Insurance, franchises, mileage ... you have to pay attention to all the conditions of the rental car contract so that there are no surprises when it comes to returning it. Here are some practical tips.
There is no doubt that car rental is very practical when traveling, as it allows you the freedom to improvise and change plans . Whether it is the first time that you are going to rent a car, or if you have already done it many times in your trips, surely it is good for you to review this information.
Here is a video in which we show you briefly what you have to take into account before renting a car. To expand the information you will only have to continue reading.
Choose the type of rental car
In general, agencies usually have categories to catalog their rental cars: take advantage of this to choose, according to the needs of your trip . It is important to ask yourself in advance what your trip will be like, in order to find the ideal rental car at the best price.
In this way, a compact car is recommended to move easily around the city using little fuel and parking easily, a saloon if you plan to travel many kilometers, a family member if you are many passengers, an SUV if it is a trip through the countryside ... or even a luxury one if you want to treat yourself!
Vehicle mileage
Some offers have their trick: the mileage limit , which turns a low cost rental car into a luxury one. In order to have an idea of the final price to pay, it is important that you calculate the kilometers you plan to travel, and add this surcharge (if any).
The most typical thing is to find limits of 100 to 300 km per day or 600 to 800 km for a weekend, after which each extra kilometer usually has a surcharge of around $2,250. If you plan to travel a lot with the vehicle, it may pay you to pay a little more for a rental car with no mileage limit . It is all a matter of accounting.
The contract with the rent a car agency
Very important: read the contract carefully before signing it . Make sure you understand everything that is written well, and do not hesitate to ask for any doubts that may arise. You have to be sure what is included and what is not. It is also important that you report just in case if you plan to cross a border and drive through another country .
You also have to check that no non-contracted extras are added (the most typical is the GPS), which will then charge you in greater numbers.
Complementary insurance
Most agencies include third party insurance (mandatory), theft insurance, and a comprehensive insurance. The trick? There is usually an exorbitant excess , which can exceed € 1,000, even € 2,000, depending on the category of the car. This excess can be reduced by contracting a complementary insurance, also offered by the car rental agency.
We are not going to tell you that you hire it or not, but we do advise you to read the conditions well and think about the conditions of your trip, to know if it compensates you or not . We also recommend that, if you book through an intermediary, check the coverage conditions very well. Many clients think that they are contracting the coverage directly with the rental house, when what they are really doing is acquiring it with the intermediary. In this way, what is their surprise - very often, their anger - when they arrive at the rent an employee informs them of the need to contract coverage with them or opt for a franchise.
It is normal that the first thought that comes to your head is that they are trying to charge you twice; However, this is not the case: you will need coverage with the rental car and, if there are damages to the car, you should respond directly to them and then be reimbursed, presenting a part of the damages, for the insurance you contracted with the intermediary. Although, as we have told you, there is a lot of casuistry with this point, so you have to inform yourself well about it before booking.
Allowed territory
An important point that you have to inform yourself about in the general conditions of each company before booking. Many travelers plan their car rental thinking of the possibility of being able to circulate in neighboring countries, and this is not always allowed. And what is worse: depending on the case, it carries significant penalties . For this reason it should not be taken for granted that companies allow you to cross the border. Many of them yes, but, we insist, it is convenient to inform yourself well. It may happen that in some it is allowed, in others it is prohibited, or that they allow to circulate but only through some of the surrounding countries. In short, this is the world of car rental: the possibilities and the casuistry are practically endless .
Fuel policy
Each car rental house has its own booklet, but the most common thing is that you can opt for a full / full or full / refund fuel policy. The first is that the car will be delivered to you with a full tank, being your obligation to return it equally full. With the second option, you pay the deposit and, at the time of returning it, the rent a car reimburses you for the remaining fuel. The convenience of each of these options depends on you, yes, we advise you to look at it very, very well. Some rental houses may apply a fuel management fee, especially if you hire the full / refund. An amount that will be subtracted from the amount that must be returned. A circumstance that, on many occasions, is in the fine print; all the more reason for you to take it into account.
Be very careful with the schedules!
When you go to rent your car, pay close attention to the schedules, especially if the landing of your flight is at ungodly hours. There are rental car offices that open at these hours, but very often in exchange for surcharges that can leave you shaking. That is why it is best that you save yourself these surprises by consulting the general rental conditions well. Many of the rental cars also have a free shuttle service for customers since they do not have offices in the airport grounds. Find out about this before renting with them and anticipate the time it will take you to get to the rental office. Usually rental houses include information on their websites about the location and waiting time of their minibuses.
The rental vehicle inspection
At the time of picking up the car you must sign a part with the condition of the vehicle, in the presence of the employee who rents it to you. Take your time to thoroughly review the condition of the car , to make sure that its condition agrees with what is written on the part: body, tires, possible chafing, mileage, oil and fuel level ... check everything!
This will avoid unpleasant financial surprises when you return the car, since if they find a problem that was not written, even if you did not do it yourself, you will have to pay for it, and it will not be cheap!
Car rental comparators
Car rental commemorators are the best way to find cheap rental cars. But here you also have to pay attention: many of the search engine providers are intermediaries who work with large agencies (Avis, Hertz, etc.), so when you pick up the vehicle you always have to check that it is received exactly the same product that was paid for .
Do you have any other advice when it comes to renting a car in Jamaica? Share it with us!
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