Renting a car in the U.S.
From Wikitravel
Contents
- Getting the best deal
- clubs and programs
- policies and requirements
- payment information
- special requests
- making reservations
- Insurance information
- Before you leave
- at the counter
- important questions to ask at the rental counter
- refueling options
- problems or accidents
- safety hints
- beware of scams
- returning the car
- customer service issues
Renting a car can be a simple and easy process. But, for something so simple, many people end up with the unfortunate surprise that a quick, uninformed or misinformed decision can bring delays, unnecessary expenses or major legal hassles. This checklist can help you become informed so that renting a car stays a simple and pleasant experience.
[edit] Getting the best deal
- How can I save money on my Rental Car rates?
- What types of special discount programs are available?
- Is it better to take the daily or weekly rate?
- How will I know which is the best Rental Car Company for me to use?
[edit] clubs and programs
- Do Rental Companies offer any clubs with special perks?
- How much do the Premium Clubs cost to join?
- What are the advantages of joining a Rental Car Company’s Premium Club, is it worth it?
[edit] policies and requirements
- What is the minimum age requirement?
- Can I rent a car if I am less than 25 years of age?
- Who else can drive the car?
- What types of requirements do additional drivers have to meet to be allowed to drive the rental car?
- Is it a problem if I let someone else drive the car without first listing them as an additional authorized driver?
- What about all those tickets I have; will they effect me?
- Do I have to return the car to the same location?
- How far can I drive the rental car?
- How are rentals outside the United States different from those here?
- How can I get an International Driver’s Permit?
- What can help me prepare if I'm planning on driving in Europe?
[edit] payment information
- What forms of payment are accepted?
- If I don’t have a credit card, can I rent a car by leaving a cash deposit?
- What types of requirements are there for cash rentals?
[edit] special requests
- Can Rental Companies honor my special requests?
- Can I rent a car seat?
[edit] making reservations
- What will I need to know to reserve my Rental Car?
- What does economy, midsize, standard or full size, mean exactly?
- What size car do I really need?
- Does the Rental Car Company have an on or off-airport facility?
- How will I get to the rental facility?
- Where can I find information on airports so that it will be easier for me to find the rental car counter or meet the Hotel’s airport shuttle?
- What is the total? Does it include additional fees and taxes?
- How far beyond the reservation time will the Rental Company consider this reservation good?
- How can I decrease the chance that the Rental Car Company will break my reservation?
[edit] Insurance information
- Does my company provide for any insurance coverage?
- Does my regular insurance coverage transfer to rental cars?
- Does my credit card offer enough insurance coverage?
- Should I accept the Rental Company’s damage coverage?
[edit] Before you leave
- Do I need to confirm my reservation?
- Besides confirming my reservation, what else should I do before I leave on my trip?
- What if I am delayed, but will still need the car later?
- What if it turns out that I don’t need my rental car after all?
- How can I find out about the local road conditions before I arrive?
[edit] at the counter
- What if I get there and they don’t have a car for me?
- Will the Rental Company rent to me if I’m a drunken fool?
- How can I shorten my time waiting for a rental car?
- What documentation do I need to pick up my car?
- Is there a chance for an even better deal when I pick up the car?
[edit] important questions to ask at the rental counter
- Where do I return the car and how long should it take?
- What’s the best way to get to my next destination?
- How much gas should the car have in it when I pick it up?
- How do I know if my rental contract is correct?
- What paperwork will I need to keep in the rental car?
- What do I do if I have a problem with the car or need to keep it longer than planned?
[edit] refueling options
- What options do I have about refueling the car?
- Can I just replace the fuel myself?
- Should I buy the whole gas tank up front?
- What if I don’t have time to refuel the car when I told them I would?
[edit] problems or accidents
- What if when I get to the car, it has existing body or interior damage?
- What should I do if I lose my keys or lock them inside the rental car?
- What if I’m in an accident with my rental car?
- What should I do if I only have a small accident and the Rental Company tells me to keep the car until I’m ready to return it?
[edit] safety hints
- What do I need to do before I leave the rental lot?
- Why do summer rainstorms cause so many accidents?
- How do I avoid confrontations on the road?
- How can I avoid losing my car in the parking lot?
[edit] beware of scams
- What are some of the road scams that I need to know about?
- How else can I avoid being the victim of a crime?
[edit] returning the car
- What do I need to do at return?
- Should I trust my hotel to return my rental car?
[edit] customer service issues
- What should I do if I have any problem with the Rental Car Company?
- What information should I have if I need to contact the Rental Car Company’s customer service department?
