Car Rental Options

A car rental can be the answer to many situations. There are a variety of vehicles to rent and a multitude of situations that require a rented vehicle. Where, when and why a person decides to take temporary possession of a vehicle is also quite important. Here are some things to think about.

Types of vehicles:

Sedans: There are multiple kinds of sedans, which may be driven on a rental basis. Everything from an economy car to a luxury automobile can be made available to a motorist on a temporary basis. All makes and models may be on the lot including American cars or imports. Usually, vehicles are relatively new, but sometimes there are companies who specialize in older models sometimes referred to as rent-a-wrecks. These older cars are usually more geared to the budget minded consumer.

Vans: If transporting a large group to a family function or business event, it may be wise to have a shuttle or large van available to carpool the crowd. Many companies have regular-sized vans but some have large bus-sized vans, as well.

RVs: Touring the country in a rented RV can be the adventure of a lifetime. While a motorist may not choose to own a recreational vehicle, driving one temporarily may be a fun and adventurous vacation idea. These are multipurpose vehicles in that they transport the driver and passengers as well as bed them down for the night. Many luxuries are available in today's RV.

Limousines: A limo is a different type of car rental because it is a two-for-one. Not only is a vehicle included in the deal, but a chauffeur, as well. Limousines are the perfect mode of transportation for special occasions such as weddings, prom nights or romantic anniversaries. Limousines may come in a variety of styles and colors, too. The classic black or white stretch sedan is one option, but nearly any vehicle can be transformed into a stretch vehicle. Stretched out Hummers and jeeps can make quite the impact on the road.

Sports cars: For a person who usually drives a sedate family car, renting a speedy sports car can be a kick in the pants. A sporty two door can be an option for a date or a road trip across country. It can be a way to check out the experience in order to see if this is a permanent model possibility for the motorist.

Insurance thoughts: When renting a vehicle, a motorist will want to check into their private automotive insurance policy coverage to see if it covers leased autos. Most rental companies offer additional coverage, which a motorist may want to consider depending on the situation.

Driver's age: Most businesses will only rent an auto to an adult. This may mean eighteen years of age in some locations or twenty-one years old in others.

There are lots of options when it comes to securing a car rental. An automobile can be leased online to be ready at the airport when traveling or on the spot in one's hometown.

Article Source: Ace Abbey

How To Get A Discount On A New Car

• What You Need To Know
• Keeping an open mind with respect to colors and options may mean a lower price.
• Be patient and wait for incentives and end-of-year bargains.
• Try shopping around far and wide for the best deals in your surrounding area.

While penny auction sites insist you can bid on and win any new car you like for the equivalent of a few months’ payments, purchasing through an authorized brick-and-mortar (or click-and-mortar) dealership is a safer and smarter bet. Not that they’ll let you drive off the lot for a thousand bucks. Like it or not, car dealers are for-profit organizations, with overhead and quotas to meet. 

That said, you still need to know how to get a discount on a new car. In your father’s day, that meant a marathon of arguing over a couple hundred bucks for pinstripes and rustproofing. The art of the deal has thankfully evolved. Through education, technology and a little self-discipline, you can still negotiate a realistic deal while saving thousands up front and over the life of your loan.

Be Flexible But Persistent

When you’ve settled on the car you want to buy, it’s good to not only know its features and specs, but also its price points. Most models have multiple trim levels with graduated pricing for standard and optional equipment. It’s tempting to load a car with everything available, but you can literally double the sticker price in the process. So keep an open mind with options and paint. If you can live with a less popular option package and/or color, a dealer might part with it more willingly than the loaded, neutral-toned example more people are buying. As long as you know when to draw the line and avoid being steered into a "deal" that’s actually more expensive, you can still get the car you want without overspending on stuff you don’t need.

Factor Your Trade-In Or -Out

Depending on what you’re ditching and what you’re buying, trading in may or may not work in your favor. Be prepared to go either way. See what cars like your old one are fetching in the local classifieds (or the classifieds local to your dealer if substantial distance is involved). While you’re at it, have your potential salesperson give you a ballpark trade-in quote. If you have a high-demand sports car and suddenly learn you’ll need something modest with room for a baby, an infant seat and the half ton of requisite paraphernalia, you could be in a very favorable position. If your outgoing ride is more environmentally hazardous than Charlie Sheen, chances are you’ll come out better selling it on yor own or donating it to charity and cashing in at tax time.

