Avoid Making These Mistakes When Arranging a Car Hire
Posted on: 8 December 2017
If you're arranging a car hire for yourself, either for your upcoming holiday or for a business trip, you want to ensure you avoid any unnecessary charges and fees and know everything involved in that rental or hire. Note a few common mistakes you'll want to avoid when arranging a car hire so your trip is as hassle-free as possible, and so that you don't have any unpleasant surprises on your rental invoice!
Not checking your credit card for insurance coverage
It's always good to have added insurance on a rental vehicle, in case you're in an accident or should otherwise damage the car; without added insurance, if the damage is your fault, you may need to pay for the vehicle's repair out of your own pocket.
Before you buy additional insurance from the rental agency, however, you might check your credit card agreement and note if they offer rental car insurance. This is a common perk that is offered by many credit card companies, but consumers often overlook this perk, especially if they don't hire cars very often. Be sure to check if you have this perk with whatever card you will be using for the rental to save yourself the unnecessary cost of additional insurance.
Prepaying for fuel
You're typically required to refuel a rental car before you return it, but some agencies may offer to have you prepay for fuel when you hire the car; they would then add a charge for a full tank of gas into your rental agreement. This may be very convenient for you, as you wouldn't need to worry about finding a petrol station when on your way back to an airport, but it can also be more costly.
Rather than prepaying for fuel, note the gas stations that are nearby your rental agency. You'll then be able to conveniently refuel the vehicle on your way to return it to the agency, avoiding the hassle of searching for a gas station and avoiding that added fee of having the rental agency refuel the vehicle for you.
Not inspecting the vehicle
A rental agency will inspect a vehicle after you return it, looking for damage for which they might charge you. This is why it's good to do your own inspection before you accept a vehicle; look for any visible damage, take a photo of it, and ensure that it's noted in your rental agreement, so that you're not charged for any pre-existing damage on the vehicle itself.
Share