Tips On How To Rent A Car

September 30, 2009 · Filed Under car rental · Comment 

Car Rental Tips

If you are planning to do any traveling, either business or personal, you’ll likely want to rent a car upon arrival at your destination. Most airports have car rental agencies onsite for your convenience. These tips on how to rent a car will help you get the best deal.

The major international car rental agencies have offices throughout North America and often around the world. There is no such thing as the best company in this industry. It really does pay to shop around. Rates will depend on the type of vehicle, the time period, and things like agency specials. You can easily compare prices online and you can reserve your car online too.

Almost all rental cars have automatic transmission, radio, and air conditioning. Even if you request a manual transmission, chances are it won’t be available upon arrival. If you are traveling with children that will require car restraint seats, make sure to request them when you book your car.

If you are renting a car in the US, you usually do not need an international driver’s license. Your license from your home country should be adequate. That said, an international license can be helpful in proving to the agency that you have a valid license especially if they aren’t familiar with the licenses from your country.

Rental companies have different rules about who they will rent to. Some will not rent to anyone under the age of 25 while others won’t rent to anyone over the age of 70. Other rent to drivers under 25 but charge a premium. Check with the agencies for restrictions before you book.

The car rental business is extremely competitive so prices change frequently. Some companies offer regular advertised deals; others run random special promotions. If business is slow you are likely to be able to get a better rate than if you are trying to rent during peak seasons. No one agency has the monopoly on best prices. It just depends, so do your homework and don’t be afraid to try to barter a better price!

Sometimes if you booked through a travel agent, you might get a better price on your rental car. Some packages even include the rental fees. Compare these offers to see which is best.

The car rental insurance is where many agencies really soak you. The collision damage waiver and theft insurance they attempt to sell you is priced ridiculously high. But you also cannot risk driving without it. Some auto insurance companies have a rider that covers you and some credit cards also provide you with free coverage. See what you can do to avoid purchasing the rental agency’s insurance because it can almost double the price of your rental.

Now that you know how to rent a car and get the best deal, you’ll have a few extra dollars in your pocket to start planning that next vacation.
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Getting The Best Teen Car Insurance Rates, 3 Tips To Help Save Money

September 19, 2009 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comment 

Adding a teen driver to your auto policy can be a painful experience. One, you don’t want to let them drive your brand new car and two, your rate is about to double or triple. Yes, I did say triple. Especially with a new car. The newer your cars are the higher the rate increase.

Here are some tips to help you avoid this financial headache.

Do your kids have to have a brand new car?

This one surprises me all the time. Parents complain about how much insurance costs for a teen driver and then I ask them what kind of car they are looking at and it’s a brand new 2006 or maybe even a 2007 model. You say it’s loaded with all these new safety controls and has 12 airbags. Those safety features will protect you but they also cost a lot to fix and replace so that’s why the insurance is high. Cars are easy to replace, people are not.

There are many reliable late model cars out there that are just as safe as the brand new models and will cost less to insure. If your teen wants a newer model to look cool, tell them to start working for it.

Another benefit to having a late model car is you can choose not to put comprehensive and collision coverage on it. This will drastically reduce the cost of your premiums. Keep that in mind when shopping for a car.sponsored by electric car conversion kit

Make sure you get all the discounts your teen driver is eligible for.

A ‘B’ or better average will usually qualify them for a Good Student Discount. Have your teen take a driver’s training course. These two discounts can take a nice chunk off the insurance. And they also encourage safe and responsible driving. Make sure you remind them that driving is a privilege not a right.

Two other discounts you may be eligible for are for when they go away to college or overseas to study abroad. Both of them give you a discount for limiting your teen’s access to your cars. The logic is they don’t have access to your vehicles so they should not affect your premium. You have to make your insurance company aware of these situations when they arise. Most companies are not going to be proactive about lowering your rates if they can help it. It’s up to you to make sure you get all the discounts you and your teen are eligible for.
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Most states allow teens to have a permit. Use that to your advantage.

This one is a little sneaky but when you can save a few hundred dollars every 6 months every little bit helps. When your teen has a learner’s permit most insurance companies do not charge you for this. Only when they get their actual driver’s license do your rates go through the roof. The idea is to keep them with their permit for as long as possible. Understand that with a permit there are restrictions such as driving supervised and not driving at night. So as long as you don’t mind supervising your teen as they gain more experience by all means go ahead.

And once they do get their actual license you have to let the insurance company know about it or risk a claim they cause being denied.

