About Car Rentals

Car Guru asked:


Q. Why take a ‘driving holiday’?

A. A drive holiday gives you the freedom and flexibility to decide on where you travel and what you see and do. You are in charge of how much time you wish to spend at a particular attraction. You have the independence to move around as much or as little as you like. A drive holiday allows you to discover so much more as a car will allow you to drive through the little villages in out of the way places.

Q. How is car rental charged?

A. Car rental is based on 24 hour periods and charged accordingly. If you pick up a car at 9am on Thursday and return at 9am the following day, this is one 24 hour period and therefore a one day booking.

Q. Is it cheaper to pre-book my car rental or should I book when I arrive?

A. Pre-booking will save you money almost every time! With a wholesaler like DriveAway Holidays, you receive the benefit of our purchasing power. Our prices with the major car rental suppliers are considerably lower than walking in off the street in a foreign country to rent a car. In addition you are pre-paying in Australian dollars so the risk of fluctuations in the currency are reduced.

Q. How does a prepaid rental work?

A. The booking is made in advance, paid for and a voucher is issued. The voucher is then used as payment when you go to pick up the car from the supplier.

Q. What additional extras will I have to pay?

A.  It depends on what the rental covers. DriveAway Holidays in most cases include all mandatory charges, like road taxes or airport surcharges. Many optional charges are applicable such as young or additional drivers, Insurance Excess Reduction or extra equipment like child seats. Be sure to check out rate inclusions – first when you are choosing your vehicle online and when you have made your booking (the inclusions will be on your voucher)

Q. What happens when I pick up the car?

A. Present the rental voucher, a valid drivers license and a credit card for a security deposit. Any additional charges will be explained as well as the conditions of the rental. A signature will be required to accept or decline additional charges and to acknowledge that the rental conditions are understood.

Q. What does the supplier do with the renters credit card?

A. It varies depending on the supplier – they may freeze a specific amount as a deposit, an imprint may be taken as a deposit or an amount may be charged to cover the security deposit and then refunded on the return of the vehicle. In some instances the bond can be paid in cash – check with the supplier/broker when you book.

Q. Will there be fuel in the vehicle?

A. Yes, there should be enough to get you on your way. Different companies have different policies regarding fuel – most will supply a full tank and require the car to be returned with a full tank of fuel, otherwise the renter is charged the difference. Some companies provide minimum fuel and is to returned as the renter wishes.

Q. What is a Pre-Paid Fuel Option?

A. Most car rental companies provide a full tank of fuel and will charge you for re-fuelling the vehicle if it is not returned with a full tank. By accepting a Pre-paid fuel option you are agreeing to pay a pre-determined price for fuel regardless of whether you return the vehicle with a full, partially full or empty tank. This means you won’t need to search for a petrol station before you return the car, but there is no refund for any fuel remaining in the tank.

Q. Should I check out the condition of the rental car before driving away?

A. Yes, it is a good idea to check the vehicle before you leave the depot. Any damage or unusual dents/scratches should be noted on the contract before leaving.

Look out for our 2nd part of car rental FAQs!



Marian

Trevor asked:


Hertz has a new commercial about its 10 minute guarantee. There is a blond guy standing next to his surfboard who the Hertz renter in the Mustang convertible drives by. I know I have seen this dude in a movie or something and cannot remember where.

Juan

Car Guru asked:


I get paid to sell self-drive holidays to Australians, to encourage them to take to the open roads and explore new territory behind the wheel of a rental car. I have a confession to make. I can’t actually drive.

 

Now I haven’t deliberately kept this from my employer, it wasn’t mentioned in my interview nor was it in my job description alongside having excellent communication skills, the ability to work as part of a team or to meet deadlines in a fast paced working environment. It was neither an essential nor desirable attribute.

 

I have never lied about it, but I do avoid voluntarily giving out this information about myself. I’m almost 25 for goodness sake! Kids I used to babysit have got in the driver’s seat before me. I guess I just haven’t got around to it in 7 years. I’m used to the convenience of city living and not needing to be able to drive.

