Tuesday 8 April 2008

Budget Car Rental

Budget car rentals are a traveler's savior from being stranded in one place; imagine being able to go somewhere at any time of the day or night without the wait for a taxi to collect you - and then of course there's the cost to consider! However, the rental car market can be fiercely competitive so be careful you are not given a car with an engine that would be better fitted to a bike. OK, so I may be exaggerating a little but it is something you have to look out for because the last thing you want is to have a car that is not going to be of any use. So, just to help with your rental car experience, I have made a written down a few pointers to help.

I have found that budget car rental using the internet as a resource is a good way to find a low cost car because some sites let you set a limit on what you are prepared to pay. Do not dismiss this type of sites because they want your business and sometimes offer other incentives like unlimited mileage for example. Package deals like fly-drive and fly-drive and stay often discount the car rental element of the package just try avoid the airline companies when you book. Of course the airlines realize they have a captive audience when people visit their site to book a flight and do not need to discount their car rental.


If you are not used to arranging budget car rental on the internet, do not let that put you off as you will be pleasantly surprised by the offers available. Some websites even go as far as internet only discounts which can save a great deal of money. If you see an offer that looks good, you do not have to take the first one that comes your way because if one car rental company has a special offer on, then they probably won't be the only one. In addition to that, you can rent a car in the comfort of your own home, now beat that!


Sometimes, just when you think you have managed to get a really good deal. You find your credit card company has another surprise when it has organized a discount with the budget car rental company on top of any you have already arranged. If you are a member of the military or government, you may be eligible for discounts negotiated with a number of rental companies on your behalf.


Another tip is to check you rental car carefully and let the company know of any damage you find before you drive away. In addition to a physical check for collision damage, make sure everything works as it should or you might find yourself paying for something that wasn't your fault.


More often than not your existing vehicle policy will cover the rental car insurance needed but it is always best to check first. Why pay for rental car insurance when your own auto insurance policy will cover some of the aspects, even if it isn't a great deal; always make sure you have auto insurance anyway, as the penalties for driving without adequate cover are severe.


So don't think that it isn't an important aspect either because insurance is still required by law.



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