Car Rentals: Dos and Don'ts

Roadtrips have been gaining a lot of popularity lately. And with the advent of the covid era, it has also become a much safer choice. But, not everyone has the luxury of owing a vehicle or sometimes it simply doesn't make sense to take the roadtrip in your own car. That shouldn't stop you from hopping on the bandwagon. There's always the option of renting a car and driving it like your own. While it's been around for some time in the western cultures, Indians still carry some skepticism around renting cars. However, we are here to assure you that it's a smooth process if you follow certain practices when renting. So here below are the few dos and don´ts of car rentals so that you have a hassle-free experience.

Dos:

Book in advance

Always make sure that you book your rental in advance to avoid any last moment surcharge. Also start keeping a tab on the offers that car rental companies might have a couple of weeks or months in advance to get the best deal. This will help you save a lot of money.

Choose the right car

Think about your travelling needs and choose your rental car accordingly. In case you are travelling alone and are on a budget, a small car will be enough but if you are travelling with a group and have a bit of luggage, an SUV or sedan will be a great choice. An SUV would also be an optimum choice if you are travelling alone on a route that would have a lot of off-road trails.

Compare rates with other rental services

Before you reserve a rental car from one company, always take time to compare prices with other companies. You can use a car rental marketplace such as travelauto.com to find suitable rental cars and compare prices from different rental companies under one portal. This will help you find the best deals in the market. And also help you make the right choice.

Check for damage

So you've assessed the price and booked a car of your choice. Now when the car finally arrives, the first thing you need to do is do a complete walkaround to look for any kind of scratches or damages inside and outside. If you find any, make sure you click photos and inform the rental company about it so that you do not get blamed for it while returning the car. This will help you avoid unnecessary hassles when giving the car back and also save you from damage charges.

Don'ts:

Rent from an unlisted company

Renting a car from a small and unlisted company might be disadvantageous in case you run into a situation where your car needs to be replaced. Established and well-known car rental companies have multiple cars available which will come in handy in case you want to change cars for whatever reason. Also remember, most of the big car rental companies have an in-house service station. In case of vehicle break down, there's a better chance of being assisted.

Photo Credit: pixabay.com

Ignore the insurance

Make sure you have proper insurance in place before you hit the road. Check whether you can transfer your own car's insurance to the rental car for a short period. In most cases, the cars are already insured by the rental company. But, just to be sure, check for the insurance and also other documents so as to not land in trouble on the way.

Ignore the restrictions

Most rental cars have certain restrictions in place with the most common one being the speed limiter. Be vary of this and try and be within the speed limit to avoid unnecessary penalties. Most companies also have a kilometre limit. Make sure you are aware of all the limitations and restrictions and follow it so as to have a smooth experience.