5 tips for renting a car

Yago González Mato 25 July 2018 4 min.

Renting a car can often be a stressful task due to the vast number of cars available on the market. Today we will give you several tips to carry out this task more efficiently.

When certain dates come around during the year, especially during holiday periods, a range of possibilities opens up, and a rental car becomes an indispensable element to make it feasible. However, doubts start to arise. You don’t know whether to get a family-sized car, whether to opt for an SUV, an off-roader, or finally settle for a compact and lightweight car.

Many of us have found ourselves in this situation and tend to stick with the first offer we find from the typical well-known car rental companies, instead of comparing prices and options with the competition, where we could have found a car that fits our needs much better at a good price.

Furthermore, we then encounter surprises we haven’t checked, such as limited mileage or surcharges for leaving the country, among others.

Below, we present several tips you should consider when choosing your rental car so you can make the best possible decision:

Choose the car that best suits what you need

It is not the same to rent a car to go to the beach on your own or with your partner as it is to go to the mountains with all the necessary equipment or with several friends carrying plenty of luggage. Consider carefully with whom you are travelling or what plans you have, what type of terrain you will cross, how much luggage you will need, or what accessories you will take. Bear in mind that if, for example, you are going to travel along several dirt or difficult-access roads, perhaps an SUV or an off-roader will be the most logical option. If, for example, you plan a long trip along well-paved roads but with several occupants or a lot of luggage, perhaps a estate car will be your best option. So analyse what type of route you are going to take.
Be careful with the conditions you sign when renting a car

Pay close attention, especially with online bookings, to the rental conditions of the car you are going to choose. Among these, the most important are probably those regarding unlimited mileage or the restriction on driving within national territory. Keep in mind that rates for cars with limited mileage are incredibly abusive, so if you intend to go outside the country or move around constantly covering many kilometres, only the unlimited mileage option will be of interest to you. Also check whether it is permitted to take the vehicle out of national territory, especially if you plan to cross borders, since if you break this rule and anything happens, the consequences can be disastrous for your wallet. Also remember to read the insurance conditions carefully: what it covers, how much it costs, etc.
Inspect the car together with the company providing it to avoid scams

We often find ourselves in the frustrating situation of finding problems with the car that can end up costing us our deposit or incur extra charges without us having caused them. To avoid this kind of situation and disputes, make sure you check every inch of the vehicle when it is handed over, ideally accompanied by someone in charge from the company so you can be sure everything is in order. You will save yourself one more worry and be able to enjoy your holiday all the better.
Don’t settle for the first offer you see

Don’t be lazy. I know it is tedious to choose among so many possibilities, but that is what they are for. Compare prices between several companies on the Internet. You have a wide variety of online portals that will help you with this task and quickly compare the best offers from different companies. Also, make sure you look for an offer with a location that is easy to access for collecting the car. Once you have made a thorough analysis of the market offers, make your decision and go ahead.
Treat the car as if it were your own

Many of us neglect the necessary care for a car that is not ours. We assume that because it is a rental we don’t care so much what might happen to it. However, you always expect the best service from the company, so show them in return that you are a great customer they can trust, not only to save money on the deposit, but for your reputation and your moral principles, which may earn you, in the future, a possible discount with the company.