Following my recent post about car hire here I have kept my eyes open for anything else that I can suggest to the unwitting car hirers out there. I’m not saying it’s a regular occurrence, but it is possible to get stung by car rental companies if you don’t make practical decisions. It’s worth considering that the veil between you and the company is something that will affect them just as much. If you were to have an accident with the car that left no visible marks they can be left second guessing. An early remedy for this is to cut out the middle man and go straight to a company that you can trust.
It’s very easy to accept a full package from a travel broker, but it’s very rare that you’ll end up being handled with any sort of care when you end up on your holiday. The friendly, well dressed assistant in the shop is literally thousands of miles away when you land in a strange new world, and the cohesion between companies (airlines, taxis, car rental, hotels, activity agents) is rarely as smooth as your itinerary would have you believe.
So we’ve covered the basics – plan ahead, check your numbers, read the small print and try to make sensible decisions. If you know where you’re going try to stay specific with the area you’re dealing with. If you’re going to Portugal then go to a page that deals specifically with car hire Portugal. One thing you MUST avoid is generic numbers. Any quote you get for an “area” can change without a seconds notice. Make clear your location, get a reference number, and stick to your guns.
Comparecarhire.co.uk released a small article this morning outlining one particular danger of renting a car: damages. If there are any bumps or scrapes on the bodywork of the car this is something that should be made note of in the paperwork. The article suggests that in one case a customer was charged 450euros for damages that he had not caused himself. In this particular case he was able to recover the money that was charged to his credit card, but the advice is to get photographic documentation of the vehicle before taking it back to the broker. This way you’re all on the same page.
Don’t be afraid of car rental. It’s one of the most effective ways of travelling in a place you’re unfamiliar with especially if you’re only there for a short period of time (the two factors that tend to make us think of a place as a holiday destination). You can avoid the hustle and bustle of public travel: which is difficult enough to get on with when you DO understand the procedures involved, and you can travel to your own timetable. Just be careful with your money, and be sensible with your decisions.