Insuring a teen driver is expensive no matter how you slice it. Follow these tips and you can start getting the best teen car insurance rates available.sponsored by electric car conversion kit

Does The Coverage And Deductibles You Have On Your Personal Auto Policy Apply To A Rental Car?

September 19, 2009 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comment 

When you rent a car, there’s always that moment of truth, the moment when the salesperson asks you if you would like to purchase insurance (or more accurately, a loss waiver) through the rental company. According to most of these salespeople, if you do not purchase the insurance (which can bump the price of your rental up $20 per day or more) the consequences for the slightest scuff on the door will send you spiraling into bankruptcy. The cost of insurance at the rental car counter may also vary depending on the rental car company, state and the type of car you wish to rent. Car rental insurance can be complicated and you might even feel pressured into purchasing it, but before you commit yourself to spending the money on a loss waiver, take a moment to think about some other options.
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Car Insurance

If you carry comprehensive and collision coverage, your personal auto policy will generally cover the cost of replacing or repairing a stolen or damaged rental car. Because each insurance company is a little different, however, it is a good idea to speak with your insurance agent and confirm that the rental car is covered by your existing policy.

Remember that any deductibles you have will apply to the rental car. For instance, if you have a $500 deductible and sustain $450 worth of damage, you will be responsible for the full cost. If you have a $500 deductible and sustain $1000 worth of damage, you will be responsible for the first $500 and the insurance company will pay for the balance.

Remember, too, that for your rental car to be covered you must carry comprehensive and collision insurance. If your insurance protects you only against liability, it will not cover the cost to repair or replace a rental car if it is wrecked or stolen. You may also want to take note that in the event of a car accident with the rental car, your personal insurance premium may go up in cost.

Credit Cards
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Some credit card companies offer rental insurance benefits. To find out what each of your credit cards offer, simply call the customer service and ask. You may want to shop around a little to find out which of your cards offers the best insurance benefits. When you find the best deal, ask for a copy of the insurance policy in writing. This will allow you to look the policy over carefully to determine that it offers the coverage you need. Having the policy in writing will also put a stop to the he-said-she-said that may occur if a loss does happen.

It’s easy and often tempting to sign on the dotted line and let car rental insurance take care of everything. But if you do so without stopping to investigate other avenues available, you may find yourself paying for car insurance coverage you may already have. Fifteen or twenty minutes of easy research can save you a hefty sum of money and offer you piece of mind.
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Do Car Rental Companies Accept International Driving Permits (IDP)?

September 19, 2009 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comment 

If an individual from the United States is visiting another country or an individual from another country is visiting the United States, an International Driving Permit will be needed to be able to rent a car in a country other than your own. Even rental car companies that have branches in different countries will need to see an International Driving Permit before the individual will be allowed to rent a vehicle in that country. There are several requirements that need to be met before an IDP will be issued and the permits are not valid in every country.

The International Driving Permit is a special license that is used by tourists in a different country that allows them to operate a motor vehicle in that country, without having to take the driving test required to obtain a driver’s license in that country. This document indicates to the officials and rental car companies in another country that the individual has been judged competent to drive in their home country. The individual must already possess a valid driver’s license in their home country and be over the age of 18 before an IDP will be issued to them.sponsored by electric car conversion kit

This permit is used in conjunction with the driver’s license issued by the individual’s country of origin and both must be carried by the individual at all times when operating a vehicle in another country. It is not a license to operate a motor vehicle on its own. If the individual is stopped for a traffic violation in the country that they are visiting, both the IDP and the individual’s personal diver’s license must be surrendered to the authorities. The International Driving Permit contains information written in eleven different languages to ensure that local law enforcement will be able to understand the information.

The IDP permit is not extendable or renewable and is valid for only one year from the date of issue. Every time a new IDP is required, the applicant will have to complete a new application form. When applying for the permit, you must complete the application and provide two passport size photos and a photocopy of both the front and the back of your valid drivers’ license. The IDP document is the size of a standard passport, complete with photograph and vital statistics and should be carried with you at all times.
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The International Driving Permit is a must have if visiting a different country, even if the individual is not planning on obtaining a rental car in the country that they are visiting. The International Driving Permit gives the individual another form of photo identification and is printed in a number of different languages to allow local individuals to read and understand the information, a great help if other forms of identification are lost or are not understood by local officials. Because the International Driving Permit is recognized in more than 150 countries around the world, it provides a valuable piece of identification for the individual and can assist the individual in times of crisis.sponsored by electric car conversion kit

Can I Rely On The Rental Car Insurance Supplied By Golden/Platinum Cards?

