When you opt for car hire, you could rent a sports car for a day on vacation or a monthly basis. It will save you the money you would spend on taxi rides and prevent you from relying on the timetable (or unpredictable timetable) of public transport. But the whole process of renting a car can be daunting for first-timers and veterans alike.
1. Use a credit card when picking up the car
Make sure you use a credit card. When you use a debit card, you will be charged an authorization amount and assessed a substantial (i.e., potentially hundreds of dollars) additional incremental blocking. Car rental companies used to check your credit score when you used a debit card to make sure you could pay any fees, although this policy has recently changed for most larger rental companies. If you prefer to rent a car with a debit card, call ahead or check online to find out what the policies are so you don’t end up with unexpected holdbacks.
2. It costs more for children to drive rental cars
Your 23-year-old daughter may drive flawlessly, but car rental companies don’t care. Rental companies only see them as a possible commitment to their goods. Although young drivers can rent cars at the age of 20 or 21, they will likely have to pay an additional fee if they are still under 25. If you’re traveling with someone under 25, don’t add them as an additional driver (and make sure they never get behind the wheel!), and you won’t have to worry about incurring this surcharge.
3. Keep the number of drivers to a minimum
Whether you’re going on a family vacation or a getaway with friends, keep the number of drivers to a minimum. You will have to pay a daily fee for each additional driver regardless of whether they end up during the rental period or not.
4. Shop for car insurance
You can ensure the car from an agency, but car rental insurance is extremely expensive and should only be used if you have exhausted all other options. Look into your personal car insurance, which could potentially cover rentals as well. You should also call your credit card company, as many offer some type of rental car insurance as a card benefit. Many of them are quite good and would allow you to waive your insurance without worry.
When thinking about renting a car, the question of where to rent a car is equally important. We know it’s easy to collect your car at the airport, but you may not realize that you pay extra for the right to collect your car right after you get off the plane.
6. Stay on paved roads
This probably sounds pretty obvious but hear us out. There are not many rental companies that are comfortable with you renting a car off-road. And there doesn’t have to be someone running in the mud in the field. Let’s say you’re in Hawaii and you want to visit a scenic stretch of beach that no road leads to. The same goes for pitching on grass pitches. Both are technically off-road and both would be a violation of your lease.
7. Fill the tank before returning the car
Your vacation was great, but now it’s time to turn the car around and go home. The only problem is that you brought the car with an empty tank. Could you have the rental company fill it for you? Absolutely, but you could pay two, three, or four times the regular price per gallon.
8. Bring your own accessories if possible
Sometimes you need more than just a car for a trip, and car rental companies are great at having extras available to rent for your vacation in case of sports car rental in Dubai. You can bring some extras from home to save on the convenience fee. For example, instead of using the GPS from the agency you’re renting from, use your phone’s map app to navigate if it doesn’t kill your data plan. The same goes for satellite radio. Listening to the 80s on 8 is great, but listening to goofy commercials on local stations is a little more enjoyable. Some people think renting an electronic toll pass is worth it when considering the time it saves you on the road.
