Car rental is a pretty standard process. No matter which car rental company you choose, you will go through the same basic procedures to rent a car. Renting a car starts with making reservations. Once you have chosen a car rental company, you will call the company to make your reservations. Tell them the day you need to start renting the car and the day you will be returning it to them. Each day you have the car will be a charge, even if you have it for only a couple of hours, so you need to think about these arrangements as you book your rental car.
You will have to make rental car reservations with a credit card. There are two reasons for this. First, if you do not end up picking up the car, you will be charged a fee. Also, if you damage the car or do not hold up your end of the rental agreement, they will charge your credit card for damages. This saves them from losing thousands of dollars should you total the car or decide to drive off with it. If you do not have a credit card, you will need to get one in order to rent a car.
The day you are renting your car you will come to the car rental company’s office. In the case of airport car rental, this may be nothing more than a counter at the airport. You will present your driver’s license and credit card to the company. Many times they will run a quick credit check, and then they will hand you the keys to your car. The car will have a full tank of gas, and you will be able to drive away and enjoy your vacation. When you are done, you will return the rental car and keys to the location you rented the car from. Some national rental car companies will allow you to return cars at other locations, but this is not always the case. Remember to return the car with a full tank of gas, otherwise you will be charged a high price for the fuel the car rental company puts in the car.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
rental car,Before You Drive Away
Before You Drive Away
Before you drive away in your rental car, there are some things you need to do. First, inquire with the car rental company about the possibility of getting some free maps. They usually are quite willing to provide you with maps of the area. Next, check the car to make sure the gas tank is full. If it isn’t, you need to make sure you are given money or credit for the gas you put into the car. The car should be full when you drive off the lot with it.
If you are not married and your traveling companion is going to drive, you will want to make sure that the rental car company knows this. Any drivers who will operate the rental car will need to be on the rental agreement. This saves you from liability if one of these people is driving and there is an accident.
Inspect the car thoroughly for scratches, dents, and other damage. Make sure any damage you see is listed on the rental agreement, in writing. Car rental companies will charge your credit card for damage you cause, so you want any previous damage listed on the agreement to keep you from being liable for it. If something doesn’t look safe, as for a different car.
Before you start driving, make sure you know where all the important buttons are. You do not want to be driving down the highway in an unfamiliar location and not know how to turn the windshield wipers on! Once you have checked all of these things, you are ready to enjoy your rental car!
Before you drive away in your rental car, there are some things you need to do. First, inquire with the car rental company about the possibility of getting some free maps. They usually are quite willing to provide you with maps of the area. Next, check the car to make sure the gas tank is full. If it isn’t, you need to make sure you are given money or credit for the gas you put into the car. The car should be full when you drive off the lot with it.
If you are not married and your traveling companion is going to drive, you will want to make sure that the rental car company knows this. Any drivers who will operate the rental car will need to be on the rental agreement. This saves you from liability if one of these people is driving and there is an accident.
Inspect the car thoroughly for scratches, dents, and other damage. Make sure any damage you see is listed on the rental agreement, in writing. Car rental companies will charge your credit card for damage you cause, so you want any previous damage listed on the agreement to keep you from being liable for it. If something doesn’t look safe, as for a different car.
Before you start driving, make sure you know where all the important buttons are. You do not want to be driving down the highway in an unfamiliar location and not know how to turn the windshield wipers on! Once you have checked all of these things, you are ready to enjoy your rental car!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Saving Money on Car Rental
At this point you are probably wondering what you can do to save money on your rental car. There are several steps to take to save money on car rental. First, if you are in a discount club, such as AAA, check with that club to see what car rental deals they offer. If you rent cars often, check with your favorite rental car company to see if they offer “frequent renter” programs.
Another way to get a discount when you rent a car is to ask for one! When you are shopping around to see who has the best deal, as the rental agent if he or she can get you a better deal than what you have seen advertised. You will be surprised how often the answer is yes, particularly if they think you are going to take your business elsewhere.
Booking ahead of time will save you money. Keep in mind that car rental prices change almost daily. Watch the price on the Internet to see what your chosen car rental company is offering the week you need the car. When you feel it is an affordable price, make your reservations!
The smaller car you rent, the less it will cost. Make sure you only rent the size of car you actually need. Also, decline extra services that you don’t really need. Finally, compare the difference between daily and weekly rates. Sometimes you can save money if you rent a car for a whole week rather than, say, four or five days.
Another way to get a discount when you rent a car is to ask for one! When you are shopping around to see who has the best deal, as the rental agent if he or she can get you a better deal than what you have seen advertised. You will be surprised how often the answer is yes, particularly if they think you are going to take your business elsewhere.
Booking ahead of time will save you money. Keep in mind that car rental prices change almost daily. Watch the price on the Internet to see what your chosen car rental company is offering the week you need the car. When you feel it is an affordable price, make your reservations!
The smaller car you rent, the less it will cost. Make sure you only rent the size of car you actually need. Also, decline extra services that you don’t really need. Finally, compare the difference between daily and weekly rates. Sometimes you can save money if you rent a car for a whole week rather than, say, four or five days.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
What About Car Rental Insurance?
Your car rental company will try to sell you car rental insurance. This insurance insures you against the possibility of any accident that happens while you are driving a rental car. When you rent a car this is a good thing to have, but before you pay for it, check what insurance you already have.
Many personal car insurance providers cover damage that occurs when the driver is in a rental car. Before you pay for car rental insurance, check with your insurance provider to see if you have this coverage. Also, many of the major credit card companies insure cars rented using their cards. If your insurance company does not cover your rental, check with your credit card company.
If you find that neither your insurance company or your credit card cover rental car insurance, you may want to consider purchasing it. Yes, it is an added fee, but if you wreck the car you are renting without insurance, you will have to pay for the car. Also, if a person is injured due to your driving the rental car, you will be liable. It is better to be covered.
Many personal car insurance providers cover damage that occurs when the driver is in a rental car. Before you pay for car rental insurance, check with your insurance provider to see if you have this coverage. Also, many of the major credit card companies insure cars rented using their cards. If your insurance company does not cover your rental, check with your credit card company.
If you find that neither your insurance company or your credit card cover rental car insurance, you may want to consider purchasing it. Yes, it is an added fee, but if you wreck the car you are renting without insurance, you will have to pay for the car. Also, if a person is injured due to your driving the rental car, you will be liable. It is better to be covered.
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