Renting a car is a common practice when you go on a trip and want to travel without a hassle in the country of destination.
But in order not to face problems and inconveniences when renting a car, you must take into account the following 6 things before car rental.
Renting a car is always a good alternative when you go on a trip and want to enjoy greater autonomy in the destination country.
But if you are not used to carrying out this type of procedure, it is normal that you block yourself in the first steps. In addition, it is necessary to know the details of the car rental process so as not to make mistakes that can be expensive.
Studying the details of the insurance offered by the rental company, checking if the rate includes fuel, or notifying in advance if you need an additional service are several of the aspects that you should take into account before signing the car rental contract.
6 things you have to do before renting a car
Here are 6 things you should know before renting a car for your vacation:
Be careful with the insurance
The law stipulates that car rental must include insurance. However, these policies often have very little coverage.
Before starting to rent the car, talk carefully with the company about the circumstances that the insurance covers. It is highly recommended that you protect yourself against theft or damage that is not reflected in the document, for example, a possible accident in the windshield.
If you have a problem that is not covered by the insurance, you may end up facing the economic amount of the repair, so pay special attention to this point.
Check if the rate includes fuel
Another aspect that is not usually watched closely, but that is necessary to know. There are rental rates that include fuel and others that do not. Depending on your circumstances, you may be interested in one or another possibility.
In any case, it is advisable to ask if it is not reflected in the contract since in some cases the user is obliged to pay the cost of the full tank even if the tank is not going to be emptied. On these occasions, the driver does not receive back the proportional part of the gasoline that he has not used.
Do you need additional service? Notify in advance
It is possible that on your trip you need several services that are not included in the original contract. In these cases, you should check if it is possible to add them and the surcharge that you will have to pay.
Child seats, portable WiFi, or carrying snow equipment will be an extra cost. In addition, if you want to return the car to a different place to the one where it was collected, you will also pay an extra.
You can’t rent a car if you are too young
Another point that everyone who wants to rent a car for the holidays does not think about. If you are too young you will not be able to carry out this procedure. The minimum age to rent is usually between 21 and 15 years, depending on the company in which you hire this service. With 18 years of age or with a recently approved driver’s license, they most likely will not allow you to rent.
Be careful with the possible sanctions that can be imposed
If you get a traffic ticket, the company could apply an extra charge. In addition, if you smoke inside the car or generate any damage, it is also possible that you pay an extra if the contract considers it that way.
For all this, it is important to know the traffic signs and road safety regulations in the destination country. Another question to investigate is whether in the city you are going to visit you can park for free or the fee you must pay for parking on certain streets.
Finally, remember to leave the car in the stipulated place and at the set time. Otherwise, they could also apply for a surcharge.
Driving through the city
If you want to drive through the main cities of Europe, you must bear in mind that there are also certain rules that you must know before simply arriving. For example, within the Historic Center of London, you must pay a toll called a congestion charge, while in Venice you can not drive in the same city. In other cities, there is a regulation that regulates the hours of passage in certain streets and controls it with hidden cameras.