Be Patient

When you love cars and are prone to instant gratification, it’s tough to stick with the same car more than a year. We get that, because we’ve been there. But we also hate wasting big bucks on an impulse purchase instead of waiting a few months to get a generous discount on a new car. In general, it’s wise to buy during early or late months of the year, when most folks’ monetary focus is elsewhere despite the traditionally great car deals that can be had. Some of those incentives, like rebates, sales events and low-rate financing, are now appearing in the middle months, so don’t let your awareness down the rest of the year.

While you’re at it, drop by the dealer and see your would-be salesperson periodically to stay on his radar, showing you’re serious about a new car, but not desperate. Just don’t wait too long, like until your old car dies and you absolutely need a new car immediately.

Secrets to renting a car without overspending

Even if you’ve rented a car many times in the past, it’s still possible to experience that deer-in-the-headlights feeling as you stand at the counter and talk to the rental agent.

After all, there are so many little details to remember, questions to answer and decisions to make. Should you just say no to everything? Or yes to a few things?

The following tips can help you navigate the often-confusing world of car rentals.

1. Shop around online first. Check multiple travel Web sites — such as Travelocity.com, Expedia.com,Priceline.com and Hotwire.com — and get a sense of what’s available. Then check the rental car companies’ Web sites directly to see whether you can snag an even cheaper rate there.

2. Do the math. A rate that sounds unbelievably low might not be so low when everything is said and done. Clarify which taxes, surcharges and other fees you’ll be expected to pay and be on the lookout for charges for “extras” you really need, such as permission for additional drivers to use the car.

3. Hunt for deals. Always check for weekend discounts or special weekly rates. When shopping online, be alert for little areas where you can enter a “promotional code” or “discount code.” That’s a sign to open a Web browser in another window and do a quick Internet search for the car company’s name along with the same catch phrase you spotted. You could find a coupon code in seconds and save on your rental. Remember that you also may have access to discount codes through organization memberships and other affiliations.

4. Opt for a smaller car. Do you really need a larger car? If not, go compact. Here’s a little secret: Rental car companies often run out of economy models because they’re the most popular, so you’ll often be steered toward an upgrade in the hopes that you’ll cave in and pay for it. Just say no. You stand to get the upgrade anyway for the economy price.

5. Check for restrictions on where you can take the car. Planning to drive across state lines? Make sure that’s going to be OK before you lock in your rental deal. Some rental car companies’ “unlimited mileage” rates don’t include certain states, and you could get walloped with an unexpectedly high bill unless you’re aware of the restrictions ahead of time.

6. You rarely need that extra insurance. Rental agencies often urge renters to spend additional money per day on collision damage waivers and other insurance coverage. Review your auto insurance policy and credit-card agreements; you’re almost certainly covered already. The one exception you might want to consider is “loss of use” coverage, which covers the time the rental agency may need to spend having the car repaired if you get into an accident. Your auto insurance plan may not include that coverage, so check first.

7. Gas up. Don’t prepay for gasoline – (it’s rarely the best deal for you) – and then don’t forget to fill the tank back up before you return the car. If you fail to do so, expect to pay much more than the market price for the gasoline you owe.

8. Be on time. If you return your car late, the rental agency may charge you as much as a full day’s rental, sometimes at a rate higher than before. If you are going to be late, call the agency and explain your situation. It may help. Also, clarify what charges you might have to pay if you must drop the car off early.

9. Avoid airport fees. If you rent a car from the airport, you’re likely to pay extra fees such as airport surcharges, drop-off fees or taxes levied by local governments. Consider renting from a suburban location if at all possible to avoid at least some of those costs.

10. Supply your own car seat. If you’ll be traveling with children, you can save up to $10 a day by providing your own child safety seat rather than renting one from the car company. You may not need to worry about this if you’re renting a minivan that has built-in safety seats.

