Sunday, June 27, 2010

How to Look For a Truck Rental That Give the Best Deal?

We all like the excitement of a new place or starting a new phase of one's life but nobody likes moving and rolling 4 dozen glasses in newspaper or soft-packing material. Finding a truck rental service is not the most pleasant process of moving, either. Before you plunge into any kind of rental deal, ask few questions to yourself like:

Related to the vehicle and your load

1.How long you will need the 'truck'?
2.What will you be moving?
3.How much does it weigh?
4.How much space is required to pack it? (sq foot)
5.What are the largest items dimensions? (need to be sure your surf board will fit in the 'truck')

Related to how to choose right agency

1.Research and call atleast five companies
2.Ask about storage capacity (lbs, sq foot)
3.Ask about dimensions
4.Ask about duration of rental (exact pick up and drop off times)
5.Ask about allowed 'mileage'
6.Ask about hidden cost
7.Ask about extra accessories

Be sure you drive the said vehicle.

Once you are sure for the deal, keep in mind few things when you go for pick up and drop off at truck rental agency.

1.Call the agency a day before to confirm your pick-up location.
2.Confirm the 'vehicle' is there and ready.
3.Review the contract and 'vehicle' with the attendant prior to leaving the rental lot.
4.Make sure what you are picking up is exactly what you expect.
5.Meet all the contractual agreements.

Few more things to be sure of is that avoid getting a truck that is 10 yrs old rather ask for a new one if possible. Most of the companies provide the facility of key drop box facility after you have used the vehicle. You can also ask for packaging/unpackaging plan if you are facing difficulty in doing on it your own. Before you take out the vehicle from the truck rental agency, note the starting fuel level and mileage. If you know how to determine mpg, you can know the cost that will be to required fuel level or refill the vehicle to the right level at time of return.

There are certain warnings too like absolutely review the contract and vehicle prior to leaving the rental lot. Confirm the drop-off times/locations, getting the vehicle you expect, pick-up mileage and so on.

Shilpi Sharma is an author of this article. For more information about Auckland car rental, Auckland truck rental, Auckland van rental, rent a van, Van hire, truck hire and minibus rental please follow this link truck hire.

Source:- http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978273186

Monday, June 21, 2010

Avoid A Car Rental Nightmare

It won't take much effort to find car rental disaster stories. Just a few online searches and you will see them. In fact, research will show that some rental companies have a worse reputation than others. Online searches will bring up stories of people charged for insurance they didn't want or charged for damage they didn't cause, of cars not be serviced when they are due and even a bumper falling a car as it was being driven down the road.

While it is impossible to avoid a bad experience completely, taking a few precautions will keep the chance of having your very own car rental horror story to a minimum.

First Objective: Successfully book your car hire auckland
This should be easy, but instead for many it is a confusing search of prices, car types and fine print. These steps should help ease the confusion.

Book well in advance
Make sure to book well in advance, car rental prices tend to go up the closer you get to the pick up date, not down. Prices work on a simple supply and demand system; they go up as availability goes down. If you are travelling to Europe and require an automatic car you will need to book months in advance in order to secure one, especially in Italy where they are particularly rare. If you are travelling during the holidays, Christmas and Easter in particular, making a reservation around three months ahead is ideal. This way you will have the best chance of getting a car at a normal price. After this point the prices just start to go up. Most car rental companies sell out for the holidays, resulting in many travellers panicking in the last couple of weeks before a major holiday as they struggle to secure a car. Those that are lucky enough to find a car will be forced to pay very high prices, three or four times a normal rate. Don't be one of these people. The summer is also another peak period to prepare for. Many locations have low or no availability during the summer so if you are booking last minute you may have trouble finding a good price and the car type you want.

Make a car rental reservation
To get started make a list of the basics: where and when you want to pick up the car and where and when you want to bring it back, what size car you need and do you want an automatic or manual gear box. These details are especially important if you are contacting various rental companies by email to get quotes. Make sure you provide them to avoid unnecessary emailing. Also do a little research on the various rental companies and avoid the worst offenders even if they are offering the cheapest price. No rental company is perfect so you will just have to narrow down your options.

Next you will want to research prices. When you do this make sure you are taking the full offer into account. Do the rates offered include taxes, location fees, mandatory insurances, break down cover and unlimited mileage? You will discover that most of the rates offered for car rentals in Europe are inclusive of all mandatory charges. But make sure you know this for certain, because if they are not included in the rate offered and they will be added when you pick up your car, making for an unpleasant surprise. If you are unsure about anything email the rental company, sometimes this is better than the telephone as you will get a response in writing. Which might solve any problems that may occur down the line. The rental company will have a hard time arguing written correspondence but they could deny any thing they said on the phone.

Once you are satisfied with a price make your reservation. If you book online you should get a confirmation voucher within a certain time period, this can range from instantly to a couple of days. If you do not receive your confirmation voucher within a couple of days don't hesitate to email the rental company. Maybe there is some kind of problem confirming your reservation or your voucher was sent but it was blocked by your email spam guard and it is necessary to find another way of getting your booking information to you.

