Car
Hire in Australia & New Zealand- Tips for
a Hassle Free Car Rental
Travelling around Australia
or New Zealand can be a whole lot of fun by
renting a car. There are 1000's
of rental places and 100's of cars to choose
from. How do you know which where to hire and
which car to go for, well...simple, follow these
simple steps and you will enjoy the whole experience.
1. Make a reservation at least one
week in advance.
"It tends to be the earlier the better
— just like with the airlines," Rebello
explained. "As the booking pace increases,
the rates can go up...." While booking
earlier doesn't always guarantee a price break
(during peak travel seasons, for instance),
you're more likely to come out ahead. Additionally,
some rental car companies will offer a discount
if you make your reservation online.
Find out about the company's cancellation policy
when you make your reservation. Specifically,
you want to know whether there is a cancellation
charge and how much advance notice is required
to avoid heavy penalties.
2. Choose a company based on rates,
vehicle availability and service.
If you're a frequent traveler, you know that
the major rental car companies have special
programs that qualify repeat customers for discounts,
greater choice of vehicles and faster service.
For those who travel only occasionally, however,
it's a good idea to compare rates based on the
type of car you want (mid-size, full-size, SUV
and the like) and the location and dates of
your trip. Although the major companies have
largely homogeneous rental car fleets, if you
want a specific model (a Toyota or Ford, for
example), check on its availability before you
make a reservation. And if you're seeking an
exotic car or anything more luxurious than a
Audi orBMW, you'll need to call around well
in advance.
Keep in mind that vehicles rented at airports
typically incur an airport tax or surcharge
(they're in your contract). While you can avoid
this surcharge by renting your vehicle from
a non-airport location, you will usually have
to arrange your own transportation to the rental
office.
Service is another consideration: If you previously
had a pleasant experience with a company because
of their efficient service or willingness to
get you into a specific vehicle, use them again.
Smaller, independently owned companies might
be appealing because of their ultra-low rates
or the availability of hard-to-find, exotic
vehicles. You should, however, research these
companies thoroughly before handing over your
credit card. Find out what kind of roadside
assistance the company offers — if the
rental vehicle breaks down, you don't want to
be in the position of having to pay for towing
out your own pocket. In addition, make sure
that you plan around the company's operating
hours. "Some [smaller companies] are not
open 24 hours, so if you have a late flight,
you might not be able to pick up the car when
you want it," Rebello said.
3. Should you buy the rental company's
insurance policies?
Rental car companies have a menu of insurance
policies that they would like to sell you. While
in theory, each policy could be of some benefit
under the right circumstances, you should review
each plan (and all of its provisions, limitations
and exclusions) before making a purchase. You'll
need to request this information over the phone
or at the rental office, as the major companies
only provide a summary on their Web sites.
Rental car companies generally offer liability
coverage in two parts — a supplemental
liability policy protects against claims from
others and a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) covers
the rental car. LDW isn't insurance per se;
rather, it's a company's agreement not to hold
a consumer liable for loss from all or part
of any damage to merchandise (though it's an
agreement that you must buy). The advantage
in both cases, of course, is that your own insurer
never has to know about any incident that might
involve you and your rental car (provided the
damage doesn't exceed the limits of the rental
company's policy).
"If you're renting for a couple of days
as a business traveler or a few days to a week
as a vacationer, it's a good idea," Rebello
said. If you have a long-term rental, however,
you'll probably find that the rental company's
coverage becomes too expensive.
In most cases, your own auto insurance policy
applies to rental cars, as well. That is, you
should still have protection against bodily
injury and property damage claims from others
while you are driving a rental car — and
should the rental car be damaged, vandalized
or stolen, that would be covered, as well. We
say most, because it's important to consult
your policy and/or your insurance agent to verify
coverage. This is especially important if you're
going to rent a high-end car that exceeds the
value of your insured vehicle.
Assuming that your insurance is in order (and
leaves no assets exposed), there should be no
need to purchase additional liability coverage
since you're already paying a hefty premium
every six months. However, if you've had a recent
string of unfortunate vehicular mishaps and/or
you know that you can't afford a premium hike
(or worse), it could make sense to purchase
extra coverage from a rental car company for
peace of mind.
4. Put all additional drivers in the
rental contract.
Whenever you let someone not included in the
rental contract drive the vehicle, you risk
voiding the contract. And Rebello warned, "Claims
against the company's insurance coverage —
and even your own personal insurance coverage
— may be compromised."
So swallow the added fees and put everyone
in the contract. Most companies won't charge
extra for your spouse, but you should ensure
that his or her driving privileges are provided
for in the contract.
5. Pre-pay or refuel it yourself?
Rental companies generally offer you the option
of either paying for a tank of gas in advance
(at a self-serve rate) and bringing the vehicle
back empty or refueling it yourself. While the
pre-pay option is certainly cheaper than returning
the vehicle empty and paying the higher surcharge
amount in the contract (per gallon), there is
no guarantee that it will always be cheaper
than refueling the car on your own. So, plan
accordingly — if you know that you won't
be using a full tank (250-300 miles), don't
use the pre-pay option.
6. Inspect the vehicle thoroughly before
you leave the lot.
Since you could be held responsible for any
damage to a rental car (beyond "normal
wear-and-tear"), you should take a walk-around
with the sales agent before driving off. Inspect
the vehicle for existing dents, scratches and
other damage, and make sure that anything you
find is noted in the contract.
7. Stick to the contract's terms.
If there are mileage restrictions in your contract
(and there often are), stay within them in order
to avoid post-rental penalties. Further, you
should steer clear of any restricted activities
— putting snow chains on the tires, towing
a trailer, off-roading, transporting people
or property for hire, driving in Mexico (if
the vehicle was rented in the U.S. or Canada)
and the like — as they could jeopardize
insurance coverage for any damage sustained
by the rental vehicle. This applies specifically
to insurance purchased from the rental company,
but failure to adhere to the company's rules
could complicate dealings with your own insurer,
as well.
8. What if the vehicle breaks down?
Major companies usually provide roadside assistance.
Look at your contract — it should include
instructions and a toll-free number.
9. What if the vehicle is damaged?
If your rental car is involved in an accident,
most companies will require you to come to the
rental office to file an accident report. Read
your contract — you're usually required
to file a report within a certain amount of
time. Many companies will want a police report,
as well, particularly if it was a major accident.
Check your contract to see when this is required
(if you're confident that you weren't at fault,
it's definitely to your advantage to get a police
report). All of this applies as well if your
rental vehicle is vandalized or stolen.
If your vehicle is damaged while in the care
of a hotel's (or restaurant's) valet parking
attendants, you'll need to work things out with
the hotel before filing a report with the rental
company. A cool head and a police report should
get you through these situations with minimal
aggravation.
10. Return your rental car on time.
Since car rental rates run on a 24-hour clock,
you will incur extra charges even if you're
only an hour late in returning a vehicle. The
hourly rental rate is usually one-third of the
daily rate, so if you're three to four hours
late, you've tacked on another day's charges
to the total bill.
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