Added: 08/16/2005 |
Car Rentals. Steering clear of trouble.Going a few miles in a taxi can easily set you back $10-$20 one way, including the tip while renting a car usually costs about $140 per week.
Car rental is a simple process; however a few details should be taken into consideration.
If you travel during busy times, when lots of people travel as well, it is highly advisable to reserve a car in advance or it may happen that you won't be able to find a spare car at all! If you wait until last minute and look for a car immediately, you are also likely to pay more than those, who have booked it. Many of companies that provide such services as reservation of cars have websites, where one can find car pictures, their descriptions and prices.
Think about saving on car rentals. As it was already said, if you book a car beforehand and plan on traveling during a low-demand period, it would cost less. You can also try to reserve the smallest and cheapest car. By the time, you will need it, the company may run out of such cars and they will offer you a free upgrade to a bigger one. Consider your needs. Maybe, it's not essential to rent a posh car like that of James Bond, but to save money and spend them on other entertaining during your holiday?
After you've hired a car it is high time for you to think about the insurance. Rental agencies offer all types of insurances at an extra cost. The main types are:
CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) - protects against damage or theft of the car.
SLP (Supplemental Liability Protection) - protects if you have injured other people.
PAI (Personal Accident Insurance) - protects you and your passengers in case of an accident.
PEC (Personal Effects Coverage) - provides compensation if your personal possessions were stolen from the car.
If you preferred not to buy insurance, you will be in charge of all the damages and you will have to pay their cost. Of course, you are not supposed to pay the value of the damages that were done before the car was in your possession. However, be sure that you've examined the entire car and have asked if the rental agent have a record of all the previous damages so that you won't be blamed for them later.
There exists a rule that when you give your car back, it should have a full tank of gas. If it doesn't, you will have to pay more than gas costs itself. If you were given a car without gas, be sure, that it was recorded by the rental agent.
Remember that safety is the most important issue to think of! When you go somewhere and drive in an unfamiliar place, it may be challenging and stressful. Be sure that you are ready to cope with it! May be, it's better to use a taxi if you are not experienced and skillful driver? Are you able to drive, for example in Britain, if you are used to driving left-hand drive cars? If you've decided to rent a car, be sure that you've got familiar with local Highway Code, that you have a map of the road and know all the emergency numbers. Rental cars often become a target for thieves, so make sure, you lock the doors and keep windows up when leaving a car. Be sure that rental company logos are not visible on your car. It goes without saying, that safety of a driver and passengers is above everything else, so be careful, when driving in unfamiliar places and think of the insurance!
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