Points to consider while Renting a Car
Making a decision becomes challenging when you are not aware of the ins and outs of car renting services. Renting a car for vacation or for business purpose is more exciting than planning for the trip and if it is your first time, it can be nerve-wracking as you don’t know much about it. Sometimes this gets very confusing as the car rental companies will provide you with a bunch of options to choose from. Don’t worry, by the end of this blog, you will be well-versed enough to give suggestions to your peers.
Self-Drive Cars have become quite the rage today. It’s a safe, convenient & cost-effective way of traveling and makes for many fun road trips! And with so many self-drive car rentals available at your fingertips, you are spoilt for choice. Take a look at these few pointers before confirming a car booking:
- Familiar cars serve as a better choice
You may have driven the same car before, but still, you need to get well-versed with the working of this car before you take charge of it. Just checking the interiors and exteriors will not guide you on the driving pattern of the car. If you’re planning to drive the vehicle yourself then you should choose a familiar car. However, It doesn’t mean you have to compromise on your choice as car rental companies often have an extensive fleet of Self Drive cars of all brands from all categories, be it a hatchback, sedan, SUV or MUV. The rates vary for different types and models of self-drive cars and it can greatly impact your budget.
- Always go for Recognized Self Drive Car Rentals:
Choose a self-drive car service which offers a good service over choosing a ‘cheap and best’ rental car. This can save you a lot of time, money and worry when you’re out on the road. Do some research before heading out on the road to ensure that you book a rental car from an authorized dealer. Go online and check that the car service is legit by checking out their website, reading reviews of previous customers and checking the options available for self-drive cars.
- Car Inspection is a must
Accept the car only when you find all things intact. Make sure you thoroughly examine each and every corner of the car for any existing damage. Also, take a perceptible picture of the dashboard for your record as it helps in maintaining the mileage and fuel level of the car. Ensure not to skip this step as it can lead to regrets at a later stage.
- Beware of Hidden Costs:
If you’re not careful, you may end up paying a lot more than planned and in case of over-speeding or breaking suddenly (many self-drive cars have smart tech sensors for that now), you can also lose your security deposit. When you make a car booking, there are few things like insurance, security deposit, damages etc. which can raise the basic rent. It is important to read all the terms & conditions, check liabilities in case of an accident and compare rates and tariffs to confirm that you’re being charged the right rental price.
- Take good care of the car
Take care of the car as you would do for yours even though you are hiring the car for a day or two or maybe a week or whatever the time period is. Don’t do rash driving as most of the rental cars are fitted with speed governors & sensors. Also, try to keep the vehicle clean and respect the other drivers on the road.
- Fuel policies
Make sure you have a good knowledge of the fuel policies of the car rental company and adhere to it as different companies will have different policies. Choose the best fuel policy option so as to make sure you get the best at the cheapest.
- Returning the Car
You should be aware that late returning can cost you additional fees. If you foresee a delay in returning the car, inform the service provider beforehand, this will help you save some extra charges.
Make sure to read the car rental agreement carefully before signing it and travel with the aforementioned documents at all times. This will ensure accountability from both you and the self-drive car rental service. Doing some thorough research and following some FAQs on car hire will also help you to a great extent.