When you go on vacation to a distant destination, it is rare to be able to carry your own car in your luggage. Not everyone dreams of being the king of the road trip and the use of a car rental agency on site is essential for many.
If, in most cases, the experience goes off without a hitch, certain inconveniences can spoil the holidays. To protect yourself, you must take the necessary measures.
The good choice
The justice of the peace in car rental is above all the use that will be made of it. How many kilometers will be traveled, how many passengers the vehicle can transport, on what type of road it will roll, what level of comfort is expected ... The answers to all these conditions will draw the ideal robot portrait of the vehicle that we may need. A city girl will be more comfortable in town than on small country roads or on major highways. It will make it easier to park, especially near the crowded beaches in the summer. A more powerful sedan will be more suitable if the objective is to go the road. Large families will obviously prefer a people carrier or an SUV and adventurers, who will spend their holidays off the beaten track, will choose an all-terrain model. It is not out of the question to indulge yourself for a few days by renting a convertible or a luxury sports car from specialized agencies. The important thing, before crossing the door of the hirer out, is to have clearly identified its needs.
Price issues will come next. Some brands display prices defying all competition. It is often a decoy. Most of the time, you have to add a mileage plan to get the real bill. It is therefore essential to inquire about the price of the additional kilometer in case of overtaking. To properly compare prices from one service provider to another, it is necessary to take into account the mileage. Reading the rental agreement carefully is crucial. Nothing should be left to chance and a clear understanding of what exclusions really mean. Often these are written in small print. Finally, for those who plan to cross a border and drive in a country other than that of the lessor, it is better to make sure to warn him and that a specific mention appears on the contract.
A question of insurance
Most rental contracts include third party insurance as well as theft and all risk insurance, but this is not systematic. A check is essential: for a driver who is not properly insured and who causes an accident, all medical costs will be borne by him. On the other hand, rental companies offer additional insurance which reduces fixed costs. Rental agents are in the vast majority of cases remunerated, in part, thanks to the commissions they get by selling these additional contracts. We must then weigh the pros and cons before signing with eyes closed. If you do not take the subsidiary guarantee, you will be asked to pay a deposit which will be returned when the keys to the vehicle are handed over. The deposit can reach a significant amount, you must check that you have the necessary credit on your bank accounts.
Then, to avoid any unpleasant surprises, it is essential to carefully inspect the vehicle. You must be present and active during the inventory. Inspect the car down to the smallest detail and report any faults, even if it seems very picky. Some rental companies don't hesitate to send this step, you never take enough time: it is the most important trap to avoid in the car rental process. You have to draw your smartphone at the slightest opportunity in order to take all the shots that we think are good to keep. On your return, you should not try to hide a possible hitch and be as transparent as possible: the rental company will necessarily notice and this will only make the situation worse.
In all cases, it is advisable to return the vehicle when the offices are open. Any damage that occurs between the delivery of the keys to the mailbox and the opening of the agency will be the responsibility of the driver. It is also better to ensure that the tank is at the same level as at the time of rental: the rental companies charge a high price for any difference in fuel volume. In the event of a breakdown, you must follow the procedure which is generally recorded on the rental contract and incur no costs without notifying the lessor so that the latter does not hesitate to reimburse.
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