Many people travel over the holidays, and you may find that renting a vehicle to make the journey is a good choice for you. Particularly if you need to travel several hundred miles, it can be worthwhile to rent a vehicle to save the wear and tear on your daily driver. To ensure that you're not burdened with hefty fines at the conclusion of your trip, we offer some helpful do's and don'ts for your rental.
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rnInsurance
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rnBefore you leave on your trip or even rent a vehicle, check the insurance policy on your daily driver. Some policies may cover the cost of damages incurred to a rental car if you're driving it. Other policies won't. If your policy doesn't cover the costs of damages to a rental vehicle, buy the insurance from the rental company. You never know what may happen and it's better to be on the safe side.
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rnVisual inspections (a.k.a. – Cover Your Assets)
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rnInsist on performing a walk-around of the vehicle with a rep from the rental car company before accepting the vehicle. Be sure to have the rep note any body damage, tire wear or other imperfections BEFORE you leave so that when you return the vehicle, YOU'RE not held liable for them. Take photos with your cell phone before delivery for extra protection. If you have the opportunity, test drive the car around the lot before taking delivery; this gives you the chance to make sure the vehicle runs and drives as it should.
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rnStick to the schedule
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rnWhen you rent a vehicle, most rental companies require you to commit to returning the vehicle at a specific time. It's in your best interest to stick to that return time…being even a half an hour late can result in fines or late fees. Most companies will allow some leeway due to traffic or other unavoidable situations, so don't panic or speed if you're running behind but do call the company and tell them you're likely to be a few minutes late. On the other hand, if you've cut your trip short, very few (if any) rental companies will supply a refund for an early return,
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rnBuild in time for the gas station before turning the vehicle in
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rnTake the time to look at your rental contract thoroughly when you take delivery. Rental companies will charge an exorbitant amount for fuel if you return the vehicle with less than a full tank. On average, rental companies will charge between 100-200% more than the going rate for each gallon of gasoline that they need to put back in the vehicle. It's definitely worth your time to fuel up before returning!
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rnGet your junk out of the trunk
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rnBe considerate and return the vehicle in the same condition you received it, which means sans candy bar wrappers, used tissues and other general trash. No only is that the kind thing to do, if you return the vehicle with trash in it, you could receive an extra fee.
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rnTaking advantage of these tips will help to ensure you have a safe, smooth trip and no surprise fees upon your return.
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