Sunday, December 13, 2009

Airport Hire Car - Dont Get There Unprepared

By Liam Nelson

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.

Frequently you can get additional perks thrown in. You may not always get a super low rate, but you might get a free upgrade or maybe a free GPS unit. For drivers who come from areas where most cars have automatic transmissions, it's worth just about any price to get a free upgrade to an automatic rather than being stuck with a stick shift.

Don't sign a thing until you know whether or not you'll be charged for mileage. Some companies do, some don't. Some give you a certain amount for free, then charge for any overages. This might be acceptable to some people, but if you're in a situation where you need to drive another 100 miles to your hotel or grandma's house, this could end up costing you big time in the long run!

Next, don't get scared into buying some of that overpriced insurance the rental agents are trained to sell you. If you have doubts, call your insurance agency while you're there at the counter, and ask what you are already covered for! Don't pay for anything you don't absolutely need.

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. - 2368

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