ime Is On Your Side
Most rental companies operate on a 24-hour clock. That is, they probably won’t rent to you if you only want a car for 12 hours. Although you might want to check some local agency, because they might have leniency with the rules. Since most agencies operate on a 24-hour period, ensure enough time to return the car. Make sure you leave enough time to return the car so you don’t get charged an extra day. Even if you’re late 3 or 4 hours, you’ll probably be charged an extra day. If you’re catching a flight, then give yourself enough leeway to return the car and to get to the airport on time. (more…)

If you’ve never been in an accident before, then you should thank your lucky stars (and insurance rates). However, if you do incidentally get into your first car accident with a rental car, here are the most important things to do:

• Make sure any involved parties are ok. Any injuries should be taken care of ASAP.
• Call the police and/or ambulance (if necessary), and then call the car rental agency. Be as cooperative as possible. The car rental agency will have its own policies regarding accidents.
• Exchange information with the affected parties.
• Try to record everything on the scene. Your notes should include details of the accident, identification of the autos and people involved, and the names and badge numbers of all emergency personnel. Take pictures if possible. If you are on vacation, you will probably have a camera handy already.
• File an accident report with the police, and report the claim to your own credit card company or insurance company.

(more…)

If you are involved in an accident while driving your cheap car rental, it is imperative that you proceed to detail the accident as though you were driving your own vehicle. As you already might know, these are the most important pieces of information to collect from the involved parties: full name, mailing address, telephone number, insurance details, drivers license number. Also try to get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. Make a note of the vehicles’s make, color, brand and license plate number.

(more…)

What Should I Keep In The Glovebox?
Check with the rental company to see what they require you to keep in the rental car. Usually you need the rental contract to inform the police that you are authorized to drive the car (and also a list of any other authorized additional drivers). Also keep the vehicle manual and an updated map. Make sure there’s an emergency kit handy in case of accidents. Keep a list of emergency contact numbers (most major agencies will provide roadside assistance in case of break downs), because you never know what will happen on the road.

(more…)

It is very important to inspect the rental car before you drive it. You should get an employee to make note of all existing damage, and to write a description of the damage on your contract. This ensures that you are not held responsible for any costs for the aforementioned damage. It is also a good idea to check that everything works correctly, and that you familiarize yourself with the car.

Be sure to check the following: the exterior and interior of the car for cosmetic damage; the brakes, the headlights and turn signals for working order; the windshield wipers, electric windows, audio and heating systems for proper functionality; the tire pressure, fluid (oil/water) and gas levels; and the availability of an owner’s manual for the car.

(more…)

Here are some frequently used terms that you should know before you rent a car!

Time Savers:

Automated Terminals
Automated Terminals are a great time saver when you need to quickly drop off your rental car. However, you may have to be a returning customer to take advantage of this service. These terminals operate in a similar fashion as automated bank machines. With these kiosks, you can pay your fees and receive a receipt without dealing with a sales representative.

(more…)

Do you think your only rental options are with big companies? You do have choices! Whether you decide to use one of the larger car rental companies (such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National) or if you choose to rent from an independent local car rental company, you need to know How to Rent a Car online. (more…)

Some car rental companies require children (who are a certain age or weight) to be secured in a car seat. They will usually have child seats available for rent. Unless you need a similar safety device for travel elsewhere (eg. on the plane), it may be easier to rent rather than bring your own. Also consider the damage that could result in the transport of your child seat.

• Ensure that you have the following questions fully answered before renting a child safety seat with your car:
• Are there safety seats appropriate to your child’s age and weight available (eg. backward-facing, forward-facing)? Is the seat of the non-shielded variety?
• How many seats of this particular type do they have available? What happens if another family rents it out?
• Does the car you intend to rent have the proper fittings for this seat? If the car you originally plan to rent is unavailable, will there be other cars that also have the proper fittings?

Here is one of the most important points to consider: despite any assurances you may receive from the rental company, you can never be too sure about the child seat’s safety history. You must decide which is the lesser of two evils - risking damage to your own seat (even if it won’t be in use during the journey) or incurring the risk of the rental seat.

• If you decide to take your own seat, ensure that the available cars have the necessary fittings.
• Like using any child safety device, check that the seat is fitted securely before securing your child!
• If your child requires a booster seat, you may have to bring your own; these extras are normally unavailable for rent by most car rental companies.

You could just get that dream luxury car rental, get in and drive off. This is the biggest mistake you could possibly make. You have to inspect the car for existing damages, such as dents, scratches, and broken features. There should be an inspection form left on the dashboard to write down any damages that you discover. If you do not find one, ask for one. Check to see if any part of the interior is broken, damaged, or torn. Open the trunk to see if they included a spare tire and jack. Don’t forget to check if the rental car has a full tank of gas since rentals must be returned with a full tank. After you’ve made a note of any damages, return the form to the attendant before taking the car. Always return the car with a full tank of gas so you are not charged an inflated price for gasoline.

(more…)

If you are going to need or want other people to drive your auto rental, it is necessary that you inform the rental company. You should ask them what sort of information or identification is required from the additional drivers. Your additional drivers will likely have to provide the sort of information you initially used to rent the car. If you do not have any other names stated on the rental contract, it is prudent not to let anyone else drive the rental car. Doing so could void the contract that you signed, as well as any protection or insurance you purchased.

Allowing some unlisted person to drive your rental car may even void personal insurance or any insurance provided by your credit card. This could result in serious consequences if the car has been in an accident. In an extreme case, however, the unlisted person driving the rental car could be charged with theft, if caught by the police.