Rental Car Guide

  If most auto accidents occur within one mile of the departure or destination site, then most car rental auto accidents must occur within a few hundred feet of the car rental parking lot. We’ve all done it — hopped into the rental vehicle, started it up and headed out into the streets. Then, in the midst of airport traffic with buses bearing down on you and taxis nearly swiping you, you’re trying to read utterly illogical signage as you start groping for knobs, headlights, windshield wipers, window controls, defroster/heat controls or the radio seek button. As you get your bearings, you find yourself making every error of every bad driver you’ve ever hated. To safely find your way into the big bad world, follow this car rental checklist for the first few minutes you spend in an unfamiliar vehicle. 00:01 Check for scratches, dings or tears. If the car rental agent is circling your car with a pad making notes of scratches and blemishes, make sure you do the same. I’ve rarel...

  Among all your options, there are some things you don’t need to do, or even should not do, when renting a car. Below are 10 of them. Prepaid gasoline charges appeal to our desire for simplicity while traveling, and also to concerns about being late for flights, as every few minutes added to the trip to the airport create more risk for arriving too late to board. As airport security has added considerable time to this process, rental companies have come up with new options for car refueling, and are giving them the hard sell at the rental desk. Unless you are completely sure you will return the tank empty, or you have a pre-dawn flight that would make it worth the money not to have to refuel yourself, don’t fall for this one. Even the option where they charge you only for fuel you actually use is tipped aggressively in the rental agency’s favor because the cost of having them refuel your car is always higher than the cost of doing it yourself. To beat the rap on this one,...

Need wheels on your next trip? Renting a car can give you freedom and flexibility when you’re traveling, and in some parts of the world it’s the only feasible way to get around. But a rental car can also add complications to your trip — like trying to find the best deal or sorting out exactly which insurance options you need. Read on for our practical tips on saving money, understanding your rental agreement and avoiding problems with your car rental. Choosing a Vehicle Think carefully about what kind of vehicle you’ll need. If you’re traveling with children or with a lot of gear, you may want a large sedan or SUV. If you’re simply looking to save money on rental rates and gas, you’ll want to reserve the smallest available model. But size isn’t the only factor. Looking for something environmentally friendly? Many car rental companies now offer hybrid vehicles. Can’t drive a stick shift? Be sure to reserve a car with automatic transmission. (In many countries, a manual transmiss...