How to Achieve a Stress-Free Car Rental - 5 Keys to Success

The average car rental is a process that should be given more than last minute attention during travel. Unfortunately, many families (and business travellers) fail to do a few small things in advance that could lead to a more stress-free car rental travel experience. As any frequent traveller knows, getting the car rental right at the beginning of the trip can certainly result in a much more enjoyable trip for all concerned at the end. Below are 5 keys to a successful car rental that every traveller should make note of:

1. Do a little homework. As with any wise buying decision, even a little preparation can save dollars. For example, the wise and experienced traveller will make sure their own automobile insurance is up to date and sufficient for their planned car rental needs. It is widely accepted that travellers need not take the rental company insurance offered if their own coverage can protect them adequately. The only exception to this might be: lack of insurance because the renter does not have a personal car. In this case, the higher-priced rental company insurance is better than none at all.

2. Understand your rental agreement. Wise car rental customers will make absolutely sure they understand the terms and requirements of any car or vehicle rental agreement. This is a major part of preparation for travel and car rental, and should not be something that is studied only when a problem arises. Some details that should always be confirmed include: 1) How many miles are allowed per day (experienced rental customers agree that unlimited mileage is best for most travelers), and 2) Is the customer required to refill the gasoline tank when the car is returned? Rental companies generally offer a fuel option that allows the customer to pay up front for a tank of gasoline. This means that the driver can return the car without filling the tank. In most cases it is best to buy gasoline when needed, filling the tank just before returning the car.

3. Know what you are renting. While many travellers will actually consider insurance, mileage and gasoline when renting a car, most will not take the time to look at the car's physical condition to check for dents, scratches and other appearance problems. Feedback from customers and customer complaints indicate that car rental companies will sometimes try to blame these problems on the current renter. To avoid this difficulty, wise car rental customers will point out any problems prior to taking the car, making sure that the company representative notes scratches, dents and upholstery problems, in writing. Tip: Experienced renters use their digital cameras to document any problems before driving away.

4. Look for value but pay for happiness. The car rental auckland industry has grown quickly and now includes dozens of choices. This level of competition has led to reduced prices, even from some of the top-name companies. Of course, the best deal for the lowest price is everyone's goal. However, experience in the field of car rentals has taught many people that the lowest price is not always the key to happiness. (It's always a good idea to pay particular attention to the "however.") As the choices expand, customers are tempted to choose lesser-known companies to save money. Many of these occasional renters assume that state and federal laws will protect them from any major problems. While it is generally true that the "name-brand" corporations and many smaller companies will provide a quality, worry-free experience, problems can arise with some of the smaller start-up businesses. The wise renter will be sure to clear up any doubts about terms and car conditions, especially with smaller fleet businesses. The pressure of creating and growing a business may lead some to cut corners. In the end, the customer may have to pay for that pressure.

5. Stress the small details. There are a number of items in the small print of rental agreements that can add to or subtract from the overall cost you finally end up paying. Two that should be understood fully at the start are: 1) Return requirements - Is the original renter required to bring the car back to the same location? There may be a charge for returning the vehicle to another site. 2) Will there be an extra charge if the driver is under a particular age. Companies may include a surcharge if the driver is under 25, for example. These are the most popular and can mean hidden charges at the end of your trip you weren't counting on. Make sure you read the small print and ask questions before driving that rental car of the lot.

Vacations can be hectic enough without adding the stresses of a bad car rental into the equation. The mistakes that the average traveller makes when renting a car vary from a lack of planning before the trip begins, to doing small things during the rental process that end up costing him or her more money in the end. Wise travellers can avoid these mistakes by following the five tips outlined above to achieve a successful stress-free car rental.

Source:- http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Achieve-a-Stress-Free-Car-Rental---5-Keys-to-Success&id=724830

Discount Truck Rentals

Need a truck? You don't really need to own one if you don't need it often. You can always avail the facilities of a truck rental instead. Truck rentals can help you move to places, help you reach your camping destination, help you carry large items that you have purchased from the store and many more. So needing to use a truck doesn't necessarily mean you have to buy one because it doesn't usually pay of. Hence, whenever a truck is needed, a truck rental can be helpful.

Trucks can be hired for just a few hours or even a few days depending on your need. If you're moving from one place to another, you can find a truck through your local truck rental company. Also, depending on the load to be carried, the truck size can be chosen accordingly. And if in case it's inconvenient to drop the truck back to the truck rental, you can always drop it off at one of its other agencies near your destination.

If a truck is needed just for a few days while you get to your camping destination or even simply travel across town, you may opt to rent a car from your regular agency. According to your needs and requirements the correct truck size can be chosen from your truck rental. These truck rentals however come with additional insurance so that you wouldn't be penalised for any damage that may have been caused due to rough roads or bad weather. Hence, these truck rentals are very handy and can be used for a variety of purposes.

Source:- http://ezinearticles.com/?Discount-Truck-Rentals&id=470950

Van Hire - How To Save Money and Time

Vans are pretty boring, right? I mean you've got a car that's quieter, faster, more comfortable and infinitely more stylish than a van, not to mention cheaper and easier to park – so why would you be interested in vans?

Consider this – you're moving house on a budget. Renting a van and doing the removal yourself is the only option. You cheerfully ring up your local van hire company and book a van – "like a Transit, yeah, a big one".

The day arrives and your Transit is a short wheelbase model that isn't going to fit even half your belongings in it. Didn't the rental guy know you meant one of those really big ones? Or maybe it is big – one of those big ones with the box on the back, known as a Luton van.

They certainly have loads of room, but if your Luton doesn't have a tail lift, be prepared for some awkward heavy lifting – they are a lot higher off the ground than a panel van.

Vans may not be the most exciting vehicles in the world, but they sure as hell are some of the most useful vehicles around. You can drive almost all of them on a car license, they are pretty easy to handle, don't use much more fuel than a car and can have anything from moderate to colossal amounts of space inside.

You just need to know what you need – SWB, LWB, Luton or something else?

I've been round the block where vans are concerned – from my first rental experiences where I did exactly what I described above and asked for a Transit-sized van – to my present position, where I own a van and have driven a great many.

Incidentally, the last time I moved house the van I hired was written off the day before my booking, so I ended up with a slightly smaller one. The result was an extra 250-mile round trip, as the load space was a metre shorter and I couldn’t fit everything in...

Getting the wrong size isn't just a pain in the neck – it will hurt your wallet too; it did mine!

Online van rental is now pretty easy, with most of the major rental companies offering a selection of vans online. The problem is that they don't always offer much in the way of helpful advice – you have to know what you need.

Source:- http://ezinearticles.com/?Van-Hire---How-To-Save-Money-and-Time&id=567554