 

So while I am cruising comfortably on my P plates in my car rental marketing career, I have yet to get my Learners licence to drive. The irony of the situation was pointed out to me at a recent industry function when I was talking to a marketing guru from an airline. He asked me what kind of car I drove and I said quietly that, actually, I can’t drive. “What!” he exclaimed “You work for a car rental company and you can’t drive?!” True. But, I said to him, you work for an airline, can you fly a plane?

 

You see, what I try to market or sell is not driving. We don’t sell the idea of jumping into a rental car, the exhilaration of putting the key in the ignition, turning on the engine and…well, whatever it is that comes next.

 

No, we try to sell the idea of freedom, the thought of having independence and flexibility on holidays, exploring new places, making memories and having a good time. We try to inspire people to visit places off the beaten track and discover new things.

 

So does it actually matter that I can’t drive? Do you think dog food marketers have actually tasted what they’re selling? Exactly.

 

I have travelled around the world and I have been in cars lots of times, often simultaneously, so I know the feeling of having the wind in your hair, good music in your ears and a smile on your face. I know the excitement of visiting new and foreign lands and the joy of travelling around, not being in a cramped Greyhound bus or overcrowded non-air conditioned train.

 

I have just been in the passenger’s seat, not the driver’s, that’s all.

 

Having said all that, I know that I need to learn to drive. Will I finally take the plunge and learn? Yes, most definitely, in part to aid my copywriting, to gain independence and well, to see what all the fuss about.

 

Yes, there’s all that and also that promise that my partner made about getting a shiny new Yaris when I do finally get my license. Now that is an incentive to learn.



Annette

flip asked:


I’m looking to record a note that is 100 hertz specifically, probably with a synth or an old organ.

Lucille

Jeff Revs asked:


I do not have any car insurance right now. I am planning to get a car rental for a month. Do I need to get some insurance for this? What happens if cop pulls me up will rental agreement be sufficient?

Kelly

hedonist asked:


I have credit cards which say they cover me for rental car insurance when I use the card to make the full payment for the rental. How does that work? Are there any catches? Does it make sense for me to get the additional insurance from the rental agency (like Avis)? If I am in an accident, will the Credit Card insurance cover everything or will it also be charged to my regular car insurance company?

April

Car Guru asked:


As the population in Australia gets older, the problem of renting a car both in Australia and overseas becomes more of an issue. Most car companies will have some kind of restriction if the older generation is looking to rent a vehicle. Whilst you may think that as someone that has been driving for 50 years or more, car rental companies can see you as a major risk to their asset

The Senior Driver Surcharge is payable by senior drivers over &/or between a specific age. This depends on country and/or car rental company. It is just the same as our car insurance companies here in Australia charge a higher premium if you have a driver aged 21 years on the insurance.

The reason why it is charged is because the car rental company sees senior drivers as high risk and they get charged a premium to have senior drivers covered by their insurance company. However, other car rental companies just restrict the driving age so they don’t have to get additional insurance.

To give you a few examples on how it differs between suppliers, let’s take a look at Car Rental in Ireland. One car rental company has a maximum age of 74 years with no surcharge payable. Another car rental company charges a EUR29 incl Tax /day fee for drivers aged between 70-74 years. And, a third car rental company doesn’t charge a surcharge but they require additional documentation from driver’s aged between 76-79 years, as follows -

1) Note from their Insurers stating that they have not been involved in any accidents within the past 5 years.

2) Note from their doctor stating that they are in full health.

When booking your car rental, it is advisable to always be truthful of the age/s of all drivers and ask the car rental company if there are any additional conditions for senior driver’s. Failure to do so may result in you using public transport to get around on your holiday.

Car Rental brokers, such as DriveAway Holidays will be able to advise quickly as to which company is going to be able to accomodate the older driver.



