I came across this guide to car rental today and felt I should set the record straight on some of the issues raised as it was misleading (just like my title, no sex here I’m worried).

RUMOUR: You probably won’t get the car you booked.

TRUTH: Rental companies do not guarantee specific models – we cannot guarantee you will get a Hyundai Getz 1.5L for example, but if you pay for an economy car, manual transmission with air conditioning – you will get an economy car, manual with air conditioning (unless of course you get an upgrade!). Our reservations are based on car SIPP codes, vehicles are given as examples only.

TIP: Book based on SIPP code, not actual vehicle. Peugeot Leasing is an exception – models ARE guaranteed.

RUMOUR: It’s likely you’ve paid too much.

TRUTH: Walking off the street to pick up a car in a foreign country, you probably will pay more. Book before you go to ensure the best possible price and remember to compare like with like when researching prices. Look closely at what the price includes, what is extra and how much the extras will cost. Often, an all inclusive rate may appear more expensive but can save you money as there is no more to pay when you pick up the car.

RUMOUR: Your “fully-inclusive deal” won’t be as comprehensive as it sounds.

TRUTH: An Insurance Excess is applicable in the event of any accident or theft to the rental vehicle, regardless of fault. The Excess amount varies between countries and car group. The additional insurance offered by the car rental company is optional and is charged per day on top of an inclusive rate. Read more about insurance excess here.

TIP: You may be covered through your own insurance so double check before you book.

RUMOUR: You may face hefty add-ons.

TRUTH: There are some extras that will be added on to your bill e.g. children’s seats, additional drivers, young driver surcharges and GPS units may be charged separately and on a daily basis, which can add up, especially if it is a long trip. You should be made aware of these charges before you agree to anything, so be aware of how much exactly you have to pay.

TIP: Always question what the extra charges will be before you agree to them.

RUMOUR: Breaking down could be a disaster.

TRUTH: Not when you book with DriveAway! Our rates all include 24 hour roadside help. We also have 24/7 customer service with a toll free number from across the globe so you can speak to someone (in English) no matter where you are.

TIP: Book with a reputable company who have a number you can call in the case of an emergency.

RUMOUR: You could be stung by cancellation penalties.

TRUTH: Not at DriveAway! We do not charge amendment or cancellation fees on car hire.

TIP: Always check at the time of booking if there are cancellation fees in case of an emergency. Sometimes it can be as much as the price of the rental if it is within a small time frame.

Always read your inclusions very carefully when you book a rental car (DriveAway list the inclusions with each vehicle during the booking process online and our reservations consultants will inform you of these if you book over the phone). Terms, conditions and costs all vary depending on the supplier and location. Remember to read your rental agreement carefully before signing it.

Holidays are precious. Researching and organising your car rental before you go can save you headaches and money.

Watch the video related to car rental

This recording is just a small part of a much longer car rental reservation run a foul by linguistics profiling. Based solely on the sound of my voice (NO impersonation or deception on my part), the White office manager (female voice) assumed that I (male voice) was also White. She commenced (without provocation) to spew her racist and otherwise disparaging opinions of Black Americans… all the while not knowing that I am Black! For the time being, I’ve withheld the name of the rental …

Help answer the question about car rental

What car-rental company will let me borrow a car to get around the different countries of Europe?
I plot on picking up the car in Greece and dropping it off in Holland while passing through Albania, Croatia, Austria, Germany & France.
So if anyone knows of any cheap rental companies that will let me go across borders and drop the car off in a diffferent country please let me know the name of the company and its website if applicable.

About Author

Car Guru writes for DriveAway Holidays, DriveAway Holidays New Zealand and DriveAway Holidays Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

As people become more aware of environmental issues and conscious of their actions, demand for hybrid cars, to buy and rent, has risen.

A hybrid car is a car which can run on two or more fuel sources – most commonly an engine and an electric motor powered by batteries. The motor and batteries help the engine work more efficiently which means you spend less on fuel and emit fewer emissions.

The Toyota Prius is probably the most well known hybrid car. It first went on sale in 1997 and since then, more than 10,000 Prius’ have been sold in Australia. The Australian Government’s Green Vehicle Guide website rates all new vehicles based on greenhouse and air pollution emissions and fuel consumption. The Prius is currently the top performer in all 3 with a fuel consumption of 4.4L per 100kms.

To give you an idea of what this means – a Hummer H3 Adventure has a fuel consumption level of 13.2L/100km, Toyota Rav 4′s fuel consumption is 9.6L, a Mercedes Benz C Class C180K is 7.6L and a Honda Civic 1.8L sedan has a fuel consumption of 7.2L. According to Toyota, a Prius has up to 50% less consumption than a comparably-sized family car and that one tank of fuel could theoretically get you over a whopping 1000km!

While hybrid cars are still quite expensive to buy – a Toyota Prius 1.5L petrol/Electric combination CVT will set you back $37,400 (from www.toyota.com.au), renting one may be within your budget.

DriveAway currently have Hybrids available to rent in France and the USA, but with car rental suppliers adding more ‘green’ cars to their fleets, this is sure to grow over the next few years.

Renting a hybrid does cost more than renting a similar sized non-hybrid car (due to supply and demand and the fact that hybrids are more expensive for the rental company to buy), but you will save money on fuel and of course, it’s better for the environment. Click here for more details.

Watch the video related to car rental

a hurry Read me my rights as if I didn’t know this Threw me in the tank with a drunk called Otis With his 5 o’clock shadow he smelled of 3 day old beer My man turned to me and said, “Why are you here?” I said I’m charming I’m dashing I’m rental-car bashing I’m phony-paper passing at Nick’s Check and Cashing I went before the judge he sent my to the Brooklyn house of D. He said, “You behave or we’ll throw away the key” Houdini’d out the cuffs, kicked the screw in the knee I took the …

Help answer the question about car rental

Can you take a rental car when you do not have any personal vehicle or auto insurance?
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?

About Author

Car Guru writes for DriveAway Holidays, DriveAway Holidays New Zealand and DriveAway Holidays Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.