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So You Need To Rent A Car
from: I have been a car rental Agent at a major company for 10 years now. I know how confusing renting a car can get for those who do not travel often. Maybe this guide can help!The first step is making a reservation. This is a pretty important step, as there may be a time when you need a car and the rental companies are sold out. Also, making a reservation ahead of time almost always insures a better rate. As with any product in the travel industry, rates are based on availabilty. So, chances are the earlier you book the better deal you will get.
At the time of reservation you should be prepared to answer some simple questions:
- Dates the vehicle will be needed. Times are also important as most companies base a rental on a 24 hour clock, not calender day.
- The size car you need. Keep in mind passenger comfort, luggage and weather conditions. Chances are if there are 4 of you with luggage, a compact car isn't going to be too comfortable.
- Some companies require a credit card number to hold the reservation. Have it handy, just in case!
Also at the time of reservation, you may want to ask if there are any discounts offered. These may include AAA, Airline certificates, etc. Many companies cannot enter a discount at the counter, so if you don't ask when making the reservation you will not get a discount.
At the end of the phone call you will be given a reservation number. SAVE THIS! Bring it with you to the counter. Computer glitches happen and this will help to find your reservation in that event.
Now you are ready to rent the car. Be sure to bring your driver's license and a credit card in your name to the counter with you! If that "credit card" you are using, happens to be a DEBIT card( A bank issued card tied to your checking account) make sure the company accepts them. These are not credit based and are not truly credit cards, so many companies do not accept them. And those that do, usually have stipulations for their use. Find out BEFORE you go to pick up your car!
Now things are going fine, you have a reservation, you are at the counter and the agent starts asking all these questions! Whoa, you were't expecting all this! How do you answer? Let's see if I can help.
1. Would you like to upgrade into ..... today? This is a common practice to offer you a larger, sportier, etc vehicle. Usually these are at discounted rates as they are trying to clear an overflow of larger vehicles. Listen to what the agent says, you may just get a great deal on that SUV you've been wanting to try!
2. Do you need the Physical Damage Waiver (Collission, Loss Damage Waiver)?- Well, maybe you do. Let's see. First let me explain what this is. It is a waiver by the rental company stating that they will not hold you responsible for damage or theft of their vehicle. By now, you're saying "Nope I have Full coverage on my vehicle". OK, fair enough, but so do I and I ALWAYS take this waiver. Why?
I do not want to pay a deductible for any car I do not own. A blown tire or cracked windshield will probably fall under that dedutable amount.
My policy doesn't cover "loss of use" a fee the rental company can legally charge you for the days the car is not rentable waiting for repairs.
I do not want my personal policy's premiums to go up for three years due to damage on a car I do not own
But my credit card cover's it! We hear this a great deal too. Well, OK, but a credit card will not cover "loss of use" either AND they will only cover what your personal policy does not. So, there go your premiums again! Do a little research. Make sure the type of car you are renting is covered, too.
3. How about Liability Insurance? This is definately on I would consult my agent on! I know at my company we offer a PRIMARY liabilty policy of up to $1 million. So, for the same reasons as the Damage Waiver, it's a great deal. However, if the company offers Secondary Liability, this means they exhaust your personal policy before theirs kicks in. Find out ahead which is offerred and talk to your agent.
4. Why are they asking things like Where am I staying, 2 phone numbers, my company name? They ask these to protect their investment. They are letting you take a car valued at minimum $15,000 off the lot! They need some sort of insurance on their end, that the car is recoverable.
5. Do I want to PREPAY the gas? Hmmm this one is a bit tricky. And totally a preference. Basically prepaying the gas means you have purchased the full tank of gas at a discounted rate. There are no rebates for unused gas, so your object is to return the car as close to empty as possible.
Benefits - Gas is cheaper per gallon, convienience (no searching for a station), quickness
Downfalls - no refunds on unused gas, may be taxed on the rental
Well, I hope I have cleared up some confusion for those who do not rent often. And for those that do, maybe I've cleared up a few misconceptions.
Yes, as a rental agent, I earn a commission on these products! However, that in no way demeans the benefits of them. They are useful products and offer a benefit to anyone who decides to purchase them. I am not telling you that you do need them, just asking are you sure you don't!
About Author
I am a car rental agent for a busy world wide company and have been for 10 years.
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