Hiring A Car – How To Get It Right
On the surface hiring a car seems like a very good idea, after all who wouldn’t want to escape the busy tourist areas and experience the freedom to explore a country at your own pace. As you’ve probably guessed from my tone it doesn’t always go as smoothly as most would expect and unfortunately many people do experience problems hiring cars whilst abroad.
A report released by the UK European Consumer Centre revealed that car hire companies have experienced an increase in the number of complaints they’ve received during the first half of this year, in fact up a staggering 30% from the same time last year. These range from being charged for fuel that wasn’t used and charges for damage caused by previous drivers, sometimes even damaged that isn’t even there.
Paying Attention Pays Off
The most common complaints from holidaymakers who’ve had bad experiences with hiring a car abroad were the charges added for damage to their vehicle caused by previous drivers simply because thecar hire company failed to check the vehicle for any damage before they hired the car out again. This can be avoided quite simply by ensuring you thoroughly inspect your vehicle before taking it out and making sure the car hire company logs any damages you find.
Returning your vehicle on time is also important if you want to avoid any extra charges especially as some companies may charge you a full days hire if you return the car later than specified. Bear in mind that depending on the terms of your car hire you may need to return the car with a full tank of petrol so also be sure to leave enough time to get to a petrol station and fill up with the right fuel type if this is the case.
It’s important to remember that wherever you are in the world, the driving habits of other motorists are likely to vary in ways you may not be familiar with. You can minimise the chances of any accidents by getting to know your vehicle, familiarising yourself with the controls before setting off and also ensuring your aware of any local rules or restrictions.
The main things you’ll want to look out for are any different road signs and markings, parking zones and speed limits which may be in either kilometres or miles per hour. Some countries also have a zero tolerance policy toward alcohol levels in the blood so be sure to find out if this applies to you and plan your journeys accordingly.
Airport To Automobile
Care hire is accessible from many of the major airports around the world. Heathrow International for example offers airport car hire across all 5 terminals from 8 well known companies. This can make for a very convenient experience if you plan to hire a car once you’ve reached your destination, great if you want to avoiding the hassle of trying to find a taxi or having to wait around for the coach to your accommodation.