I'm-likely-to-crash-the-car guide to car rental

"I’m-likely-to-crash-the-car," Guide to Car Rental

Hiring a vehicle for the holidays? Looking to get away and don’t want to shell out a packet when you get home? This is a quick guide from someone in the car rental industry, to help you avoid shelling out a packet, after your gleeful escapade.

"I’m going away for the Christmas and New Year break. I need to hire a car – so I’ll just pop down to the my favourite car hire place and the boys will look after me – after all I’ve been their regular some several years now and they’ll look after me…" If this is you then you are about to make a BIG mistake. This guide will dispel this and force you to think again about your car hire.

Vehicle hire companies lease you a huge hunk of metal of four wheel valued anywhere between $20 thousand and $60 thousand. It’s someone’s property and as property is nine-tenths of the law it’s important to grasp that they won’t let you off lightly, if you take it casually, and crash their cars. It’s never an element of trust and always a legally binding contract.

What surprises me most of all, from my experience as a car hire salesman, is that few people get a copy of the rental contract and read it. I have seen just two people come and get a copy of it and I’ve been there for two years! When you hire a vehicle you are signing a CONTRACT. It means you are bound by the rules and some would shock you like:

- You are required to take a blood test, proving that you are not under the influence of alcohol and drugs, whilst driving and

- You authorize the car company to charge for any amounts to recover costs for damage, fines and offences; at any time.

These are two examples. Do everyone a favour and go into the car office or get them to fax or email you a legible copy of the car hire contract.

The car firms use credit cards for -

- Proof that the hirer is a credit worthy individual and a valuable customer

- Recovering losses that are inflicted by lazy drivers.

There is a move underway in the industry rejecting, "Debit / Credit Cards." These are new cards, issued by the banks, that mean that you have funds in the bank – you cannot overdraw on these debit / credit card combinations. Having a functioning credit card means that a credit check has been run against you; the debit cards are seen by the car firms simply as a saving account and nothing more. The credit card must also be in your name and not anyone else’s.

A bond ( in jargon - a pre-authorisation ) is always run against your credit card.

- A pre-authorisation is simply an amount held against your honour card. It lasts a few days and is refunded automatically. Used for short term rentals.

- Sometimes the bond is a charged because the bond outlasts the term of a pre-authorisation. This is for long-term car leases. It is held, then refunded to you, if the car is returned in good nick.

The bond is the immediate way for firms to recover losses and proves to the firm you are a good, frugal hirer and a valuable client.

Contrary to popular belief no car hire company sells insurance. The term is used loosely for people who can’t understand English. Car firms sell COVERAGE.

Coverage is –

- An in-house way of selling reduced liability in the event of collision or single vehicle accidents

- Is usually about $10 -$20 and is an optional extra

- Check that your credit card offers coverage. If it does then reject this in-house add-on.

Check also what and how the car firms’ coverage works before you hire the vehicle. If you are an indolent traveler you may wish to take it.

A single vehicle accident is-

- When you drive the car into a post, a tree or anything that is not a vehicle.

- Has a very high payout as car hire companies rely on the safe driving of the vehicle

- If another vehicle dents the car and then drives off, without you having the opportunity of getting the other driver’s details, then although two cars are involved it is classed as a single vehicle accident.

Make sure that you grasp the details for specific types of accidents and how you are implicated in the contract. You might want to hire from a firm that covers for single vehicle accidents, or you will shell out a pretty packet, if one occurs.

Check the amount of kilometers that you get. Some firms, in big countries like Australia, offer unlimited kilometers and others do not. Check distance and travel free of distance outlays.

No car firm covers for malicious damage –

- This is when a hooligan smashes a window or runs a key down the duco. Make sure that you store the car correctly as you will pay full cost for malicious damage.

Many people lose control when they damage cars. Why? They have not bothered to understand the details and so assume that they are going to be charged for anything and everything. Conflict is high in car rental firms

- Call the firm if you notice anything has happened to the car. This way you are being a responsible citizen and will be treated favourably. Never cover it up

- Remain polite, listen to the car salesman and understand the fine print. You will be treated leniently and might not even be charged

- Don’t carry on, jump up and down and treat people with disrespect when hiring a car, it only lead to more costs usually against your legally binding contract

It is common sense; treat people how you would like to be treated and you will discover that it is not all that bad.

I hope I have covered the basics of hiring a car, with this article, pointing you to a happy car hire experience for Christmas and New Year. Print this article out, call the car hire company before you hire and get a copy of that blessed contract.

Happy, Safe and Joyous driving!