Second Objective: Pick up your car without a hitch
It is important to have your wits about you on arrival at the rental desk, you may be tired and have the urge to breeze through the paper work, grab your keys and go. But it is best to resist this urge at all costs, you won't regret it. When you speak to the rental desk clerk you will be asked if you want any optional insurances, such as a Super Damage Waiver. The SDW reduces your liability to zero or an amount much less than you would be charged in the event of damage to the car. To take this extra insurance is a personal choice, however it is not usually mandatory and it is one of the major ways car rental companies make money. If you are only renting for a couple of days then the expense of this insurance may make it worth getting for your own peace of mind, but for longer rentals think carefully. The cost of the SDW may end up being close to the excess liability amount so do really get much benefit from it.

Read your contract carefully
The most important thing you need to do at the rental desk is to read your rental contract and receipt very carefully, this is where many people get stung. What happens is that extra insurances get charged to your credit card even if you specifically say you do not want them. This seems to be a common "mistake" made by rental clerks. Make sure you are also clear about the fuel policy, most rental companies require you to bring the car back with a full tank or else they charge you an inflated rate for fuel. Before you sign anything ensure that every charge and policy you are unsure of is explained to you. Don't be afraid to ask about everything, it is your wallet that ends up worse off if there are errors. Once the rental company has your signature there is little you can do to get refunded for any charges you were unaware of.

Third Objective: Drive away and enjoy your trip
Once you find your car in the parking lot it is very important to give it a good going over. If you see any dents, dirt or scratches make sure that the rental company takes note of them before you drive away. Otherwise you could be blamed and end up being charged the full excess amount, which is usually in the hundreds of dollars. If you want to be really cautious check the oil and make sure that it is not due to be changed.

Fourth Objective: Return the Car
In most cases you will need to return you car rental with a full tank of fuel. There is usually a gas(petrol) station near to the car rental drop off location. It is best to use the closest possible option and to fill the car as much as possible so it cannot be claimed that the tank isn't quite a full. Return the car keys and agree any extra charges with the rental company.

Quick Summary

- Plan what you need

- Do some research

- Make sure you understand the rate and terms

- Book well in advance

- Check your contract and receipt carefully before you sign

- Check you car carefully for any damage before you drive away

- Return the car with a full tank (make sure you are clear on this policy at the rental desk)

Source:- http://ezinearticles.com/?Avoid-A-Car-Rental-Nightmare&id=337376

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Utilizing A Van Rental For Long Distance Journeys

There are only a few options when making a journey that encompasses a long distance. In most cases people will fly, but what do you do when you need to carry extra cargo, more people or want to save money. In these cases people opt for a van rental because it is convenient and very cost effective. There are many good reasons for renting a van when travelling a long distance such as moving or relocating, transporting many people (for business or pleasure) and delivering cargo.

These days many people use a cargo van when moving house. They can carry a surprisingly large amount of cargo and, in most cases, don't require a special license to drive. If you find yourself relocating over a large distance there are many companies that offer a one way cargo van rental. This means that you pick your van up from your current location and drop it off at your final destination. This is very convenient and actually works out cheaper than returning the van to the original depot in most cases. If you do choose this option then you need to make sure there is a depot at (or close to) your destination.

A passenger van rental is very useful for transporting groups of people over any distance. However, they become even more cost effective for long journeys. There are generally two main situations where a passenger can is useful; business trips and large family holidays. This is because they can carry more people than a regular vehicle. Most of the top line rentals also provide entertainment options for the family, which can also be used for business training if necessary. The other added bonus is that you are offered full roadside assistance if something goes wrong.

Not only is a cargo van good for moving house, but it can also be used for delivering cargo. Whilst in most cases a courier will work out cheaper, if you are delivering particularly large item or a lot of cargo then a van rental might actually work out cheaper. You can even take out a long term rental if you have a need for cargo transport on a regular basis. This is a great option for businesses that cannot afford, or need, their own fleet of commercial vehicles.
Most people do not realize that there are actually many van rental companies in most areas of the country (and indeed the world). This means that prices are generally competitive, but if you take some time to compare the different companies you will be sure to get the very best deal. Be aware that many companies charge extra for certain features such as extended insurance, moving and packing materials etc.

Although these are the most common transport needs, there are many other great uses for a hire van. The fact that they are now available for hire almost everywhere makes them a really great option. Next time you have transport requirements it might just be worth considering a van rental. You might just be surprised about just how cost effective they are!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Cargo Van Hire

Cargo vans are terrific for people who are transporting goods around the country. Many people are now hiring them to transport their possessions when they are moving to a new city. It is a lot less stressful and much less expensive than hiring a removal list. It is not difficult to find great discounts and save yourself hundreds of dollars. This article will explain how you can book a cargo van and how to find the best possible price when you hire one!

How to Book a Cargo Van
There are three ways to hire a cargo van- on the internet, on the phone or in person. To book on the internet you just fill out a simple form. The forms are very secure and you will be safe entering personal details. Booking over the phone is fairly simple. You just ring the rental company and tell them what type of van (eg. a full size van) you would like to hire. You will also need to mention whether you need a 'one way' rental or not. To book in person you must visit the van rental dealership and tell them your needs. You will then be asked to fill out a form.

Finding the Best Discounts
It is not hard to find some very good deals when van rental is there. You should always do a quick search of the internet to find some coupon codes. These can save about 5% (sometimes more) off the total price of the van hire. There are some very good coupons available for purchase on eBay. You should also visit the websites of the major companies as they often have great daily deals. There are also many 'comparison websites' that compare the rates of all the major companies.

Source:- http://ezinearticles.com/?Cargo-Van-Hire&id=2213399