Car Rental

Most of us rent cars some or the other time to have a comfortable vacation. Car rentals are an important part of any travel plan. It gives lot of flexibility to stop anywhere we like, change routes and even destinations as per our whims. It is especially comfortable while traveling with kids. People rent cars for different reasons. It could be for sight seeing in another city or country, in your own city when you don’t have your own car or for official use. While going out for vacation, many people prefer to hire a car instead of driving their own car.

This is because they may want to avoid wear and tear to their own vehicle; existing car may be insufficient in size or efficiency; or they may want to have an extra zing of traveling in a luxury car like a convertible or a BMW. Depending on the budget, you can choose low cost or luxury cars. A good or bad rented car can make or break a trip. This article sheds light on some things that can be taken care of while renting cars for a reasonably priced and pleasant experience.

Car rental agencies

There are many big and small Car rentals agencies which exist all over the world. Some cater to only local needs while others may have branches all over the world. You can find them using directories, telephone enquiries, travel agents or hotels where you will be staying. Many reputed agencies are accessible over internet and you can book your car from any part of the world. When you reach the destination, the car is waiting for you and you are free of hassles.

Some big Car rentalsl agencies also offer special deals for regular customers. Some even offer membership programs. Many companies have tie ups with airlines, credit card companies or resorts and offer discounts accordingly. Almost all big car rental companies have websites these days and often give special discounts if you book online.

While confirmation, it is good to ask the agency to give a complete calculation which includes gas fill –up in case you turn back an empty car, taxes, late fee and other hidden charges.

Rates

Even for the same destination, car and fuel price, different car agencies have different rates. Some charge a fixed daily rental plus extra charges if you use more miles than allowed. Some charge a fixed daily rate with unlimited miles. Rates vary greatly for chauffer driven and self driven cars. Decide what you would like.

It is a good idea to compare rates with many agents and or online deals. Since they have different rules, check out in detail about the facilities, pick up points, support incase of a break down. In popular tourist places, the rates may be higher in peak seasons, on public holidays, weekends and less during off season or weekdays. In many cases, weekly rentals are cheaper than single day car rentals. Taxes are also charged which vary in different places. Car rentals are usually high if the agencies are located at airport premises. So you can go for agencies away from airport to save money. Some of them even offer free airport transfers. Known and big companies are usually costly and reliable in their services. Many of them offer good deals on bookings in advance and loyalty memberships. If you are unable to book in advance and do not want to pay huge amounts, better check out small local car rental services, which also serve well.

Many companies charge you if they give a filled fuel tank. However, you can also get fuel filled up at local fuel stations as this works out to be cheaper. In most cases you are required to get the tank filled. If you return an empty tank, the agencies charge a high price for refueling. Also check out the grace period and penalty fee if you return the car later than the contracted time.

Check out additional and safety features which you specifically need like an infant seat or disability features. This may cost more and you may need to reserve in advance.

Additional taxes are also levied and vary in different parts of the world. International rentals may have an added value added tax better known as VAT.

Advance Bookings

It pays to book a car in advance especially if you want it on weekends or public holidays, as demand is quite high then. When you are in a new city, you don’t want to be stuck just because you cannot get a car at the last moment. Some companies give discounts on advance bookings and you too have a wider choice of cars to select.

Insurance policy

Please check if the agents are providing insurance for you and the car. Many things like loss of personal belongings may already have been covered by your own policies and you may not need to buy any insurance which rental companies may try to sell. In some countries it is mandatory to buy insurance from the rental company.

Directions

Some car rental agencies provide route maps for direction. Some even have their cars equipped with advanced systems to guide you through directions. Check them out if you need them.

License, documents and age qualifications

Whoever is driving must carry the driving license, car registration papers and insurance policies. In some countries, international driving license is mandatory while in some your own country’s license is valid. Check out these rules for sure. Some also require credit cards for payments, but many accept cash payments.

In most cases, the minimum age to rent a car is 18 years. But nowadays some rental agencies demand the driver’s minimum age to be 25 years. In some countries, they may not even bother to check any of your personal information. Read the rental contract carefully before signing any papers and remember to take a confirmation slip with time, date, car type, number, phone numbers etcetera.

Above discussed were a few basic things to keep in mind while renting cars. One must remember that each country has different rules and different driving etiquettes. For detailed information on how to go about renting a car in a foreign country, it is a good practice to read books, visit websites or ask international travel agents and hotels.

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