Things to look for in a car rental
With lots of people living in well-connected cities, especially those close to the CBD, owning a car doesn’t always make sense. Good public transport systems and renting a car when needed can make better economic and environmental sense, when you take into consideration the costs of buying, servicing, repairing, maintaining, insuring and fuelling a car.
Interestingly, when most city-dwellers rent a car, it’s not to drive for hundreds of kilometres or to go around Australia. More often than not, it’s to stay within a short distance of home, usually 50 kilometres or less and they only want the car for a few days. The same goes for those who need a short-term replacement if their normal mode of transport is out of action for a period of time.
Then there’s people flying into cities who prefer to drive themselves around for the few days they need to conduct their business. They just want a quick, no-fuss car rental that they can pick up and leave at the airport and won’t be clocking up much mileage.
So if you’re expecting to rent a car sometime in the near future, here’s a few tips for making the whole process run smoothly.
Book ahead
To secure a vehicle for your timeframe, it’s always advisable to book ahead. There’s little point in turning up at a rental company and hoping for a car only to find that everything has already been booked and there’s nothing left. So always book ahead, either by calling well in advance or booking online.
Familiarise yourself with the vehicle
When you’re renting a car, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with it before driving out of the lot. Little things like locating the headlights and high beam, how to operate the air-conditioning, and how to reposition the seats and mirrors can all be frustrating if you don’t check them out before hitting the road.
Read the paperwork
Most rental companies go through the paperwork with you and answer your questions before you leave the lot. However, make sure you read the paperwork yourself so that you aren’t faced with any unwelcome surprises. For example, knowing who to call if you breakdown or have an accident can be vital information. You also need to know about their insurance policies and any excess costs you may need to pay and under what circumstances.
Inspection the condition
Taking a thorough look at the condition of the car is crucial before driving off. Look over the car carefully for any scratches or other issues, and make sure these are already recorded on the paperwork. If they aren’t, add them and get the rental company to sign off on these amendments.
Check the fuel
Always check the fuel gauge before driving away, locate the fuel cap (so you know which side to pull up at a petrol station) and what type of fuel is required. A small tip: Most cars have an arrow pointing to which side the fuel cap is located with an arrow next to the fuel indicator on the dash. Also confirm whether you need to return the vehicle with a full tank of petrol and if so, ask them for the location of the closet petrol station. This makes it a quick drive from filling up to returning the car.
Don’t go off the road
Unless you have hired a vehicle that’s designed to go off road and confirmed this intention with the rental company, don’t drive off-road. Most cars are designed for driving on sealed roads so off-road driving may result in additional towing and cleaning costs. It may also violate the terms of your insurance, if the vehicle is damaged.
After all is said and done, renting a car is a very quick and painless process. Just make sure that you understand the paperwork, familiarise yourself with the car, ask the right questions and book early!