Top 3 Tips for Business Car Rentals- What to Look For
When you compare car hire deals, one of the first things you’ll notice is the sheer number of features some cars, particularly luxury cars, have. The new car hires include some truly fabulous options; just about anything you could ever possibly imagine having in a car. The trick is to look for the best deals by creating a list of criteria for your car hire. This saves an enormous amount of time searching through car hire sites.
Decision making
You don’t just get what you pay for when you hire a car- You get the results of making your decision to hire a particular car. So before you make up your mind to hire anything, it’s a great idea to create a list of features you want for your trip.
1. Start with the type of car you want
If you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you really need to plan a long way ahead to make sure you’re getting the type of vehicle you want.
These are the big issues:
• Long distance travel
• Space for people and their things
• Comfort
• Communications when traveling
• Top vehicle quality
Think about these things, because you’ll really be able to pin down exactly what you want, and you can have a lot of fun while you’re at it. Have a really good look around, because you’re sure to find something you’ll really love.
2. Getting down to cases
While making up your mind, you’ll soon see that there are some cars which really fit the bill for a long trip, a holiday, or business travel. This is the stage where you can find some really good deals, and find some very good opportunities to treat yourself to a great vehicle.
Do you need-
• A 4WD
• A family wagon
• A city runabout
• Station wagon
• Business car
• Hatchback
• Convertible
• Luxury car
• Van or commercial vehicle
• High-grunt power vehicle for towing a caravan or boat
This gets a lot simpler when you start looking at models. A Pajero or a good family car will really stand out if you’re looking for a 4WD or a reliable family car. Take your time and go through the class of vehicle you prefer, because you’ll find something good for sure.
3. Features and amenities
There’s not much you can’t get in car hire if you pick a good car rental firm, preferably on a website that acts as an agent for multiple car hire companies, so you can compare deals as well.
Would you like-
• Air con, naturally
• Car stereo and MP3 player
• Lots of storage space
• Really comfortable seating
• Car computer
• Power steering
• Automatic or manual
• ABS
• Cruise control
• Sports suspension features
• iPhone car kit
There’s a lot more options, but you get the idea. The good news is that you’ll definitely be able to get all these things on a good car hire site. If you want to save time, just fill in one of the online forms or phone and ask for these features. They’ll find them.
Top 5 Tips for Comparing Car Rentals
Car rental can be a bit confusing. If you don’t regularly hire cars, or haven’t hired one for a while, you can feel pretty much behind the eight ball when checking out your options. The best approach is to compare car hire deals online. You can eliminate the less impressive offers and check out the extras very effectively.
This approach also saves you having to traipse around the car hire firms talking to sales people and listening to sales spiel which is usually about everything but what you need to know. Ironically, the sales people are far more useful when you’re talking specifically about the rental terms and deal options than when you’re in the process of making up your mind.
The good news is that you can get some excellent car rental deals, particularly from the online car rental services, which tend to be more focused on providing quality information. Their websites do provide a lot of useful information upfront, and you don’t have to go looking for basic information about their rental deals.
Comparing car rental deals
There are 5 basic methods of making sure you get a good car rental deal every time:
1. Make direct comparisons between car rental rates: Some car rental websites offer you a choice of bookings from several big name car rental companies like Avis, Hertz, or other very reputable businesses. They also provide you with a list of car models, rates and can calculate your rental costs based on pick up and drop off dates. This is a very simple way of comparing a lot of rental options at once, and it’s an excellent way of getting your benchmark prices upfront for budgeting.
2. Check out the booking and payment options: The best car rentals are those which keep the whole process simple and straightforward. All you should need to do is fill in a simple form, select your car and book yourself in. The payment process comes later, and it’s also very simple, just a credit card payment online.
3. Only rent from companies which have good quality information: There should be an FAQ page for basic information about charges and fees, to start with, because this information is required to be disclosed by consumer law.
4. You should be able to get information easily about extras: Most car rentals come with optional extras like baby seats or even things like an iPhone car kit. If this information isn’t easy to find, look elsewhere.
5. You should have a contact point for any questions about your rental: Good car hire firms provide good customer service, and it’s also basic standard practice to have a reliable contact process if you have any issues while you’re hiring the car.
Important: It’s very strongly suggested that you check out the very reliable online multi-company car hire sites first. A site which does bookings for several major car hire firms will always be a much better bet for finding good deals fast. You should have no trouble finding a good deal, a good car, and a hassle-free rental experience.
Top Tips For Winter Driving
Winter throws up conditions that can be challenging and treacherous, so common sense and a car in good working order are crucial to safe driving in inclement weather. Rain, wet roads, fog and snow all pose significant risks and driving habits need to change for the safety of everyone on the road. Car insurance companies usually receive more claims in the winter months simply because people don’t drive to the conditions, resulting in crashes – especially rear-enders. While driving with care is imperative, it is also important that car maintenance is not overlooked. The weather can get pretty bleak in places such as Victoria in the depths of winter, so if you get a car service in Melbourne, or anywhere for that matter, ask your mechanic to pay special attention to things such as brakes, tyres and lights for peace of mind in inclement conditions. Following the following driving advice will also help you stay out of trouble.
Be patient: Inclement weather is going to slow down the traffic. It’s also going to add to number of vehicles on the road as those who may walk or ride a bike opt for the dryness of their car. You should also allow extra time to get to your destination.
Turn on your headlights: This will increase visibility, not only helping you to see but to make sure other motorists see you.
Slow down when it’s wet: You don’t have to drive at the speed limit all the time. In deteriorating conditions, reduce your speed, which will give you more time to react.
Pull over in poor visibility: If you can’t see then it’s unsafe to drive. Whether it’s pelting rain or fog, don’t take any chances. Pull over safely and wait until conditions improve before moving back into the traffic.
Increase braking distance: Put more space between you and the car in front. This will also give you more opportunity to react to vehicles in front of you. Stopping distances in the wet increase significantly compared to dry conditions, so don’t take chances.
Brake smoothly: Jumping on the brakes in the wet can result in a loss of control. Keeping a significant gap between yourself and the car in front will go a long way to ensure you have plenty of time to brake smoothly.
Avoid a heavy right foot: Stomping on the accelerator is likely to cause wheel spin, loss of traction and ultimately loss of control. Start off smooth and if you feel the wheels lose their grip, ease off the power.
Avoid hard turns: Jerking the steering wheel is another way to lose control in the wet. Keep it smooth and steady and give yourself plenty of time to make turns.
Making sure your insurance is up to date is also important, as crashes and claims jump in winter because people don’t drive to the conditions. You may find it’s a good time to revisit your policy and get car insurance quotes to ensure you are adequately covered. It is also important that your car is well maintained, and one of the most important things you can do is regular servicing. If you are getting a car service in Sydney, for example, your mechanic will be able to tell you if you need new tyres, wiper blades or your brakes require adjusting. There are a few things you can keep an eye on yourself.
• Tyres: Check for wear. A bald tyre is sure to slip on wet roads, so make sure they are up to scratch.
• Wiper blades: It’s a good idea to get new ones before winter starts each year. They are easy to fit yourself, but check at an auto store to determine what’s right for your vehicle.
• Headlights: Make sure they are working, along with your tail lights and indicators.
• Brakes: Regular servicing will help you determine how your brakes are holding up. Get them adjusted or visit an expert who can check them for you if unsure.
• Heater: Make sure you can demist the front windscreen when it fogs up. Using the air-conditioner will clear it faster. Check the rear demister is also working evenly.