEC is often strongest for everyday luggage and personal items, stored securely, with a clear theft event and documented reporting.
How PEC overlaps with travel insurance and other cover
Many Florida visitors already have some level of protection for belongings, which can make PEC unnecessary or only useful as a back-up. Before adding PEC to your car hire, check these sources of cover:
Travel insurance baggage cover. A standard travel policy often includes baggage and personal effects cover, including theft, sometimes even from a vehicle. However, travel policies may require forcible entry, impose strict unattended vehicle rules, and set single-item limits. If your travel policy already covers theft from a locked car boot, PEC may duplicate it.
Home contents insurance away-from-home extension. Some UK home contents policies cover personal possessions outside the home, including while travelling. Again, limits and exclusions apply, but this is another possible overlap.
Packaged bank account travel insurance. If you have travel insurance through a bank account, it may include baggage cover similar to a standalone policy.
Credit card purchase protection or travel benefits. Some cards offer purchase protection or travel cover. Do not assume, check the policy booklet carefully, as many benefits are limited or require the trip to be paid with that card.
If you do have travel insurance, compare it against PEC on four points: the maximum payout, single-item caps, the unattended vehicle wording, and how claims are handled (excess, documents required, and time limits).
When PEC can still be worth it in Florida
PEC can make sense when it fills a real gap, or when you prefer a simpler route for claims. Situations where PEC may be helpful include:
You have limited or no baggage cover. Some basic travel policies have low limits, high excesses, or exclude theft from vehicles entirely.
You are on a short trip and travelling light on insurance. A quick Florida break might be arranged with minimal coverage, and PEC could be a targeted add-on.
You will have luggage in the car between check-out and check-in. This is a classic risk window, especially around popular areas where people stop for lunch or shopping with bags still in the vehicle.
Your travel insurance has strict exclusions. Some policies require items to be in a locked boot and may still exclude theft from vehicles in certain locations or overnight. If PEC is more flexible, it may be beneficial.
You want potential convenience. With any insurance, convenience depends on the provider, but PEC may offer a more direct claims route tied to the rental agreement. This does not guarantee a quick payout, but it can reduce the feeling of juggling multiple insurers.
Driving patterns also matter. If your Florida plan is mostly point-to-point travel with items rarely left in the vehicle, PEC may be less valuable than if you are doing many stops per day.
When PEC is usually not necessary
PEC is often optional for a reason, many renters do not need it. You might reasonably skip PEC if:
Your travel insurance already covers theft from vehicles with limits that match what you carry, and you understand the conditions.
You can keep valuables with you and avoid leaving bags in the car, particularly in visible areas.
You carry mostly low-value items that would not justify an extra daily fee.
You are mostly travelling between secure locations and can store property in accommodation quickly.
Remember that choosing to skip PEC is not the same as taking no precautions. In Florida, the most practical protection is behavioural: keep items out of sight, use the boot, and minimise “bags in the car” time.
Florida-specific risk moments and practical precautions
PEC is about theft risk, so it helps to identify the moments when theft from a vehicle is more likely. Florida travel often includes beach parking, outlet malls, theme park car parks, and hotel curbside unloading. None of these automatically mean high crime, but they can increase opportunity, especially when bags are visible.
These habits reduce the chance of needing PEC at all:
Load the boot first, then park. If you can, put bags in the boot before you arrive at the car park, so nobody sees you stowing valuables.
Keep receipts or serial numbers for key items. If you do claim, documentation helps. Photos of valuables on your phone can also support ownership.
Do not leave passports in the car. Even if PEC reimburses some costs, the inconvenience of replacing travel documents is significant.
Report theft promptly. Many policies require a police report within a set time. Delays can jeopardise claims.
For those collecting a vehicle in Miami, you may see different rental brands and location options. Hola Car Rentals provides useful location pages such as Avis car rental at Miami Airport and Thrifty car rental in Doral, which can help you compare what is offered for car hire and understand where you are picking up.
How to compare PEC with your existing insurance in five minutes
If you want a quick decision process, use this checklist before adding PEC:
1) List what you will actually leave in the car. Think: luggage, shopping, sunglasses, sports kit, laptop.
2) Check your travel insurance single-item limit and total limit. If your laptop exceeds the cap, PEC may not fix that either.
3) Read the unattended vehicle clause. Look for wording like “locked boot”, “no items visible”, and “forcible entry”.
4) Confirm excess amounts. If your travel policy excess is high, PEC might reduce your out-of-pocket cost, but only if it pays.
5) Decide based on your itinerary. Lots of stops with bags in the car points towards extra cover, direct travel points away from it.
If you are hiring from downtown rather than an airport, your day-to-day use may be more stop-and-go. The car hire in Downtown Miami page is a good reference point for planning a city-based pickup, where storing belongings safely can require extra thought.
What to do if something is stolen from your hire car
If the worst happens, the steps you take can affect whether PEC or travel insurance will pay:
Make sure you are safe first and move to a secure location if needed.
Call the police and obtain a report. Many policies require a police report number, and some require a full written report.
Inform the rental company promptly and follow their incident process. Ask for documentation confirming the incident and any vehicle damage.
Take photos of any forced entry, damage, and the parking location.
List stolen items with estimated values and keep proof of purchase where possible.
Even when PEC applies, the provider may request proof that the car was locked and that there was forcible entry. Clear documentation helps.
Bottom line: do you need PEC for Florida car hire?
PEC can be useful on Florida car hire if you expect to have luggage or personal items in the vehicle during multi-stop days, and if your travel insurance is limited or excludes theft from cars. However, PEC often overlaps with existing travel insurance, home contents extensions, or card benefits. The deciding factors are usually the policy conditions, especially unattended vehicle rules, and the coverage limits compared with the value of what you carry.
For many travellers, better habits reduce the risk enough that PEC is optional. For others, especially families moving bags between hotels and attractions, PEC can provide extra peace of mind if the terms genuinely cover how you will use the vehicle.
FAQ
Does PEC cover theft of luggage from the boot in Florida?
Often yes, if the car was locked and there is evidence of forced entry, but it depends on the policy limits and conditions. Check whether the policy requires items to be out of sight and stored in the boot.
Will PEC cover my phone or laptop if it is stolen from the hire car?
Sometimes, but electronics are commonly limited, capped per item, or excluded. Compare the PEC sub-limits with your travel insurance single-item limit before relying on it.
Is PEC the same as the cover that pays for damage to the hire car?
No. PEC is for personal belongings. Damage to, or theft of, the vehicle is handled by separate products and terms related to the vehicle itself.
If I have travel insurance, should I still buy PEC?
Not automatically. Many travel policies already cover theft of belongings, sometimes including theft from a locked vehicle. You would consider PEC mainly if your travel cover excludes vehicle theft, has low limits, or has a high excess.
What documents do I need to make a PEC claim?
Typically a police report, rental agreement details, a list of stolen items with values, and photos or evidence of forced entry. Some providers also ask for proof of ownership such as receipts.
