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How to Rent a Car in USA Safely
February 26, 2017 By  Soumendra With  0 Comment
In  Travel

While in the USA, a car is a must, if you really want to go places. Car rental is available on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. When you rent a car, you will not receive a driver. You will have to drive the car yourself. Most car rental companies have locations at airports, and many of them also have several locations within the city or at hotels. It is possible to pick up a car at one location and drop it off at another location, as long as you specify this in advance. However, there may be extra charges for that. In order to rent a car, you will have to first visit a car rental location. 

You can make reservations over the phone, on the internet. I used SkyScanner and Expedia during my last road trip in the USA. There are many car rental companies in the USA like Alamo, CarRentals, Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, etc. I had booked mine with Alamo, as that was the most recommended car rental company on trip advisor forums due to their transparent terms and conditions.

Most companies won’t let you rent a car if you don’t have a credit card. Most companies require that all drivers are at least 25 years old. You are also responsible for any property damage or personal injury that you may cause while you are driving the rental car. Therefore, before you rent a car, you should buy car insurance. You should purchase liability insurance, at the minimum, in case you are in an accident. It is also advisable to buy comprehensive insurance (also called CDW/Collision Damage Waiver or LDW/Loss Damage Waiver) in case you cause any damage to the rental car itself. 
When you rent a car, the gas tank will be full and you are expected to return it full. If the gas tank is not full, it will be noted in the paperwork that it is 3/4 full, half full, etc., and you will return the car with the same tank level. Regarding gas, there are various options available. You can either prepay a full tank of gas, you can fill the tank yourself before returning it, or you can ask them to fill whatever amount of gas you used. 
 Generally, many types of cars are available: subcompact, compact, medium, large, full-size, premium, SUV, minivan, van, convertible, etc. There may be several different types of cars available in a given category, and if there is availability, you may be able to choose your own car. They may vary in seating capacity and in overall size. Car rental prices may vary a lot depending on the company, the season, whether it is a weekday or weekend, whether there are any major events going on in the city, or how many days you will rent it. Car rental companies maintain the cars well and generally provide newer cars with low miles.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU REACH THE RENTAL COUNTER :

  1. Ask the representative for the exact amount of hold on to your credit card.

  2. As the representative who you should call if the car breaks down or you lose your rental car keys.

  3. Make sure, you have all kind of insurance just to be safe : Insurance for Collision Damage Waiver, liability insurance, Loss Damage Waiver.

  4. Ask the representative, for the detailed road map and the bill receipt as well.
  5. Ask the representative, if they can upgrade your car, free of cost, as it happens a lot of time.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND BEFORE TAKING THE CAR FROM THE LOT :

Once you find your rental car, you want to make sure that you aren’t held responsible for someone else’s damage and that the car you’re renting is relatively safe and well-maintained.

  1. Walk around the car and snap photos of all panels. If there’s damage, mark that down on your paperwork. The photos will come in handy if the rental agency tries to hold you responsible for damage later.

  2. Visually check the tires to be sure they’re well inflated and that there is no significant uneven tread wear that could indicate a problem with the vehicle.

  3. Check the odometer – if the car has more than 25,000 miles it’s considered a senior rental car and you should be suspicious of that as well.

  4. Open the trunk and look for the spare tire and check that it’s properly inflated. Verify that there’s a jack and lug wrench for changing the tire as well (many tools disappear from rental cars).

  5. Open the hood and check the fluid levels – this is why you brought the paper towels (and the headlamp if it’s dark). If you know how to check the oil, antifreeze, and washer fluid great; otherwise a quick visual inspection is probably all you can manage.

  6. Get in the car, turn it on and let it warm up while you check that the gas gauge reads ‘full’ and adjust the temperature controls.

  7. Familiarize yourself with the car. Adjust the seat and mirrors (rear-view and side mirrors), turn on the hazard lights, check the window controls, try the windshield wipers, the turn signals, the headlights, etc.

  8. When you’re ready, take the car for a quick spin around the lot: turning, braking, and listening. If there’s a problem or a strange sound, it’s best to find out now before you get on the road. As you drive off the lot and head for the exit, try a few of the controls again just to be sure you’ve got them down.

  9. Check if the car has USB ports or not, as you will be needing it for music and charging too.

  10. Check if the car has the speakers installed or not, for your music.



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Soumendra An indie filmmaker, storyteller and a computer evangelist. Keeps traveling all over the world, and clicks only when he likes it.



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