If you are planning on traveling overseas, you probably know that there is a wide range of public transportation options that you could opt to use. However, if you’re searching for something convenient that’ll allow you to go from one place to another whenever you want, renting a car might be the best option for you.
Leasing a car in a foreign country means that you could easily explore more cities, places, attractions, and monuments, you won’t need to wait for the bus to arrive, nor will you need to pay for expensive taxi fees. Instead, you can simply hop into the leased car and go wherever you want.
However, if you never rented a car before, you may be wondering – are there some things that I must remember before opting for a specific vehicle? Well, to put it simply, there are quite a lot of things that you’ll want to think about and do. Let’s take a close look at the key things you must know:
1. Your Credit Card Might Come With Insurance
When you hire any vehicle, you’ll probably be offered an insurance policy that comes with a high price tag – which will usually cost you from 10 to 30 dollars each day. However, you might not need it at all, especially since some of the larger credit cards provide insurance on renting a vehicle – free of charge.
Hence, before you buy the insurance from the car rental company, ensure that you ask your bank about whether or not your credit card will cover it. Some might have limited coverage, while others might not cover the damages at all. So, you’ll want to call your bank and check since it will allow you to save a lot of money.
2. Additional Drivers Cost More
Even if all the people traveling with you are over 25, you’ll probably need to pay a fee for every driver registered when you lease the vehicle you want. Hence, you should think and determine how many drivers you’ll need in order to lower the additional costs you would have. If you are planning on driving for hours on end, it might wise to have two drivers.
3. Younger Drivers Will Need to Pay More
If you are under 21, it is possible that some car rental companies won’t allow you to get a vehicle. Additionally, if they do allow you to get a car, you’ll definitely end up paying quite a lot, and you’ll be obligated to pay for the insurance plan, no matter if your credit card covers it or not.
4. Avoid Unpaved Routes
You might miss on all the small details in your policy when talking to the company representative, however, there is one thing that you’ll surely want to remember – most businesses forbid the drivers to use the wheels on highways and paths that are not paved. Hence, you’ll want to stick to the beaten track instead of going on off-road trips that might damage the car, resulting in incredibly high fees that you won’t want to pay.
5. Before Returning The Car, Refill The Tank
According to the experts from fmnrent, you should always stop at a gas station and fill up the tank before you return the car to the business that owns it. Why? Well, besides most of the companies requiring a full tank when the vehicle is returned, you can ensure that you do not end up paying a fee if you do not fill it up.
6. Avoid Getting it at an Airport
If you choose to lease a car at the airport, you’ll definitely pay an incredibly high fee that will surely take a big portion of your budget. Hence, you’ll want to take a bus or taxi to the car rental company in order to avoid paying for the fee that usually does not come with a low price tag.
7. Consider The Size of The Car
If you are planning on traveling with four people, you’ll want to get a larger vehicle, especially since you’ll need more space for the luggage and equipment that you might be carrying with you. So, before you choose the first car that looks appealing to you, consider how much space you’ll need for your travel companions, luggage, as well as any extra equipment such as camping gear that you might be carrying with you.
8. You Can Save Cash By Bringing Your Own Accessories
Do you know that companies often charge extra for car accessories such as a GPS system and a car seat? Yup, they will charge you extra for using these items, which is why you might want to consider bringing your own since you’ll be lowering the expenses you’ll have. So, you should carry your own accessories with you and ask the company representatives to remove their own from the car before they give you the keys.
9. Pictures, Pictures, And More Pictures
One of the things that you’ll definitely want to do is take pictures of the car’s exterior and interior before you actually drive it. Doing so will ensure that you do not get charged for any damages that might have occurred before you leased it, so, before driving off, take the pictures. Additionally, it might be wise to do it in front of the representative in order to let them know that you know what you are doing.
10. Ensure That Your License is Valid
Last, but not least important is ensuring that you can use your driver’s license in a foreign country. This is especially true because different countries have different rules, hence, ensure that you do some digging. You should also get familiar with the driving rules and regulations in order to avoid paying for a fee if you do something wrong.
Conclusion
As you were able to learn, there are various things that you’ll need to do and consider before simply choosing a car and renting it. And, by following all of the aforementioned tips, you’ll be able to ensure that you get the best services – and vehicle – for the price you’ll be paying for it.
Hence, now that you know what are some of the things that you need to consider, you should not lose any more of your time. Instead, you should start browsing car rental companies in the country you are planning on visiting and then determine which one might suit your needs, requirements, and budget.
