5 Tips for Looking After Your Rental Car on Holiday
If you are renting a car, then you need to make sure that you keep it in top condition where possible. If you don’t then you may find that you end up running into issues later down the line and this is the last thing you need. Take a look below to see what steps you can take, to look after your vehicle today.
Stay on the Road
When getting your rental car, you don’t want to be upsold. That’s understandable. If you ask for a two-wheel-drive then you probably won’t want a four-wheel-drive. You do, however, want to take their recommendation on board. This is especially the case if you are going to be driving on roads that are not paved. Driving off-road is very different to driving on asphalt. The tyres will move very differently and the car may also take a bit of a beating from all of the bumps in the road. If you do need to go off-road then make sure that you go with a car that can handle this. If you don’t then you may find that you end up damaging the car and this is the last thing you need.
Driving off-road can also wear out the transmission and it can cause a delay in shifting. You may have burning, or leakage of the transmission fluid too, which can impact your car. If you suspect that this is the case with your rental car then make sure that you report it and that you go to see a mechanic before it takes even more damage. All of this can be avoided though if you simply keep your car on the road, and rent a different car for any off-roading activities you intend to do.
Take out Insurance
One of the main reservations that people have about taking rental insurance is that the cost of fixing the car is more than a year of rental insurance. A lot of rental companies will deal with the insurance side of things for you and some insurance policies will even cover rental cars as standard. If you can, however, you need to give some thought to the person who is going to be driving the car. If you have a friend or a family member who is going to be driving the car then you need to make sure that the insurance covers it.
Some won’t if they know that someone else is behind the wheel. If you want to protect your car then make sure that you look into car or van key replacement if you happen to be in the unfortunate position of having lost your vehicle keys while out on the road.
Keep the Vehicle Clean
Keeping your car clean is a very easy thing to do. You can visit a car wash with ease and they will clean it up for you in a matter of minutes. You may, however, want to pay attention to this if you have kids in the car. Paint scratches, juice stains and more can all be very difficult to get rid of. A rental car needs special care, plus, driving in a car that isn’t tidy isn’t pleasant for people.
Try to deal with this by keeping your car as clean as possible and by making sure that you put a lot of work into keeping it as nice as possible. If you can, get a small bin for the car too. This stops rubbish from finding its way to the compartments in the car which can save you a major job when it comes to clean-up at a later date.
Know the Rules of the Road
It’s so important that you know the rules of the road. If you have a driver’s license then you will know how to drive. With that in mind, driving a brand-new car is very different if you are in a new city or state. You need to learn the new driving rules if possible. Start with the obvious and stay on the right side. You also need to pay attention to the speed limit as well as other nuances that could be important.
Traffic laws aren’t enforced as much in India when compared to other parts of the world, for this reason, you need to drive carefully if you want to avoid fender benders. If you find yourself in Cyprus then you may only be allowed to drive on certain days of the week. The number plates tend to be color-coded and this gives authorities the chance to stop anyone who may be driving on a day that is not allocated to them. In Germany, you can’t stop on the highway unless it is an emergency. Learning rules like this will help you to keep your rental car out of trouble, so be mindful of that.
Check the Car
If you are getting a rental car then it is so important that you give it a good check-over before you drive it off the lot. If there are any damages present then the rental company needs to be aware of them. You also need to deal with any scratches, dents or loose parts. Start the car, and take the time to listen out for any strange sounds. If there are then now is the time for you to raise them to the rental company. If you don’t then you may find that they end up blaming you for it, which may not be the case.
It’s nice to know that you aren’t responsible for the general maintenance of your car, but with that in mind, you do need to make sure that you keep it in top condition. If you don’t then you may be responsible for paying for the damages, and this is the last thing you need. If you want to make things easier on yourself, have a chat with the rental company to find out if there’s anything you can do to make things easier on yourself, and to also find out if you can take extra measures to keep the car in the best condition while under your care.