The worst time to found out whether your personal auto insurance covers violations of a rental car contract is after the rental car company detects a violation that resulted in damage to the rented car.

The best thing to do ask call your insurance carrier before renting and ask.

The hard part is finding out what questions to ask, since rental car companies don’t post their contracts online, and the first time you’re likely to see the contract is when you’re at the counter.

Here’s a collection of violations from the name-brand car rental companies:

-Allowing an unauthorized person to drive the car

-Driving in Mexico

-Reckless misconduct

-Towing or pushing another car

-Using the car to commit a crime

-Using the car to teach someone how to drive

-Charging people to ride in the car

-Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

-Driving on an unpaved road

-Driving in a speed contest

-Leaving the keys in the car

-Allowing the car to be stolen by not locking windows, doors and the trunk

-Failure to notify the rental car company and the police after a loss

-Pay special attention to drinking and driving laws in Europe and the United Kingdom, where penalties are based on lower blood alcohol levels than in the United States.

When renting a car in Paris, avoid violating your rental car contract by having a good understanding of local speed limits (50 km/hour in built-up areas, 100 km/hour outside built-up areas and 130 km/hour on motorways).

It’s illegal to use a cell phone while driving in France, so park in a designated parking area before making a call.