Hiring a car can be daunting for anyone, especially if you plan to travel. Countless things can go wrong if you’re not careful, which is why we’ve put together eight useful little tips for you to keep in mind to help ease the strenuous process for you.
- Consider Your Plans
The car you choose to hire has got to meet the requirements of your plans. So, consider where you’re planning to take your rental car, and how far that would be. It all falls down to distance, really. The last thing you’d want is to be trapped in a compact hatchback, be it stylish or not, for more than a couple of hours. With that said, if you only need a rental car for short drives at home or abroad, perhaps a smaller car would be the perfect option for you. Nevertheless, you’re still going to need to consider which cars are the safest and most comfortable out of those that are available for you.
- Find Out What the Rate Includes
One of the most important things to be sure about is what the rate includes – some of the quoted prices from competitors may be ridiculously cheap but are likely to have hidden and unexpected extra costs on top.
- Pre-Book in the UK
If you want to guarantee vehicle availability, then it’s always best to find a pre-booked programme at a guaranteed fixed rate – this will help with budgeting and is likely to be much more cost-effective. Not to mention that with a pre-booked programme, vehicle availability is guaranteed.
- Check for Damage Before Renting
In most cases, when a vehicle is hired, the person who is requesting the vehicle has a duty to make sure that it is returned in the same condition as when it was handed over. With that said, it’s always a good idea to check the vehicle before agreeing to the rental – this way, you can call them out about any damage to the vehicle that they may not have noticed before. Otherwise, if there is damage to the vehicle once returned, you will be charged an additional amount in order to get it fixed.
Simon from Eden Commercials Ltd said ‘when checking the proposed hire car pay particular attention to the alloys, considering how easy they are to damage, they’re very expensive to repair! You don’t want to foot the bill for someone else’s mistake.’
- Get Roadside Assistance – Just in Case!
Trouble on the road is already embarrassing enough as it is, without being in an unfamiliar place, or behind the wheel of an unfamiliar car. When you search for a rental car to hire, make sure that you negotiate on a roadside assistance service plan – otherwise, you’ll have the additional stress of finding roadside assistance of your own, as well as the maintenance bill from the rental company.
- Return with a Full Tank of Fuel
Can you imagine renting a car and returning it, maybe it looks much better than it did when you were handed the keys, but in return, all you get is a huge refueling bill? You wouldn’t think that a car rental company would charge you for using the fuel already in the tank, but actually, it’s one way they can really catch you out! Be sure to stop for fuel when you return it if you want your deposit back!