Entries Tagged 'Car Rental' ↓

Car rentals what you need and what you don’t

Knowing what you need and what you don’t is not a problem limited to car rentals. Knowing the difference between your needs and wants is a life skill few of us get right or “want” to get right. However you can save a lot of money, loans and headaches if you get it right.
In the case of car rentals it is a matter of understanding what extras you can afford and are going to significantly improve your trip or experience and what is really a waste of time.

This article will tackle this question by listing some of the most important things you need when hiring a rental car. It is not a long list, this will help you see how much of our choices are wants not needs.

1.)    You don’t need a rental car. Well, this one is not necessarily true, you might need a car rental. But it does help us to ask ourselves if we really need it, or we are just used to having the freedom of a private car. In Nicaragua, where I currently live hiring a car can be a great idea or the worst you ever made in a business or pleasure trip. The bus system although not very comfortable is excellent and can take you to virtually any part of the country you want to visit in reliable vehicles that are prepared for the bad terrain that makes up most  of the country. Unless you have some very specific needs and objectives you are probably better going by bus and taxi. Of course you will need some understanding of Spanish and how the country bus system works. The lesson here is that sometimes with a little effort we can find cheaper ways of carrying out an objective. Could this be the case with car rentals?

2.)    You need insurance. This is an important point. Without insurance you can screw your life never mind your holiday. In many states and countries driving without appropriate insurance is a criminal offence. There are some countries you really don’t want to try out the prison system, take my word for it. However you only need adequate insurance not redundant insurance cover. In most cases car insurance policies and credit cards will cover car rental insurance. Check out if this is the case. If it is, forget those expensive car rental insurance fees.

3.)    You need fuel. Work out what is cheaper, if to get a full tank and fill it when you come back or to let them re-fuel it (some companies subsidize your fuel).
That is pretty much it. You might need a map, which is often complimentary. The rest are extras that you might want to get and they might be great deals. If you can afford them, great! If you can’t don’t get them you don’t need them.

An online beware guide to car rentals, what not to do
Shopping for car rentals seems to be a massive blind spot in the vision of smart consumers. Consumers that might otherwise be careful to get the best deal they can get will go for the first or more convenient option they are given. If your are very wealth and don’t care spending more than you need, all’s well and good. But if you’re not, which is very likely if you are reading this article you need to smarten up. Fortunately for you , this is not going to take long. A few key tips will get you on the road for less than you thought.

Mistake 1.) Do not think all car rentals are pretty much the same price, they are not. There is a lot of variety in prices and services. You can save substantial amounts of cash by being smart and understanding how car rental companies work.
The truth is that car rentals give you a break if you make things easier for them and if you understand how their business works. If you do not, they are going to make you pay for it.

Mistake 2.) Go for airport car rentals. There is not arguing they are very convenient. However airport car rentals are going to cost you more. The prices are generally higher and they always add an airport fee which can range from $10 to $30 dollars, if not more. This is because airports charge car rentals a tax or fee for using their space, tourism boards often charge a fee for every customer at an airport also. You can avoid this fee if you are just willing to wait till you get to your hotel or get public transport to Downtown.

Mistake 3.) Don’t check the extra fees. We are on holidays or on a business trip, no time to sweat the details. Big mistake if you care about how you spend your cash. Extra fees often make up  50% of your car rental fee if you are not careful. You have extras like GPS, child seat, ski rack, radio CD, fuel, etc… Some of these extras are useful or even vital as in the case of the child seat. It does pay thought to check what you are buying and if you really need it.

Mistake 4.) Go for the insurance package your car rental salesperson recommends. Big mistake! Car rental insurance is often more expensive than your car rental fee. It is also a fact that car rentals make more money on their insurance than their car rental fee. Just work out the math. The average car rental insurance is around 25$. Multiply that by 365 days and you have a year insurance fee of over $9,000. Obviously this is an oversimplification, cars don’t get rented every day, nor does everyone go for the $25 insurance but it gives you an idea of the profit margin on these insurance packages. You  can nearly by a new car on the “supposed” yearly insurance. Check if your car insurance or credit card insurance covers car rentals. They are very likely to do so.