Sara

Steve Manik asked:


Renting a car becomes a confusing exercise. There are so many options you can get it from a car rental firm, or which car to select or you may book it online. Nowadays there are websites that are platforms to bring leaders in car rental business like Hertz and the consumer together. You just have to fill a simple form and you can get quotes from 3-5 firms and this will give you a chance to compare prices and what each firm gives as service. To rent a car without any hassles you have to keep in mind a few points which are as follows:

a) You must decide what is your need? And how much you are willing to spend to fulfill it? You should learn the commonly used terms and their meaning like compact, mid size and luxury etc.

b) You should check car rental sites and web directories for “specials”, many firms have schemes for long term use, weeklong use and weekend deals etc. These specials are there to give you a rental discount. Find out if you will get a discount for early looking.

c) Read the offer document carefully and find out if there are any other charges over the rate agreed upon, like collision damage waiver fees; airport surcharge, drop off/collection charges, fuel charges, mileage fees, taxes, additional driver fees etc.

d) Find out if the car rental firm calculates cost based on mileage or per mile or free miles with pre-imposed limits.

e) See if your auto insurance covers car rentals. If not, does your credit card give insurance or you will have to avail auto insurance from car rental firm.

f) Find out what documents the car rental firm will require, and complete all documents well before your departure.

Be sure to ask for a confirmation in writing of your booking and what their contact numbers are on holidays.

The yellow pages has addresses and phone numbers of various car rental services each of them is listed with special customer features and models of the cars that they have. Some of the car rental agencies also offer a very convenient customer pickup service. If you are planning to pick your car yourself try to fix your car pickup and return times in such a way that you don’t have to pay extra charges.

If you are driving a few miles only, you can save money by choosing a rental with mileage cap. But unlimited mileage rates gives you more freedom. All this depends upon the purpose for which you are hiring the car. Normally all car rental agencies require that you have a driving license or a credit card.

In many circumstances renting a car for one week is more affordable than renting one few days. So think about 9-8 weekend rental to save money. Another thing you have know before renting a car is whether the company you are renting a car from has good track record and whether they are famous for good customer service.



Tina

Steve Manik asked:


You have to know that most US drivers already have auto insurance which gives full or partial protection while driving a rented car. Some insurance policies cover rented cars while some do not, some don’t cover what is called a luxury car. Check your own personal policy for its condition.

Even with all these limits your personal auto insurance will be a source of coverage should your suffer a injury while driving a rented car. The best option is to talk with your auto insurance agent before renting a car and ask the following questions – What geographical area your auto insurance policy covers you in.

How much is your deductible? Does the policy cover only values of the vehicles listed on the policy? Does your policy cover theft and collision damage?

Everyone insures his/her car. Not only because it is mandatory but because you get compensation in case of accident or loss. When you rent a car, for whatever reason. It is essential for you to buy additional insurance.

If you go to a car rental agency, it is possible to purchase a car rental insurance policy. This insurance cover is costly and may cost anything from $8-$28 per day. It all depends upon the place where you are renting the car. If the car is uninsured you will have to pay the damage to the car out of your own pocket.

The best choice is your own insurance company from which you have taken insurance. Many companies just transfer your car’s insurance to the rented car. This insurance has comprehensive and accident insurance with the same deductibles and third party coverage. This saves you from spending anything more. Some credit card companies offer CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) on certain conditions.

In case you don’t have any of the above mentioned options, it would be best to buy CDW. If you have an insurance cover it will save you the burden of a huge amount in case of damage. There is a stiff competition in the market to get the insurance purchasers money. Therefore, it is at right to find the best option before signing an agreement.

You may have the minimum level of coverage under the laws of your state, a level which might be insufficient to protect you against the risk of replacing a brand new rented vehicle or in an unfortunate situation you might have to pay an excessive personal injury claim.

In the end the decision of weather or not to buy optional extra insurance from a car rental company is yours. You should also calculate the value of car insurance and its cost. When all is said and done it is still best to have yourself and the rented car covered to save yourself a lot of harassment and financial loss. Because in case of some mishap the car insurance company will take it up and you will be saved a great financial loss. Therefore, to keep yourself safe from having to pay damages out of your money it is best to rent a car which has insurance cover.



Samantha

Charlie S asked:


If a rental car is registered in FL, and then 1 year later it ends up in CA, does the rental car company re-register the car in FL, or do they just throw the plate away and register it in the state where it happens to be when the registration expires? Registration fees vary widely from state to state so they could probably save a ton of money if they could register them in a state where the fees are low.

Jean