Renting a vehicle at home or abroad can surely be a lifesaver adding convenience and saving your costs.
Below is the checklist you must consider while finalizing your car hire.
Driving License: Your Driving license will be requested at every rental. You must ensure that your driver’s license is issued by your country of residence and held for a minimum period according to local legislation or conditions. In addition to your normal Driving License, your International Driving License is also mandatory if your driving license is written in a language different to the one of the renting country and/or in characters that cannot be read in the renting country. Note that your International Driving License is valid only if accompanied by your normal Driving License.
Don’t forget your Credit Card: It is mandatory for all travellers to provide their credit card for authorization purpose. The rental company generally holds an amount which is estimated based on length of rental, Applicable rate including tax, Incidental charges such as gasoline, etc. This amount is not debited but just blocked and is generally released few days after the rental and all charges have been paid for.
Identification document: A valid passport or your national identity card must be carried for all rentals abroad.
While the above mentioned items are mandatory for the car hire company. Below are few tips that must be considered by you before driving your car hire.
Insurance: While insurance can be very expensive in most countries, it is always recommended to include insurances to avoid any unforeseen expenses. Reputed car rental companies generally include third party insurance which covers third party property and vehicles but that does not cover the vehicle you are driving. Hence, it is always advisable to atleast purchase a basic insurance as it will still be a cheaper solution incase of any damage even if you do have to pay extra in excess.
Check the vehicle thoroughly: Before you drive away make sure all external & internal damages, if any on the car is recorded on the paperwork the company has given you to sign. As a precaution take your own digital photos of the car.
Extras / Equipments: While on new ground it is always recommended to have a GPS or Navigation system to avoid losing your way and wasting time. Owning a GPS would definitely be a cheaper option but if not your car hire company can provide this along with your rental vehicle at an additional cost. Don’t forget to request in advance for a baby / child safety seat if you have a baby travelling with you.
Fuel Tank: It’s always better to choose a fueling plan that allows you to return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel it had when you picked it up.
