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Cheap Car Rental Deals, Fees and Insurance

It is not a good idea to blindly rent a car without doing some research first. You could end up spending a lot of unnecessary money!

Choosing the right rental company for you is the most important decision. There are a couple of things you should think about before picking a company. Firstly, decide on the size of car you need to use, and how much you want to spend. If you determine these factors beforehand, you will probably save yourself from being pursuaded to rent something more expensive. Remember that vehicle sizes and classifications may vary between agencies. What one company considers a "compact", another may consider a "mid-size" or even "luxury".

Choosing a Rental Car Company

Before you commit to a rental comp any, do your research! Use the Internet, shop around, look at several different places and check with differentcar rental agencies to see who can give you the best deal. Make sure to ask about any special weekend or weekly rates. If your plans happen to be flexible, you may be able to save some money if you rent during a price break period. Also ask about possible blackout dates when the advertised price you may have seen is not offered.

It may be very difficult to rent a car if your driving record is less than perfect. It is a good idea to ask before reserving if the company checks the driving records of their customers. If you have made a reservation, but did not ask if driving records are checked, you may have trouble renting your car. Certain violations that are checked include seat belt law violations, accidents (no matter who is at fault) and driving with a suspended license.

Sometimes companies have hidden charges that can increase the base rate by a significant amount. Some of these charges may include Collision Damage Waiver fees (in certain states), damage deposits, airport surcharges, drop-off fees, fuel charges, mileage fees, taxes, additional driver fees, younger driver fees, out of state charges and equipment rental fees (for ski racks and child seats). It is always a good idea to ask about the cost of these extra fees before making the reservation. When renting with our independent agencies, the total pricing will tell you in advance what you will pay. That way there will be no surprises when you go to pick up your rental car.

Here is a brief explanation of some fees you should bear in mind.

A Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is an optional insurance charge that most companies will try to convince you to buy. It can cost up to $15 a day. However, it is technically not collision insurance. It is better described as a guarantee that the rental company will pay for any damage to the rental car, subject to a deductible. By declining a CDW, you accept full responsibility for all the damages inflicted on the car. A CDW does not cover personal injuries or damages to personal property. It is possible that your personal auto insurance or business insurance will cover you and the car, so it is a good idea to check with your insurance agent before purchasing the CDW coverage. Some credit card companies and motor clubs offer free rental protection when you use their cards to pay for the rental, but check to confirm what kind of coverage they provide. It is also possible for some CDWs to revoke coverage under certain circumstances, so be aware. You may not be covered if you are guilty of driving in a negligent manner, on unpaved roads, out of state, under the influence of alcohol or if a non-authorized driver was using the rental car.

Other types of insurance that you will be offered include:

Personal Accident Insurance, which costs about $3 per day, will cover a portion of your medical bills should you be hurt in an accident.

Personal Effects Coverage, which is another several dollars per day, will protect your personal belongings against damage.

A deposit or "refundable charge" may be required upon arrival. This is likely refunded once the rental vehicle is returned safely. This charge can vary greatly but is usually at least several hundred dollars. It is customary for the rental company to charge this to your credit card, but not process it unless there is a contract breach. However, this deposit may lower your credit card limit accordingly. For some companies, it may be possible to leave a cash deposit.

Charges such as airport surcharges and drop-off fees will increase the base rate by a significant amount. Airport surcharges (fees for airport use) may be avoided by renting a car from a company downtown rather than from a rental company close to the airport. Drop-off fees are sometimes applicable when you plan to drop off the car at a different location other than the one where you initially picked up the car.

It is always a good idea to ask about fuel charges. Some companies will charge you for gas by asking you to return the car empty; they will charge you more for gas than the local gas station. Therefore, it is a good idea to deal with a company that will not charge you for gas but will ask you to bring the car back full. You will more likely save money this way.

Some companies will charge you for extra mileage over a set amount. It is always a good idea to ask an agent what the mileage limit is to determine if you will exceed that amount. If that is the case, you may want to think about using a different rental company or asking for a deal on mileage costs.

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about avoiding taxes; they are determined by the state or municipality where you are renting the car. Sometimes it may be possible to avoid higher taxes in an urban location by picking up the car at a suburban location.

There is usually an extra fee for each additional driver, and sometimes a fee is added if you are an younger renter (sometimes you will be charged if you are under the age of twenty-five).

If you leave the state where you rented the vehicle, there may be an applicable charge.

For an additional charge, it is also possible to rent additional equipment, such as ski racks or car seats. Some independent rental companies will not charge for this extra equipment. It is a good idea to request them at the time you reserve the rental car.

Cheap Car Rental Ages Restrictions

You will encounter an age limit at every car rental company. The age restriction can vary between eighteen and twenty-five, but is usually twenty-five. Some companies will provide some early twentysomethings an opportunity to rent, but will charge an extra fee to those who are younger. If you are government or military personnel, you may be exempt from the age limit. However, the rental vehicle must be used for business purposes. A similar exemption may apply if you are a corporate employee who has an agreement with the rental company, and are using the rental car for business purposes. Conversely, it is also possible for some car rental companies to have an upper age limit.

Do you think your only direct rental options are with big companies? You do have choices! You can decide to use one of the larger car rental companies (such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National) or you can choose to rent online through http://www.CheapCarRental.com. Some independent car rental companies are much more flexible than large corporate international chains (such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National). The rules are made in-house by independent business people who have a vested interest in making your rental happen. There are so many rules in the car rental industry. With the big companies, the rules are set by a committee. These rules are then enforced by counter agents who have no real input in the operational policies. If you have a request that is outside the "rules", an independent agency can make the decision to "break" the rules to accommodate your needs. With the major players, their counter agents are given no flexibility.

