Like most people you probably find yourself in the situation from time to time where you have to hire a car. Either because you have tasks you need to perform at home which requires a different kind of vehicle – for instance you need to hire a van to move some things. Or you’re on holiday somewhere where you didn’t drive to and you need a car to get you to various sights or places.
Most hire companies offer various ‘hot deals’ to entice potential customers in but if you’re tempted in by one of these deals, make sure you know what the contract is for and that you’re covered for the right events. You don’t want to find yourself in a sticky spot such as your rental vehicle being stolen, vandalised or crashed into and find that the agreement you signed doesn’t cover that particular event.
Most car hire companies will offer packages that get more expensive the more they include. Most will include unlimited mileage, a Collision Damage Waiver and local fees. More expensive packages will cover additional drivers, a tank of fuel and GPS. However, even if you rental comes with Collision Damage Waiver which should cover any damage or loss to a rental vehicle, you might be asked to pay an extra fee if you want to avoid paying excess should you have an accident. Some rental companies operate with huge excess sums which mean that if you do crash, you might end up paying a lot more than you initially thought.
So when you do rent a car please read the small print and ask what the excess is should it not be obvious. You might have to pay an additional fee in order to cover the excess but based on where you are, what you’re planning to do and what type of car you’re renting, that extra fee might just be worth it. Someone who’s hired a convertible is probably more likely to attract vandals than someone who’s hired a used Ford Galaxy.