If you have a road trip on the horizon, whether you are travelling somewhere new with your friends, back to a favourite annual destination with your family, or simply to a work event by yourself, you may need a way to get around. A car rental could be the perfect solution.
There are many benefits to renting a car. With a rental vehicle, you can choose from a wide selection of cars to ensure you have one that suits your needs. Also, having a rental car means you will not be tied to public transportation schedules or the limitations of taxi services during your trip, which is especially critical when you are visiting remote areas.
Another key benefit of renting a car is cost-effectiveness. For occasional use, renting a car can be more economical than owning one, as it eliminates the expenses associated with ownership, such as insurance, maintenance, repairs, and depreciation.
In addition, most car rental agencies keep their fleet stocked with new vehicles that feature some of the latest tech and innovations. For all of these reasons, renting a car can be a practical choice in various situations.
What are some mistakes that people make when renting a vehicle, and how can they be avoided?
If you are renting a vehicle for the first time and want to ensure that your initial car rental experience goes smoothly, there are some important matters to keep in mind.
There are quite a few major mistakes that people often make when they rent cars. However, you can avoid these errors if you are aware of them ahead of time.
1. Neglecting to pay attention to mileage
One of the big misunderstandings that leads to problems for many car renters has to do with mileage limitations. While some car rentals near you may come with unlimited mileage, this is not always the case.
Many car rental agencies set a maximum amount of kilometres/miles that you are allowed to travel per day, and this amount is typically specified in the rental agreement. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to thoroughly read and understand your rental agreement ahead of time.
If you cannot find mention of this matter, though, and you are unsure about whether or not there is a limitation, you should ask a representative from the rental agency about this.
In most cases, if you go over the specified mileage limit, you will be charged a set amount per every kilometre/mile that you go over, and you will be required to pay this upon returning the car.
2. Purchasing extra car insurance
Before you rent a car, check whether you are already covered by rental insurance. You may have such coverage included in your existing auto insurance policy or as a benefit included with your credit card.
It is common for credit cards to offer this kind of coverage. Still, there may be certain stipulations, such as ensuring that you book the rental with the card that has this coverage and that the name on the card matches the name of the registered driver.
Car rental agencies often offer insurance as an add-on for an extra fee. However, if you know that you already have all the coverage you need, there is no sense in purchasing additional insurance through the agency.
3. Forgetting to fill up on gas
When it comes to the price of your car rental, gas is very rarely included in the quoted price for your agreement, and there are typically three gas options offered at the time of your rental pickup.
You will likely be told that you can (1) return the car with the same amount in the tank as when you received it by filling it accordingly; (2) you can let the car agency fill up the tank at a set rate; or (3) you can prepay for an entire tank of gas for a slightly lower set rate.
In general, the option that will save you the most amount of money is filling up the gas tank yourself because rental agencies usually have a set rate that is higher than what most local gas stations would charge.
However, if you opt for option number one and it is your responsibility to fill the gas tank before returning it, make sure that you never forget to do so. If you fail to return it with the same level of gas, the agency is likely to charge you for the difference at their inflated rate.
4. Failing to inspect your rented vehicle
One of the most important things to do before driving away from the rental agency with your rented car is a thorough inspection. It is crucial that you take note of any existing damage to the car, no matter how small it may be.
Most of the time, the rental agency will inspect the vehicle with you and document any dents or scratches on the car at the time of your pickup. During this inspection, make sure you point out anything that they may have missed.
If nobody from the agency performs an inspection, it is crucial to do one of your own. This includes checking both the inside and outside of the car, taking photos of anything you come across, and reporting issues to the rental agency before you drive off.
If there is damage to the car when you pick it up, but neither you nor the agency documents this, you may be held liable for it when you return the vehicle. Without proof that it was not you that caused it, you may have no way of getting out of this problem.
How Ventures Car and Truck Rentals Can Make Your Rental Process Smooth and Seamless
If you have a road trip planned but no car booked yet for this journey, you may be thinking, “What are the best car rentals near me?” Look no further than Ventures Car and Truck Rentals, as we offer 24 hour/day car rental service and have an impressive fleet of new and current model year vehicles for you to choose from.
With over 30 years of experience in the car rental industry, we have perfected our operation to best suit the needs of our valued customers. We will provide the best possible rental experience, whether it is your first time renting or you have rented many times in the past.
For more information about how we can set you up with car rentals near you, or to learn more about the selection of vehicles you can access through us, call Ventures Car and Truck Rentals at 1 (833) 656-3559 or contact us here.
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