23 useful tips for renting a car for your trip

Pin
Send
Share
Send

Car rental on the island of Gran Canaria

At the time of take a tourist trip for a certain country where you are going to plan a route to know different places, rent a car It is from my point of view the ideal solution.

It allows you great autonomy, not depending on public transport, and in practice it becomes the only way to visit the most hidden corners.

That is my experience and therefore always in my travels I try to use the car as a means of transport.

Glastonbury in southern England

Then, and from that experience, here is a series of tips to keep in mind when renting a car and try to get the best deal.

Tips for renting a car

Rental car offers

The rental car companies offer It is very wide, and the prices and the availability of models that they offer you can differ quite a lot depending on the country and the town where you are going to rent it.

Therefore, when renting a car, it will be necessary for you to spend some time in search of the best offer.

What car to rent

The car models for rent What they offer you are the usual ones in the country you are going to visit, so you can find a brand or model that you may not know.

But in the end what you really have to hire is a type of model with a certain size and characteristics.

Fataga in Gran Canaria

Book car rental online

It becomes essentialhire the rental car online in advance of your trip, even more in times of high tourist season.

In this way you can analyze the great existing offer, choose the type of vehicle you need, find specific offers, and ensure that when you arrive at the destination you have a car already booked.

If you leave it for last, and try to rent it directly at one of the destination's rental offices, it will surely cost you more expensive and you will have to settle for the model available at that time ... if there are vehicles available.

Driving rental car through several countries

When you rent a car to make a trip, it is generally possible to use it to make the journey through other neighboring countries, except in some cases where it is not allowed.

Therefore, if you have planned visit another country with the rental car, you have to make sure in advance that it will be possible.

Of course, in general you must return the car in the same country where you have hired it, and if they allow you to do it in another country, they will charge you a significant price surcharge.

Rental car in the United States

Type of car rental companies

International companies to rent a car

For hire a rental car, you can do it through international companies car rental (typeHertz or Sixt), which offer a wide range of models that are often renewed with great assiduity.

They often have offers and price promotions, such as a discount if you book in advance, although, in general, their prices standard They tend to be more expensive.

Local companies to rent a car

You can also hire it in small local car rental companies.

The latter will offer you cheaper prices, although its offer of models will be more limited, and surely you will not be able to hire it in advance via Internet.

Car rental comparators

From my point of view, the most interesting alternative is the car rental comparators how Rental Car, which is what I usually use.

They work with numerous rental companies and usually offer the best prices since they can manage the surpluses.

Rental car in the United States

Prices and conditions of car rental

The rental car prices They vary significantly depending on the country you are going to visit, the type of vehicle you hire and the company where you rent it.

Payments with car rental card

In general, when looking for a rental car in the webs of rental companies, although you have to provide the credit card number, the payment is not really made until you pick up the car.

Of course, keep in mind that you can have some additional charge later on the card if you have to pay the franchise for any incident or any fine.

Online car rental payment

There are rental companies that if you do the online payment to the Hire the car for your website, they offer you a best price with a discount of plus or minus 10 percent.

Also, in the case of Car rental comparison websitess (type RentalCar), you also do the online pre-payment, and when you pick up the car you will only have to pay the rental company the supplements that you can hire (second driver, franchise ...)

Final amount to pay

Now, keep in mind that in the end the amount of this supplement can be important, so get to the idea that the amount you will finally pay can be almost double the price that they initially offer you.

Rental car in the United States

Which rental car to choose

When looking for the car, the important thing is to have well defined type of vehicle that you need and the size that offers you enough space for the number of travelers you are going to travel.

And, above all, do not forget the necessary space for luggage. Therefore, it is better to hire a larger vehicle than you might be satisfied.

Rental car equipment

He rental car equipment It is usually basic, but there are elements, such as air conditioning, which is important to determine.

There are other options, as is the case with GPS, which can be very useful when traveling in other countries.