Cheap Car Rental.com Additional Driver Tips

If you are going to need or want other people to drive your auto rental, it is necessary that you inform the rental company. You should ask them what sort of information or identification is required from the additional drivers. Your additional drivers will likely have to provide the sort of information you initially used to rent the car. If you do not have any other names stated on the rental contract, it is prudent not to let anyone else drive the rental car. Doing so could void the contract that you signed, as well as any protection or insurance you purchased.

Allowing some unlisted person to drive your rental car may even void personal insurance or any insurance provided by your credit card. This could result in serious consequences if the car has been in an accident. In an extreme case, however, the unlisted person driving the rental car could be charged with theft, if caught by the police.

Luxury Cheap Car Rental Tips

You could just get that dream luxury cheap car rental, get in and drive off. This is the biggest mistake you could possibly make. You have to inspect the car for existing damages, such as dents, scratches, and broken features. There should be an inspection form left on the dashboard to write down any damages that you discover. If you do not find one, ask for one. Check to see if any part of the interior is broken, damaged, or torn. Open the trunk to see if they included a spare tire and jack. Don't forget to check if the rental car has a full tank of gas since a cheap car rental must be returned with a full tank. After you've made a note of any damages, return the form to the attendant before taking the car. Always return the cheap car rental with a full tank of gas so you are not charged an inflated price for gasoline.

People who are negligent about inspecting damages can find themselves in trouble after returning the rental car. They will have be charged for damages they did not even cause! But since they never took the time to complete the inspection form, there is no legal way to fight these charges.

There are a few items that if damaged you can fight even if you didn't note it on the form. These are damages that were unanticipated before taking the cheap car rental. For instance, the CD player doesn't work once you try to use it; the windshield wipers are not working once the weather turns from clear to rainy. Sometimes people are in such a hurry that they have to take any vehicle that is available at the time. Here is an example: if you reserved a mid-sized cheap car rental but had to take a compact car, you should make sure that you pay the proper rate.

Upon returning the cheap rental car, ask to speak with the manager. Tell him your dissatisfaction about not receiving the car you had reserved. Point out some negatives of your cheap car rental experience. Perhaps you had to leave some things behind because you did not have enough trunk space. Maybe you could not make the additional purchases that you wanted to due to the lack of space. On the other hand, if you were forced to take a larger car, save your gas receipts and take them to the manager. Tell him approximately how much extra gasoline you had to purchase because they didn't have the specific car you requested. Don't be afraid to ask for compensation. Most managers will compensate you for your troubles, because they do not want to lose your future business.

Remember to write down the names of rude employees and any other employees present at the time. Having their names will be helpful if you want to speak to the manager about the lack of professional service.

Cheap Car Rental Accident Tips

If you are involved in an accident while driving your cheap car rental, it is imperative that you proceed to detail the accident as though you were driving your own vehicle. As you already might know, these are the most important pieces of information to collect from the involved parties: full name, mailing address, telephone number, insurance details, drivers license number. Also try to get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. Make a note of the vehicles' make, color, brand and license plate number.

Try to pinpoint the exact time and location of the accident. If the police get involved, ensure that you receive a copy of their report. Don't forget to advise your insurance agent immediately and notify the cheap car rental company; they will let you know about their accident procedure. If you purchased insurance through the car rental company, they will have to make the claim. If you are still able to drive the rental car and you choose to continue driving it, make sure that you allow a lot of time upon returning the car. If there is damage to the cheap rental car, there will be much paper work to complete.

Post Cheap Car Rental Accident Tips

If you've never been in an accident before, then you should thank your lucky stars (and insurance rates). However, if you do incidentally get into your first car accident with a cheap car rental, here are the most important things to do:

Make sure any involved parties are ok. Any injuries should be taken care of ASAP.

Call the police and/or ambulance (if necessary), and then call the car rental agency. Be as cooperative as possible. The cheap car rental agency will have its own policies regarding accidents.

Exchange information with the affected parties.

Try to record everything on the scene. Your notes should include details of the accident, identification of the autos and people involved, and the names and badge numbers of all emergency personnel. Take pictures if possible. If you are on vacation, you will probably have a camera handy already.

File an accident report with the police, and report the claim to your own credit card company or insurance company.

Who Is Responsible For The Damage? Will I Have To Dip Into Little Johnny's College Fund?
The amount of damage you are responsible for depends on what you already have covered by your existing auto/health/personal insurance policy and/or credit card and/or what you optioned to buy from the car rental agency.

Can I Get A Replacement Cheap Car Rental?
In some cases, you might be able to get a replacement car for a fee. If the accident is small, and there is no major damage, the agency might allow you to continue driving the car. What if the agency tell you to keep driving the car after a small accident? Then be very careful. Ensure that you will have a lot of time to return the car.

Having A Breakdown
Most major companies usually provide roadside assistance. Look at your rental contract - it should include instructions and a toll-free number. If you are renting from an independent agency, then check the policy on breakdowns.

I Can't Get No Satisfaction
Offer solutions or suggestions that might have made the situation better. Don't give them the tone that you'll never rent from them again. Giving such an absolute ultimatum will just make the employees and managers discard you in the "Non-returning Customer" pile. It won't open any avenues for resolution. Good things to write down are the names of the employees you dealt with (and any present employees), dates and times of encounters, car rental locations, witnesses and the situation at hand. If you're really unhappy, you might want to contact the Better Business Bureau with your incident. In any case, let the cat out of the bag so the same thing doesn't happen again.

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