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SOME IMPARTIAL ADVICE ON CAR HIRE
IN GENERAL
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SAVE MONEY WHEN YOU RENT A CAR
Renting a car is not
always as simple as you might expect. There’s often some difficult to
understand small print, uncertainties over fuel charges, and many other
points it’s all to easy to skip over when you’re off on vacation.
Here are some proven tips to save you money when you next rent a car.
What’s the rule on fuel charges?
Clarify the
rule on fuel charges before you book. Some firms will ask you to return
the car with the tank full, whereas some will advise you to leave the fuel
at the gauge level when it was first collected - leave it empty.
Consider though in the latter case that each car manufacturer advises
in their guide of the amount of fuel each models tank holds. Have you
ever attempted to run any car dry and then actually try to fill it with
the manufacturer’s published fuel capacity?
Well, it’s
impossible owing to the 5-10 litres of residue in the tank, so you can
never actually put that amount of fuel in the car. So, when you leave
the car empty, you will have been charged for all the fuel to the
manufacturer’s stated guide level, and the car hire firm pockets
the charge for the 5-10 litres remaining in your tank.
But, whatever
the rule, check the fuel gauge before exiting the car hire compound.
What’s this about insurance indemnity?
You pre-pay for the hire car, but at the office they request insurance
indemnity to cover the undercarriage of the car at some £3-£5
per day. Not very fair.
And the other extras?
Check before booking exactly what all the extras are, which can include
the following;
• Additional driver charge (ought to be free)
but do check. Do include the second driver as you never know when it may
be needed.
• Excess Waiver fee is useful to avoid the potential
charge in the event of any minor scrape. Although your rental includes
'Fully Comprehensive Insurance', the excess you’ll pay if
the car is damaged or stolen will be anything from £200 to
£1,000, and you may have to pay a fortune to reduce it. To avoid
this you can buy a Europe-wide annual policy. It costs around £50
a year and indemnifies you against all excess charges. Plus, it covers
damage to tyres, windows and undercarriage – areas not covered by
the rental companies’ policies.
• What does comprehensive
cover mean? Ensure the comprehensive cover includes theft cover also, as
fully comprehensive means different things in different countries.
• Check the charges before booking for extras like child seats, sat
nav, DVD players, snow chains and roof rack costs.
• Clarify
when booking that there is a reception desk either in the arrivals hall
or within the car park compound. Do not be dependant on awaiting the
someone holding up your name who may or may not be present upon your
arrival, thus forcing you to have to chase up with a phone call.
More ways to save money
• If you intend driving
a lot consider a diesel car, as diesel is much cheaper in many countries.
• Look at broker prices. You will probably find the best prices
are with brokers and not the main dealers such as Hertz or Avis who tend to
aim rentals at the business market. Brokers are more competitive in the
holiday sector. And, it is worth considering the local firms in the areas
you travel to, since they have offices in your area if you need help.
Final checks
• When you get the keys to the car
do double check the listed scrapes and dents, to ensure no charges apply
upon your return. Check that a spare wheel and jack are present.
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For security it is better to remove any obvious signs (stickers) that the
car is a hire car, since many thefts occur when people are identified as
short stay visitors.
• Ensure you take your driving license
with you (include plastic and paper one).
Do your homework before
you arrive and you can avoid most of the hidden fees some car rental
firms try to charge you. Have a great vacation and spend your money
on things you enjoy.
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