When you’re in the market for finding a rental car that is a cut above the rest, here are some tips to help you along the way:
Fellow passengers – The car you rent may be completely different if you are going with your golf buddies to a hot spot versus your spouse to an exotic resort. It can be also different if you’re traveling with children (especially small children). Call ahead to the rental car companies that offer luxury cars so you know what is available in the area you are planning to rent from so there are no surprises later. A Maserati may be available in Miami, but not New York, and vice versa.
Research – Go to a website such as Edmunds.com, cars.com, or an automotive trade magazine to read reviews on some of the highest performing cars out on the road today. Also, research websites, Twitter feeds, and Facebook pages that specifically focus on luxury items or luxury travel. Many times, these areas have great content on the types of cars available for rent or purchase, and can give you ideas on what you would like to rent on your next trip.
Reward yourself during a major event in your life – Save up, then during a wedding, major anniversary, big promotion, or other major life event, take a day or two and rent a luxury car that you’ve been wanting to drive for a long time.
Insurance – Insuring a high cost vehicle can be extremely expensive, or in some cases, unavailable. The risk is simply too great and a risk insurance companies are not willing to take.
Plan, plan, plan – I couldn’t stress this enough. Most vacations that are planned well end well, even if there are a couple of snags along the way. The reason is that when people plan things ahead of time, they are more ready for mishaps that can happen, and can better work around those mishaps. If the rental car company doesn’t have the car you want, make sure to have a backup in mind. If you lose your wallet, make sure you know where to get extra cash/funds/credit. If you’re taking kids with you, make sure to plan for the things they will need. Of course, since you’re in the market to rent an ultra premium high end exotic vehicle, there can be some room for being impromptu!
Don’t forget about how much it’s going to cost! – For some, especially those wanting an ultimate premium car for a joy ride, won’t care about the cost. But the cost of a one day rental in some locations can be as much as the price of owning a good quality used vehicle, which can be upwards of $8,000 a day to rent a Saleen S7. Of course, renting a car like this versus paying $100,000 or more can make it appear like a deal. Just make sure it’s in your budget.
Have fun! – Whether it’s a once in a lifetime experience or an excursion that you can do on a regular basis, always have fun! Fun and excitement comes with the territory.
