Renting a car has become a standard for millions of travelers. They prefer renting a car rather than owning one for their voyages. The Department of Leisure Travel confirms that the year 2023 has had over 40 million users of car rentals. The data manifest the choice of tourists, showing that car rentals are a dime a dozen.
Benefits of Car Rentals
With the advent of car rentals, vacationers continue to reap benefits. Let’s look at them one by one.
1. Freedom & Flexibility
Freedom is the number one advantage that holidaymakers seek. You are not at work, you are not checking emails, you are not attending meetings, and most of all, you are not seeing the same faces. It is the kind of freedom you want. Furthermore, do you know what is the icing on the cake in this scenario? Car rentals offer a self-drive service that you can avail to intensify your freedom, which brings us to the flexibility factor. The self-drive service is among the flexible services of car rentals. You have a holiday schedule that you can follow, allowing you to take your rented car anytime you want, anywhere you want.
2. Cheap & Cheerful
Another benefit of car rentals is the fact that they are budget-friendly. Car rental companies accommodate you with different slots of cars. That is the combined might of cheapness and cheerfulness. If you wish to book a sedan, irrespective of its type, you can get it inexpensively. On top of that, you can get it the way you desire. Professional car rental companies make room for customization options.
3. Luxury & Comfort
The car you rent will be luxurious and comfortable. You can drive with pleasure in a car packed with state-of-the-art features and technology. Pick a car of your taste and style. Then, you can relish the accessories that come with it, such as GPS, Bluetooth, and video screens.
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Dos and Don’ts of Car Rentals
Although car rentals are beneficial for tourism, there are some things that you should avoid. The appropriate practice of renting a car requires knowledge and sharpness.
To give you an idea, here are some dos and don’ts of car rentals.
1. Do Advance Booking
Booking in advance is crucial for a smooth car rental process. When you reserve a car before the travel date, it gives an edge to your overall journey. By booking in advance, the company will not charge you extraordinarily. Many car rental companies are lenient in their rates if you arrive with a reservation.
Generally, you will get a 10 to 15 percent discount for renting your preferred automobile. Moreover, the booking will save you from airport hassles, letting you skip long queues and paperwork. Ultimately, you will derive additional benefits like gaining loyalty cards, hiring drivers, and availing more mileage.
2. Do Select the Right Vehicle
Selecting the right vehicle depends on your liking for the wheels. In a mundane scene, tourists go for MPVs because this large, tall car has versatile seating options. If you have a family of elderly members, an MPV is the right vehicle for you.
Let’s reverse the case and talk about sedans. These are four-door automobiles with enclosed seating, and adventurers adore sedans due to their fuel efficiency. Apart from fuel efficiency, the structure of sedans is unproblematic, enabling passengers to enter and exit effortlessly compared to MPVs and SUVs. Again, it all amounts to your needs, preferences, and circumstances.
3. Do Check For Damage
Have you ever considered the possibility of preexisting damage in your rented car? Maybe, or maybe not. Nonetheless, checking for damage should be a customary practice for all wanderers. As someone who fancies traveling, your wanderlust is your backbone, and this wanderlust is prone to decrease if your car is in poor condition.
Upon returning the car, the company might hold you responsible. Even if the car looks flawless, run an inspection. Check for signs of dents, dings, and scratches. Do not forget to examine your car’s interior, including the speed meter, gear lever, pedals, seat adjustments, rearview mirror, and tidiness. Luckily, car rental companies are well-connected with car maintenance or PDR companies that repair and renovate their cars.
4. Don’t Rent from an Unlisted Company
The business of car rentals has expanded quite rapidly. Consequently, countless unlisted or unregistered companies have slipped into the market. These companies are devoid of license and customer service. Unlicensed companies are illegal and fraudulent, preying on clients to take their money with exploitative terms. Since unlisted companies center upon moneymaking, they do not entail professional customer care.
Unlisted companies put you in a dangerous situation. There is a likelihood of questions from officers of the law. They might inquire you regarding your access to the unlisted company. This inquiry can jeopardize your record and impose restrictions. Therefore, be mindful and ensure that the car rental company is listed and licensed.
5. Don’t Overlook the Insurance
Reach out to your insurance agency before renting a car. Usually, car rental companies have their insurance that they will try to sell you. Followed by an insurance advertisement, they will persuade you to buy their insurance so the company can cover you in case of an accident. However, it is in your best interest to avoid buying their insurance. If you already have auto insurance, it is uncalled for you to buy their insurance.
Thanks to rental companies’ convincing skills, several sightseers buy their insurance. Altogether, calling your insurance agent is an ideal solution for this dilemma. The agent’s suggestion will assure the safety of your finances.
6. Don’t Ignore the Limitations
Car rental companies have rules and regulations. Various wild voyagers pursue exciting escapades. They tend to take no notice of the car rental company’s standards, leading to traffic violations. In addition to traffic violations, voyagers endanger their lives and crash their vehicles.
In light of the expectation of life endangerment, car rental companies have set limitations for safe driving. Also, companies are strict in their policies related to age, driving license, driving experience, traffic offense, and criminal record. These factors determine your worth as a driver, and companies can assess you for your driving skills, civic sense, and law obedience.
Conclusion
Car rentals are helpful when it comes to travel and exploration. You can bump into car rental companies that are facilitating from all sides. On the other hand, you can come across questionable companies. That is where you must be on guard and avoid potential squandering.
In the end, recreate yourself and cross-check the protocols of car rental companies. Your decision will not only affect you but also your fellow tourists.
Halley Jones
Writer and guest author with a passion for crafting engaging and informative articles on a variety of topics. In my spare time, you can find me hiking, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, or curled up with a good book.