Tips for Car Rental as You Travel
When traveling, whether on holiday or business, having a car can give you great flexibility and convenience. However, taking your car with you may not be possible if you are touring abroad. And this is where renting a car becomes the best option. Sometimes, car rental may be the only feasible to move around in your destination, so you have to make the best choice when hiring one. Fortunately, there are many car rentals even in airports, hence offer travelers great convenience since they rent a car shortly after landing in the airport without hassles.
Below are some car rental tips that can help you when on travel:
Inspect the Car at Pickup Time
You must thoroughly inspect the car you are renting before driving it away from the rental offices. It would be best to check damages or dents on the body with the company’s representative. Also, ensure that the lights and turn signals are functioning properly. You also need to check the odometer readings to note the mileage.
It would be best if you familiarized yourself with the working of the car you are renting before leaving the rental premises. Get to know how to operate the windshield wipers, turn lights, headlights, and even check which side the gas tank is. While it may seem obvious, note the color of the vehicle, make, and model. You wouldn’t like to keep searching for it when parked, among many others. You should also take several photos of the car to capture its state and the various readings like the odometers.
Shop Around for Your Insurance
Although you can get insurance for your rented car at the rental agency, most of the time, their rates are quite high. It would help if you used their coverage as the last option or unless their prices are fair. One option for insurance for the rental car is to call your credit card issuer since most give such coverage as an added card benefit. However, you must reserve the vehicle using the card if you are to enjoy that benefit. You may also have a deeper look at your vehicle insurance because some potentially cover rentals. You can also check other providers for discounted rates both on rent and insurance.
Refill the Tank while Returning
While you could let the rental refill the car, it would be best if you did it while returning the car. When the rental company refills it, you may end up paying two, three, or even four times the selling price per gallon in fuel stations a few miles from the company.
