Rental car services have previously had a bad reputation for being insufferable and not having many options. Today, their reputation has changed for the better, but people might still hear horror stories and be reluctant to rent a car unless they absolutely have to. Keep reading for tips for finding your ideal rental car service so you can have the best experience possible.
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Know What You Want Beforehand
It is not a good idea to wait until you get to the rental office before deciding what you want to drive. It is recommended to have specifics for the car that you want, and things that you are willing to compromise on, then go shopping around for the car that you will be using during your travels. Look on rental websites and see what they currently have in stock. If a rental place has a car you like, you will want to reserve it right then and there, as you may get to your destination only to find that the car has been rented by someone else. Make sure that the rental place allows you to reserve your car for the dates that you need.
Know What Is Expected of You
Not all rental places are the same, which is why you need to know what you are responsible for while you are renting the car. While the terms and conditions of any agreement are long and tedious, they are something that you absolutely need to know. Are you responsible for damages to the car if you get in an accident, or are you going with a company that makes sure that every car is fully insured? If you are going with the former, get the insurance. You may not think you need it, and that might be true, but it is far better to have the insurance and not need it than need the insurance and not have it.
Realize That It Is Not Just a Rental
Think about what kind of car you will be driving and who it might belong to. Some companies, like Avail, use a mix of their own cars and cars that people will loan to the company to be driven while they are not using it. If you are using one of these services, even if the car is insured, it is best to treat it like your own car. Just because your car is a rental does not mean that you are given permission to be reckless with it. If you were to loan your car out to someone, you would expect it back in one piece. Treat the owner of the rental car with the same courtesy.
Rental cars are indispensable, especially to people who constantly travel or who need a car while their own car is in the shop. Keep this article in mind the next time you go to rent a car so you know what you want, where you want to get your car from, and what your expectations will be.
