As travelers line up to rent a car this Labor Day weekend, a few steps can help them save on insurance.The Insurance Information Institute, a nonprofit industry-backed group, on Wednesday offered tips to keep costs down.

"Faced with a number of choices, some renters either purchase all of the coverage or they decline the insurance without knowing if they are covered by other policies," said Jeanne M. Salvatore, a spokeswoman for the group.

That can mean loading up on insurance you already have.

The institute notes people may already be covered for liability and personal injury by their own car and health insurance policies. Homeowners or renter's insurance policies may also cover any personal belongings stolen or damaged in rental cars.

Other tips from the institute:

_Call your insurance agent ahead of time. Find out how much coverage you have on your own car. In most cases, the coverage will extend to your car rental. If you don't have comprehensive or collision coverage, you won't be covered if your rental car is damaged or stolen.

_Call your credit card company. Credit cards usually cover only damage to or loss of the rented vehicle, not for other cars, personal belongings or the property of others. There may be no personal liability coverage for bodily injury or death claims.

_If you have more than one card, find out which one offers the best protection, and use that one to rent your car.(by:forbes.com)