Sources

• Edmunds.com
• Fodor’s
• American Society of Travel Agents

By Laura T. Coffey

Can You Rent a Car For Someone Else?

The basic answer is no.

You can reserve a car for someone else and you can rent a car and let someone else drive it, but you can't rent it for them.

Car Rental companies require that the person picking up the rental car show a valid drivers license and credit card in their own name. This is extremely important.

There was an article in the news recently about a father who reserved a car online for his daughter because she was unfamiliar with making travel arrangements. He chose a prepaid booking site and booked the car in her name with his credit card number, thinking she would just pay him back.

Unfortunately the car rental company would not honor her reservation and she ended up having to rent another car at a higher price. Meanwhile the other reservation had been paid for and no refund was given. The father was understandably upset and felt that the booking site or the car rental company should have a) honored the reservation and/or b) refunded his money.

I assume that this gentleman did not read the terms and conditions on the website where he booked the reservation.

It stated that the credit card used to book the reservation must be the same credit card shown to the rental counter at the time of pick up. Most of the prepaid booking sites have this stipulation listed as well as a condition that all reservations booked are non-modifiable, non-cancellable and non-refundable.

The last I heard was that the booking site refused to refund his money and the car rental agency
offered him a small credit, but not the amount of the reservation he had made.

Many people assume that they can rent the car and let someone else drive it and that because they never drove it, they were not responsible for the vehicle. Not true. The renter of any rental car is considered the primary driver, even if they never drive the vehicle. Anyone else who drives is considered an additional driver and must have the permission of both the renter and the car rental company to drive the vehicle.

For more car rental tips visit my website below:

http://www.best-car-rental-tips.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Lyons

Tips for Renting a Car

Hiring a car can really grant you flexibility and independence on a trip and sometimes it is the only way to move around. But it can be incredibly frustrating - from finding the best deal, figuring out which options you'll need and reading small print about all hidden fees.

Decide on a vehicle

You'll need to be careful when choosing a vehicle. Based on if you are vacationing with children or with lots of luggage, you should hire a SUV or a large sedan. If you want the best price, you should hire smallest model available. Additionally, there are other factors like environmental friendliness, manual or automatic transmission and optional accessories such as GPS or child seat.

Book your car

In case you are renting for less than 7 days, you'll usually be better with big rental companies like Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Budget,... If you are renting for over a week, it usually is better to book with local companies or auto dealers.

It is usually smart to perform a thorough research. You can start on the web by using holiday search engines (for example Expedia) to get an overall feeling about the rates you will be thinking about. After that check out car rental companies' websites and compare them to those found by travel search engines. Often it will be cheaper given that companies tend to provide exclusive deals and offers right at their web sites. Then of course you'll want to do a quick search on discount codes and promotional codes to even lower hire price.

True cost

Finding true, final price can sometimes be very difficult or even impossible. That is because rental companies or search engines don't want to show you or simply just do not have details about state and local fees, insurance, extra driver fees, airport taxes, drop off charges,... The price you were displayed while searching and the one you pay can therefore be very different! Your best option is usually to make a booking by using a company/website which includes "No Hidden Fees / Final Price" policy. Also be careful when booking because prices can change from minute to minute. Unless you book immediately, you'll never be sure you'll get the same price when you return later for booking.

Returning the car

Unless stated otherwise, car hire companies are expecting that you return your car in condition it was when you picked it up at arrival. This means full tank and no damage in any way. Always fill the tank your self ahead of returning. If they get it done for you, you will usually pay far more for same amount of fuel as compared to at gas station.

Return car promptly. If you are overdue, some companies will charge you extra. In some cases you might have to pay more if you return the car ahead of time (yes, it sounds ridiculous but early return fee can sometimes be charged)!

Mitja Kugnic is auto hire specialist. On his recent travel to Canary Islands in Spain he wanted to Car Hire Lanzarote Airport and found the following website very useful: http://carhirelanzaroteairport.org Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mitja_Kugnic

Rent a Car - Great Tips and Tricks

Those who travel for leisure or business often rent a car for use during their trip. Renting a car means you are not dependent on cabs. Most car rental companies have offices located at airports. Keeping these suggestions in mind will help you get the best package available.

