When I go abroad often I use a car rental. Because if I have to move around the country for meetings or leisure, it is the best way to go freely. Not in all the countries public transport works very well. Then even if they are perfect, there are precise timetables and planned tracks. In the end, there are no efforts to drive, but maybe you lose even more time. To drive it’s not my main passion, but from time to time it is even funny. That’s why it happens to me to do it often. Traveling I make the experience and I learn a lot.
In fact, in the beginning, it was a bit hard for me to find a good solution. I was searching for the best prices and well-kept cars. The big companies were sometimes more expensive, while the small local agencies offered a fewer guarantee. What to do. Trying all the time. Yes, when you don’t have the knowledge or someone who can give advice, you need to learn by yourself. Now I have more tools to use for car rental. That’s why I want to share with you some tips that you can apply when you go to rent a car around the world.
Car rental online
The first good news for you is that you can reserve a car from home. You can do it before the departure without risks. You need to pay attention to the details. Save money is not your unique goal. Efficiency and safety are two of the criteria for your research. There is a platform that can help you in finding the best solution. It is called QEEQ. The platform is dedicated to making online car rental easier and more convenient for customers.
The specialized staff of the company counts on experience in the field. They provide the service in more than 200 countries around the world, covering 60,000 locations. People who are working for QEEQ are coming from global car rental companies, global online travel agencies, and leading search engines. Together they offer their clients concrete support to live the best experience of traveling by car. Assistance is guaranteed all the time at any moment.
Why should you consider it? Using the platform you can compare the prices among the companies and sites. You don’t pay any fees using your credit card for the reservation and you can benefit from the best prices on the market. The cancellation is free. I guess these advantages of car rental are very important. But I want to give you some tips that will be helpful with any type of agency, online and offline. Surely my advice will make you understand what is the best service.
Vehicle choice
Some people, generally, check out the catalog of the cars proposed by the agency. From there, reading the daily rate, they choose. This is wrong because the list can be confusing and what influences them is the dream. Yes, maybe they see a vehicle they like, they would like to drive. The price is affordable. So, let’s rent it. Have you ever tried to go offroad in a city car? I don’t recommend you do it. That’s why the most important step you have to do concern about the choice. Car rental is not a game, it’s something you need for your trip. It doesn’t matter if you go for leisure or business.
When you decide to use a car rental before having any contact focus on the vehicle. You have to go to the agency or open an online platform with clear ideas. Are you traveling alone or with kids? Do you have a lot of items of luggage with you? Will you travel on highways and in cities or you will go offroad? Sedan or SUV? Do you want an environmentally friendly car? Will you need a GPS? These are some of the main questions you should ask yourself. So when you start the process with the car rental service, you know what to search for.
Before booking
Now you know what type of vehicle you want, so you can book it. Wait, are you in a hurry? Depending on where you go, you can find the biggest worldwide companies and some local agencies. Don’t discard small companies only because you don’t know them. Car rental with them can be more convenient. Check out the cars and the conditions offered. Rates should be lower, but the service can be good. So take advantage of this. If you want to rent a car in the place, make research online before leaving. It will be useful to check rates over there and also what companies are operating at your destination.
If you prefer to book online, find the platform, and then check on the internet if there are available coupons and discounts. You can benefit from a better rate or a discount. Are you going often to car rentals? Do you have a loyalty program card? Using this service a lot you can have better conditions with the company card. It is free and you get points for every booking. Or maybe you have an airline loyalty card. Redeem miles to have discounts or a free car for your trip. The cards can be used online and offline.
Contract
Have you ever gone to a car rental agency with your driving license and they said: “you can’t drive”. It happened to me. Why? Because of the Italian government. The ministry sent to the foreign government the updated list of documents, so how they are made. They forgot to mention a type of driving license released for a certain period. So mine wasn’t recognized. Well, this is just an example of what can happen. There are other cases like the limitations imposed by the contract. With your rented car you can’t pass the border of the country. It’s normal especially when there are bad relations among countries.
Maybe your daughter or son can’t drive because for that type of car they need to be over 21 years old. I won’t mention all the options, but before signing a contract read it carefully and see what you can do or what you can’t do. Verify very well the insurance coverage and integrate the id if it is necessary. Car rental is convenient only if you are completely sure about what you are doing. Everything will go great, but who never know. Pay attention also to drop-off if you will leave the car to the agency in another city. They can ask you for money.
If you book from home give always your flight number, so they will manage the delay and you won’t incur any fees.
