This summer, many have already hit the road to travel to new and fascinating places. Road trips are a wonderful way to travel to see a country up-close. You’re able to set your own schedule, unlike when touring by bus.
Of course, driving a rental car for travel can be more difficult than letting someone else do the driving, but the rewards can be well worth it. My biggest peeve about bus touring is the couple on every bus who’s always late, while everyone else managed to get back to the bus on time, ready to leave for the next destination. When you drive yourself, you leave when you’re ready, plus you’re able to stop to take a great photo, whenever you want.
Here are some tips for renting a car for travel I’ve found useful.
• In the US, check rental costs at the airport vs. the city — More often than not, states and cities in the US have legislated special fees and taxes on rental vehicles picked up at airports. I’ve run into such fees which exceeded some cars’ daily rental cost. When making your rental car reservation, compare the cost between picking up your vehicle at the airport, versus in the city to which you’re flying, to begin your road trip.
Also, find out if you can drop off the car at the airport from which you’re flying home, at no additional cost. Often airport rental car penalties only apply to the airport pickup, not the drop-off.
• Consider insurance carefully — You have important decisions to make about your rental car insurance if you have insurance on your own car or are paying for the rental car by credit card.
Before you rent, check your own auto insurance policy, if any, to verify its rental car coverage. Some policies provide a full range of rental car insurance, while others provide the insurance with specific, but meaningful, limitations. Many credit card providers furnish some rental car insurance when the rental is paid on their card, but you’ll need to verify the precise coverage. My American Express card provides full rental car insurance every time I rent, for a very small charge, when I pay for the rental on it.
When renting a car, you’ll be offered several types of insurance: a collision damage waiver (CDW), covering collision damage on your rental vehicle; a loss damage waiver (LDW), covering other instances of car damage, such as if you’re hit anonymously while parked, vandalized, or if the vehicle is stolen; and finally, liability insurance.
US car insurance will generally cover liability for personal injury and property damage when driving a rental car. Some will also cover both collision and comprehensive damage, which almost duplicate CDW and LDW coverage, but few policies cover “loss of use” (at this time, only eight states in the US have policies which include “loss of use”), which the CDW normally includes. “Loss of use” is a charge levied by the rental car companies for the time the car is not rentable, such as during repairs. The longer the repairs take, the more you’re charged.
(No US auto insurance includes liability coverage in Mexico, and in some other countries as well. Some exclude all coverage in those countries.)
• Don’t agree to the gasoline prepay option too quickly — You’re normally required to turn in your rental car with its gas tank filled, unless you purchase the prepay gasoline option. If you’re in a rush when you return your rental, or if there are no gas stations near the rental drop-off, this is a terrific convenience, but you can typically purchase gas at local stations at a price far lower than the prepaid cost.
• Before you leave the rental car lot, check the car carefully — Unless you’ve previously driven the type of car you’re renting, make sure you know: how to use its basic controls; where the gas tank fill opening is located and how to unlock it; if the fuel tank is actually filled; that the heater and/or air conditioner actually work, etc.
Make sure the car has a properly inflated spare tire and working jack, in case of a flat, and that you know where the jack can be placed.
Check the car fully for preexisting damage. With a smartphone or camera, photograph every area in which there is any damage on the car, to both identify the extent of the damage and its location as proof against a claim of damage. Check for both exterior and interior damage.
• Many rental car companies offer member discounts and partner deals — My favorite rental car company’s partnership with a credit card company gives me a significant discount when charging the rental on their card. I also get top tier status in the rental car member program via the credit card for other advantages, including points in my favorite airline frequent flier program. Check out what deals might be available for you.
• Renting in Europe? Cellphones with US cellular providers can’t dial toll-free European phone numbers — If you have a US cellphone while traveling in Europe, make sure you get regular “toll” numbers for your rental car company, in case you need to call them for emergency service.
After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
