Car rental do’s and don’ts

For beginners, renting a car is not easy. In addition to expenses, there are many details to consider before signing the rental agreement. For example, you need to think about rental rates, gas charges, insurance, and rules and restrictions. Let’s talk about the do’s and don’ts of renting a car.

compare rates

Travel/rental agencies have websites that allow you to compare rates. However, make sure you know that a “deal” is truly the best offer. Sometimes the total expenses add up quickly if you add all the fees and taxes.

If you ask for a discount, you can save up to 20%. Apart from this, avoiding extras and reservation deals can also help you save a lot of money. To avoid these charges, it is best to pick up your vehicle from anywhere other than the airport. Also, you should be aware of gas refill packs. If you do some calculations, you can decide whether it should be filled or not.

book in advance

If you book in advance, you can enjoy some flexibility in terms of prices. For example, if you have a long delivery time, you can choose from a variety of cars and enjoy better rates. Also, when you come back from your tour to return the car, don’t be late. If you’re even a few hours late, you may have paid for a full day.

Although it may sound obvious, you need to decide if you really need to reserve a car. If your plan is to explore the city streets or spend your vacation on the beach, you may not want to book a rental car. Instead, you have to rent for one day only and use public taxis for the rest of the time.

Do not buy Additional Insurance

Your existing insurance policy will most likely also provide coverage for a rental car. However, you must contact your insurance agency for confirmation. If necessary, you can buy supplementary insurance. Make sure you have at least the collision and damage waiver policy. Also, some credit cards provide CDW as long as they are used to pay for car rentals.

Beware of Restrictions

You should also be aware of the restrictions. Most US agencies have no problem if you choose to drive or cross into Canada, for example. However, you may have to face some insurance issues or other restrictions. Therefore, you should do your research before driving into restricted areas.

Check the car for damage

You should check the car from all angles to make sure it doesn’t have any dents, scratches, or dings. It’s a great idea to take pictures of the vehicle from all angles. If you notice teeth or dents, please show it to the rental agent.

If you notice extensive damage, request another vehicle. It is not a good idea to take a car without checking it. After all, you don’t want to end up paying for teeth you didn’t cause.

In summary, here are some do’s and don’ts that you should consider before renting a car. I hope this helps.