September 18, 2009 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comment 

Thousands of individuals obtain cars from car rental agencies each year, but when it comes to protecting themselves financially while in possession of the car, many individuals have questions about the best way to protect themselves. One of the biggest questions that may be on their mind is whether the rental car insurance supplied by their golden or platinum credit cards is adequate protection against damage or theft of the rental car. Many individuals decline the rental car insurance offered by the rental car company because they believe that the insurance offered by their credit card is enough to handle any issue that may arise. So are they correct?
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The short answer is that it depends on the specifics of the insurance offered by the credit card company. There are many credit card companies that claim that if you rent a car using their credit card, they will provide insurance coverage for you for as long as you have the car. For many individuals, this seems like adequate protection for any instances where they need to rent a car. The problem occurs when the individuals fail to read the fine print of their credit card disclosures. Although many credit card companies offer rental car insurance, the actual items covered may vary from company to company.

Reading the disclosures for the rental car insurance portion of the credit card terms and conditions can save an individual a great deal of hassle in the long run. For instance, while some credit card companies claim to offer full coverage insurance for the rental car, it is only valid if the car is rented from a certain car rental agency. The coverage may also be limited to a certain type or class of car, meaning that if any other type or class of car is rented, the coverage will not be valid. Other credit card companies limit their liability to the amount of the deductible of your personal car insurance policy and will not pay above this amount to have the car repaired or replaced, leaving the card owner responsible for the rest of the costs.
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Even the credit card companies that offer extensive insurance coverage for rental cars will typically only provide collision and comprehensive coverage for the car, leaving the card holder responsible for any property damage or personal injury costs that may be incurred. Credit card companies also do not typically provide reimbursement for any personal belongings that may be lost if the car is stolen while in the card holder’s possession. It’s a good idea to take any valuables you may have in the car with you. Although the credit card rental car insurance may help the card owner a great deal when an issue arises, a card holder that depends on this insurance alone may find themselves in a tight spot if the insurance does not cover what they think it does. Make sure that you read the fine print and are aware of the coverage that it provides before your next car rental.
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Ten Must Knows When Renting A Car

September 15, 2009 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comment 

Most of us use the convenience of a rental car when traveling and generally select a car rental at random right outside the airport or train station. Now things are different you can arrange to rental a car online and specify your pick up and drop off point. There are directories where many companies are featured and you can easily compare the services as well as pricing of different car rental companies.sponsored by electric car conversion kit

As a discerning consumer it would be a great advantage if you kept in mind:

1. That you need to keep the paper work ready before renting a car. You need to be over 25 years old, have a valid driving license, have an ID card that is universally accepted, your social security number may be required too. Before you make arrangements, check whether your driver’s license is valid where you intend to go. Otherwise be sure to apply for the requisite permissions.

2. Find out whether the car has currently valid insurance and whether it has passed a road test recently. Ask specifically whether the car’s papers are in good order and when it was last serviced. Consider opting for damage coverage many rental companies make the offer for a nominal amount.

3. Check what the rental charges cover and whether there is an extra charge payable for drop off and pick up of the vehicle. Some companies offer the service for free while others do charge an extra amount.

4. Always ask for confirmation of booking and read through the terms and conditions thoroughly.

5. Check what the refueling options are. Most rental companies offer conveniences like getting a car with a full tank or filling the fuel yourself. You need to decide what is most feasible.

6. Always comparison shop for good rates. If your dates are flexible ask about special offers and discount periods. Rental companies also run promotional schemes so be sure to know what is on offer and how it will benefit you. If you book early you will get better rates than closer to the date of use. Rates also vary depending on the kind of car you wish to rent. Ask whether you are eligible for any discounts.

7. Choose a car that will fulfill your needs. Find out about luggage storage and racks , how many the car will seat comfortably, and whether or not the heater/air conditioner are working.
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8. Most companies will not accept cash so make arrangements to carry a card with a low limit for making payment. Also if your company has a regular contract with the car rental then use their relationship to make arrangements. You will get superior service as well as a god rate.

9. If you are traveling with a companion decide whether the companion will drive the rental car too. If yes ask the company what their policies are regarding an additional driver.

10. Take down the 24/7 numbers of customer service and numbers where the car rental people can be contacted on an emergency.

The keys areas in car rental are good customer service, flexibility, great vehicle selection, and excellent terms and conditions. Rent a car that makes your trip easy not a nightmare.
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