The next time you rent a car, you’ll probably be asked the same question as last time: Should you get rental car insurance? You may think your credit card or car insurance covers you, but that’s not the whole truth.

Consumer Reports tells you the crucial questions you should ask before your next rental.

Both car insurance and credit cards can have significant restrictions on car rentals, including the type of vehicles insured, the period of time they are rented and the country in which they are driven.

Rental car insurance can be expensive, sometimes costing an additional $50 per day. When does it make sense to purchase it in addition to the rental?

If you only If you do not have third party insurance for your car, you will need to take out a separate policy for the car rental company in case the car is damaged in an accident.

Here are some guidelines to help you decide if additional insurance coverage is right for you:

• Is the rental car nicer than your car? Some rental car insurance policies and personal auto insurance policies from credit cards do not cover certain types or classes of vehicles, such as large SUVs or luxury cars.

• Are you renting abroad? Allstate, Geico, Farmers, State Farm and Progressive say their car insurance coverage only applies to rental cars in the U.S. and Canada. The same goes for rental car insurance offered by most credit card companies.

• And finally: If you have a Motorhome, van or moving vanthese vehicles are not typically covered by standard auto or credit card insurance.

And if you decide to take out additional insurance, you should consider up to three types:

• Comprehensive insurance that covers damage to the car in the event of an accident.

• Comprehensive insurance that protects you against theft and damage to your car.

• Liability insurance covers you if you are held legally responsible for property damage or injury to a person while driving the rental car.

Conditions may vary slightly depending on the car rental company.

If you rent a car for work, check with your employer what is and isn’t covered, as your personal insurance and credit cards probably don’t provide coverage for this type of rental.