But in this regard I remind you that if you are going to travel through a country of European Union, on your mobile you will have data without extra cost, which will allow you to access Google Maps, option that by its effectiveness I prefer to the one of the GPS that can incorporate the rental car.

What insurance to hire for the rental car

Very important is the issue ofrental car insurance.

In the price that the different companies advertise to you, and for which you initially hire the car, it includes only basic insurance in the case of collisions and theft.

Optional insurance for the rental car

But this insurance does not cover your own damages or other incidents, since they have some franchises that would force you to pay, where appropriate, really important amounts that can range from 500 to 1,000 euros.

Therefore, and to avoid possible dislikes, I always prefer to extend the insurance benefit by covering said franchise, though, with the relevant additional cost with respect to the initial price.

United States gas station

Is it worth paying franchise for the rental car?

Another different formula is that offered by some companies, specifically, car rental marketing.

You can hire a additional franchise insurance for which you will be paid the amount that can be claimed by the rental company in case of having an incident with the vehicle.

The amount of this insurance of the franchise for damages comes to suppose on a 10 percent of the initial price. Of course, read the "fine print", that is, the terms and conditions of this insurance to know the exceptions.

Requirements to rent a car

To rent a car you need to have a credit card kind Visa (EYE, not debit), because that is the means of payment with which all costs will be charged.

Both those initially hired, as well as possible future expenses, such as traffic fines or repair costs of possible damages suffered by the vehicle.

The minimum age to rent a car is usually 21 years old, and if you are between 21 and 24 years old, you may be charged a surcharge.

Cherry blossoms in the Jerte Valley in Cáceres in Extremadura

Second driver in rental car

If during the trip you plan to have a second or third driver, this is an additional service that you must hire in advance.

You must indicate the name and driving license number, and keep in mind that you will have to pay a small price premium.

Cancel car rental reservation

If you are not finally traveling and you have to cancel the reservation, it is usual that you can do it without charge up to 48 hours before the scheduled time for the collection of the vehicle.

Rental car pickup

The most common place to pick up the rental car is usually the airport or the train station of the city where you travel, although you can also do it in the offices that are in other places in the center of it.

When you get to pick up the car, they may not have available units of the specific model you have requested, so they will give you a model of the same category (or size).

It can even happen that they give you a car of a higher category, or with better equipment of the contracted, but they have to respect the price.

Isle of Skye in Scotland

Petrol in the rental car

In general, the rental car will be delivered to you with the full tank, and you must return it in the same conditions.

Before delivering it, it is totally worth stopping at a gas station to complete the deposit because, otherwise, you will be charged an estimated amount of that cost, which is always much higher.

Another option that they will offer you is that you pay the amount corresponding to, for example, 85 percent of the cost of refilling the deposit, which will save you the time and worry of refilling the deposit before returning the car.

Rental car delivery

If the rented car you have to deliver at the airport, make sure you arrive well in advance so you don't miss the flight.

Even up to an hour before the advisable for your arrival there, because the delivery procedures may be delayed with the review of the vehicle.

Also, the rental car delivery offices may be located in an adjacent area of ​​the airport, from which you will have to go to the terminal by bus or inner service train, which will require additional time to reach the counter boarding

For example, at the JFK airport in New York, after leaving the car, you will have to go by train to your terminal, and at the Luton airport in London you should wait to catch a bus that runs through the different dependencies of the same.

Delivery of the rental car in another city

If you have planned deliver the car in a different place than where you picked it up, in many cases they will charge you a premium.

You have to inform yourself previously of this point, because it can increase the car rental significantly.

Where to hire the car rental

Then for the rental car hire For your trip, you have the link to one of the most prestigious international companies.

You also have a link to a car insurance comparator

If you prefer, do the searches directly in the search box of Rental Cars.

Pin
Send
Share
Send

Video: How to rent a car under 25 without young driver fee. Travel hacks (March 2024).