Economy car hire is a great service but there are key simple things to avoid for the first time renter. Remembering these five things may save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
Tip 1: Don’t leave it until the last minute. Be proactive. If you already know the dates you need a car be proactive and check well before hand. You may find great deals if you book in advance. By doing this, you may also find economy car hire centers just a bit further from the airport which are cheaper, or that your hotel or flight package includes car hire.
Tip 2: Don’t forget to take a photo of any previous damage done to the car. Also, take a photo of the mileage completed before you take over the car. This can be submitted as proof of liability if anything should happen like a scrape or an accident. The mileage photo helps with any disputes later on.
Tip 3: Don’t park in compromising areas. Although it may be fun to drive a car which is not your own (i.e. fast and furious) it’s a different matter when choosing a place to park it. Many regretful renters have found themselves paying for the damages caused by other drivers or pedestrian traffic. Try not to park on a main street or too close to other vehicles.
Tip 4: Don’t leave filling the petrol/gas tank to the last minute. Remember to estimate the time it takes to refill the petrol/gas tank before handing back the car. Economy car hire centers will charge you extra if the car is returned with a less than full tank. A worse case scenario may be a missed transport connection (i.e. plane, train or bus) if you had not allocated enough time to refill the petrol tank.
Tip 5: Don’t forget to check your insurance. Check with your current car insurance agency whether they cover you for rental car coverage. Most should and it could save you the extra expense.