Airport Hire Car – Better To Plan Ahead
As you head away on business or vacation, waiting till the last minute to find a car for hire is never a good idea. Trying to find a rental at the last minute as you are leaving the airport can be disastrous to say the least. Companies pray on unprepared travelers, and you will most certainly end up paying hundreds more than you should have if you don’t know your airport hire car choices before landing.
The easiest way to find out what deals are available is to just walk from counter to counter at the airport. Of course, not all airports are designed the same way so if you happen to be in an airport where all the car rental companies are off site, you might not find the great deal you were hoping for.
Rental companies usually have some type of card that gives members certain savings and upgrades, with or without a reservation. If perchance you don’t have one of these, there are still good rates to be found if you’re willing to take the time to look. Going counter to counter is sometimes your best bet. As you’re waiting in line you might want to use your cell phone with internet to check on some rental deals, too.
If you don’t have a membership card with one of the larger rental companies, no problem. Some companies are still willing to give you some decent upgrades. Something as simple an upgrade to a larger car can be worth a wait in line, or even getting a GPS system – which is almost a necessity when it comes to finding your way around new cities. Even having the option of a free upgrade to a car with an automatic transmission can turn any vacation into pure heaven if you can’t drive a stick shift and that was all they had to give you!
Before signing anything make sure you understand how or if you will be charged for mileage. Most companies won’t charge you for mileage, but you don’t want to find out the hard way that you have exceeded your budget!
Also be careful about buying additional insurance coverage. This can be very expensive, and in some cases, totally unnecessary. Insurance coverage is a big money maker for rental companies and the rental agents will do their best to explain the horrors that await you in case you are in an accident with their car. Before committing to this expense, it might be well worth a call to your insurance company to find out what you’re already covered for out of state or out of country.
Finally – check your car over really well before getting in. Some companies are very good about charting any prior damage to the car that hasn’t been fixed yet. If there are pre-existing scratches, etc., make sure the company documents all the damage before you drive away. You don’t want to get stuck paying for dents that weren’t you fault.
Most travelers decide to hire a car when they arrive at their destination, unfortunately without making arrangements ahead of time, leading to overcharging. Upon arrival review the airport hire car options you have. More information on http://www.airporthirecar.net