Price and addition
When you enter an agency you see promotional prices and daily rates for car rental. Those rates are correct, but when you have to pay the amount is different. Why? Because they have to add some taxes and fees due to laws, drivers, and so on. That’s why you should ask for the final price before agreeing to the proposal. They promote the rate without the additional costs, but then they need to apply them. So, verify all the details when you choose the vehicle.
Online is a bit different because the car rental systems already apply the conditions when you connect. There is more transparency and you can see all the costs apply. So step by step you fill the requirements and you come out with the full rate. It is easier, anyway I suggest you check out the specified costs. Most of the time the rate is influenced by some local fees. Keep into consideration when you book your car.
Pickup
When the employee gives you the keys make with you a tour around the car. If he or she doesn’t do that, ask for it. Then be careful, check everything paying attention. Because when you return it, they will do the same and if some damage, small or big, was not signed on the check paper, you will pay for it. Of course, there is insurance, but maybe you have to pay an insurance deductible. Every single problem has to be reported before the pickup and written down on paper. Don’t forget that if you have a travel credit card you may have insurance for some damages. Verify because maybe you can save something on car rental insurance.
Also, switch on the engine with the employee. Verify the mileage odometer and the fuel tank. It has to be full. Use also the lights and the signals, to be sure that they work properly. If something is wrong, make the agency person write it down. After the pickup it will be your responsibility, so everything must be in order or at least verified. Memorize the model and the color of the car to not lose it. You will save time in a crowded park searching for it.
Car returning
When your trip is going to finish, you have to return the car. Don’t be in a rush. First of all, be on time. You indicated the hour when you signed the contract, so respect it. Why? Because the agency allows you to arrive 30 minutes earlier or later. In a different case, they may apply a fee. Go to a gas station close to the airport or the place of drop-off. Verify the fuel price to save money. Then fill the fuel tank. This is a must because if you return the rented car empty they will ask for money and it is more expensive.
Check the body of the car together with the employee. Don’t let him or her do it alone. So you will be sure that they don’t accuse you of some damages that are not your responsibility. Be sure to not forget anything on the vehicle and check all the charges applied. This is what you have to do as the final stage with car rental. You need time because can happen something wrong, so take care of each step.
Avoid scams
You should apply all the tips I was given. Consider that the car rental earning is made of extras. Insurance, services, added driver, and so on. That’s why it is important to verify prices and conditions. You can also use your resources. It is mandatory and useful insurance coverage, but your credit card can have one. So with the third party guarantee, you don’t have problems and you avoid the high fees applied by the car rental agency. They propose extra coverage, but not always is convenient, so read the options of your travel card.
GPS usually costs a lot, why not use Google Maps for free? Buy a local sim card and use the internet. Compare the offers. Not only about rates, but especially about limits and extra fees. This is what makes the difference between car rental companies. These tricks can be useful to save money, also a good amount. If you book online it is easier. Also because the internet increases the competition. You can easily find different companies and platforms. While in an office you have in front only the employee of that company.
Many years ago abroad I was searching for a spacious SUV to cross the Australian desert. I spent almost a day around the city to check the various companies. In the end, I found the best solution, but I lost one entire day on my agenda. On one hand, I had the chance to compare and not use a vehicle that was not the proper one. On the other hand, I spent a lot of time and money going around the city. That’s why now I use the online platform. At least to find out the best conditions.
QEEQ
Do you have clear ideas now? I wanted to suggest to you a very good platform that I use regularly. Maybe reading my tips you understood why. Let me a few more thoughts about car rental. Visiting a new country you can’t know exactly what to expect. In certain places there aren’t big brands, so you have to accept what they say or ask. An online platform gives you at least a general idea of the prices. If you book via the internet you will save time later to search. You do it in advance, you compare rates and you have more availability of vehicles. Then QEEQ offers you specialized assistance. Isn’t it so important?
Once I had an accident. I wasn’t the guilty driver and the other one recognize immediately his fault. There were also people on the street as witnesses. But the rule of the insurance was to have anyway a police report. So I called the police station in the town. No one spoke English and they were closing the call. After four calls, I decided to ask for help from the car rental agency. It was in another city, but I explained to them the problem by phone and I gave them the address. Helped by some locals to find the name of the street (what an adventure…).
They called the police for me. A car came and the two police officers didn’t know English. How to explain, how to sign a report that I couldn’t understand? I spent all the time on the phone with the local car rental. They translated. That one was a very good company, but it not always as easy to handle these situations. That’s why I underline the importance of QEEQ‘s support. You never know what can happen.
This is an example, but you can easily understand why the online platform is the best solution. You have the best prices, you can compare, see the conditions without surprises. Then you save the time of your arrival because everything is ready for you.
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