Car rental offices exist all across the country. Most have branches overseas as well. Each company has its good points, but all are really comparable. So it is a good idea to comparison shop. Make and model of car, time of year and special deals will determine rental rates. The internet makes it easy to compare prices and reserve the car you want.

For ease of use, rental cars come with automatic transmission, air conditioning and radio. It is difficult to locate cars with manual transmission even if you specify it. Be certain to request child car seats when you reserve your car in advance if you are traveling with small children.

Rentals in the U.S. do not usually require a driver to have an international driver's license. You driver's license from your country of residence will suffice. An international license can, however, save you hassle at the rental desk. Clerks may have to take extra time to verify your license if they aren't familiar with it.

Policies will vary from agency to agency as will their driver requirements. Many will not rent a car to drivers under the age of 25. Some will impose an age limit of 70. A few will rent to younger drivers, but expect to pay a fee. Familiarize yourself with the various policies before you make reservations.

Agencies often adjust their price packages to compete with each other. Look at the standard rates, then ask about promotional deals. If you are renting a car during off peak seasons, the prices may be lower than during the busy times of the year. Good prices are available from all the agencies. With so many variables, good deals may take some detective work. Ask questions if you don't see what you want.

Travel agents often have access to special prices on rental cars if you make your arrangements through them. Rental fees can be included in the travel package. See how they stack up against each other.

Many agencies will push you to purchase car rental insurance. But the price of theft insurance, collision coverage and deposits are outrageously expensive. But it is something you must have. Check with your regular car insurance company, or your credit card if they will cover you for free. Rental insurance can bump your total price up tremendously. It is to your benefit to check out other free coverage.

Doing your homework ahead of time can net you the best deal on a rental car and keep your wallet fuller too. Spend it on a nice souvenir!

Article created by Petru who is a fan of cars and trucks. You can check out his latest sites to learn what are some of the best Used Chevy Trucks on the market today and also where to find John Deere Tractors For Sale. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Petru_Cretu

Renting a Car, The Rules To Do So

The car rental industry is available for use by most people including individuals or businesses. The car hire companies can also be used by professionals within the self moving industry as long as the renting company has the use of vans or trucks. If they have the correct size of vehicle the renting company will be able to serve an array of renting needs.

There are certain conditions that need to be met in order to be able to carry out the renting of a vehicle such as you must return the vehicle in good condition and you can't exceed a certain maximum of driving distance this maximum driving distance is usually measured in miles; if you do exceed the amount of agreed driving distance you could be facing an additional fee. All of this information will be explained to you when you pick up your rented car as well as any other terms of use that are set out by the car rental company.

In order to be able to hire a car you need to have a valid driving license. There are two other considerations that you should take into account when it comes to hiring a car; these are the facts that car hire companies have the power to set age limits on the hiring of a car. In the UK, for example, you are legally allowed to drive when you are 17 years old but you might not be able to rent a car until you are 25. Different car rental companies have different age limits on their car hiring rules. As well as your age, another aspect that is taken into consideration is how long you have held your license for. Certain car hire companies might be reluctant to hire a car out to someone who has only passed their test a week ago. Also if you have points on your license or driving offences against your name you may also have slight difficulty in finding a car hire company.

There are two main types of car hire companies; the first group being one that own all of the cars that they are using for rental purposes, this is known as a 'fleet.' The second type is companies who operate on what's known as a broker model. These companies have commercial agreements with car hire companies to provide access to their fleet of cars. Whatever your type of car hires company you will more than likely be required to use a credit card when paying your car rental fees. The reason behind this is for security reasons because you can use a credit card payment to track someone if they decide to steal the rental car or if any damage is found on the rental car upon return.

The rental fees that you pay vary depending on factors such as how long you are renting the car for and what type of car you are renting. The more expensive the car model is that you are renting the more fees you will have to pay to.

You can rent a car for such things as waiting to get your car repaired or replaced or for use if you are planning a weekend getaway. Whatever the need, make sure that you make use of a company who have experience within that car rental business.

Helen is the web master of CarContractsUK, experts in all areas of Car Hire. Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Cox