by Perhaps you’re going on a road trip with friends and want to rent a Sprinter van for your adventure.
Or maybe you’re making plans for your wedding, and you’ve decided to hire a luxury car for your special day.
5 Important Questions to Ask a Car Hire Company
Either way, you must do your research and find the right car hire company to trust. Start your search by asking these questions:
How much will I have to pay?
Most companies will ask you to pay an hourly or daily fee (depending on how long you want to rent the vehicle) as well as a bond or deposit.
However, these aren’t the only fees that you have to cover. You might also have to pay an admin fee for each toll that you’ll use as well as a surcharge if you go beyond the kilometer and fuel allowance and if your driver falls below the required age limit.
It’s also important to prepare for contingencies that can increase the overall amount that you’ll have to pay. These include late fees (if you return the vehicle beyond the agreed time and date) as well as vehicle damage fees.
Is insurance included in the rental?
Many car hire companies include insurance in the rental package. However, you should clarify exactly what the insurance covers and how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket before it kicks in. Consider getting additional insurance to have better coverage.
What steps should I take if the car breaks down?
Even well-maintained vehicles can develop problems while on the road. So, when renting a vehicle, ask the car hire company what you need to do if it breaks down.
They should provide you with a phone number that you can call for emergencies along with an out-of-hours number in case you experience car problems at night.
Don’t forget to ask about what the company would do when your rental car breaks down. Ideally, they should immediately send out a mechanic who can perform roadside repairs.
If these aren’t possible, the company should provide you with a replacement vehicle and arrange for the damaged car to be towed back to the branch.
What should I do if I won’t be able to return the car on time?
If you believe that you’ll be delayed, call the company’s customer service team and inform them about what’s going on.
As mentioned above, you’ll likely be required to pay a late fee if you go beyond the agreed return time and date.
However, depending on the circumstances, the company might decide to waive the late fee, particularly if you’re delayed for only a few minutes.
When will I get the bond back?
Different car hire companies have different bond release policies, so ask your provider for an estimated date.
Remember that certain factors might cause a delay; if you’re renting a car during busy seasons like Christmas or Easter, you might get the bond back at a much later date. Finding the right car rental company can be daunting and overwhelming.
Fortunately, through these questions, you can effectively narrow down your options and select the ideal Sydney luxury vehicle hire company to trust.
