Automotive Guruz

An automotive blog offering car insurance tips, car reviews, buying guides and everything else related to cars.

Are Auto Insurance Rates Rising?

Posted March 08th, 2010 at 08:03 pm by
Filed under: Car Insurance, Car Insurance Tips
When it comes to auto insurance, everyone is always searching online trying to find the absolute best deals on their auto insurance policies. Unfortunately, you ...
readmore

Buying Car Insurance Online

Posted March 03rd, 2010 at 07:03 pm by
Filed under: Car Insurance, Car Insurance Tips
In most parts of the world, driving without insurance is illegal. The number of people on the road is increasing day by day and the ...
readmore

Are Auto Insurance Rates Rising?

Posted March 08th, 2010 at 08:03 pm by
Filed under: Car Insurance, Car Insurance Tips
When it comes to auto insurance, everyone is always searching online trying to find the absolute best deals on their auto insurance policies. Unfortunately, you ...
readmore

Buying Car Insurance Online

Posted March 03rd, 2010 at 07:03 pm by
Filed under: Car Insurance, Car Insurance Tips
In most parts of the world, driving without insurance is illegal. The number of people on the road is increasing day by day and the ...
readmore
Car Rentals's Articles

How to Save Money on Car Rentals

Are you going on an important personal or business trip? Want to drive there, but don’t want to rack up the mileage and put more wear and tear on the family car? Then at this very moment, you are probably worrying about the cost of renting a car. But you don’t need to worry – there are many ways you can save money on car rentals. Read on to find out how.

Decide what size vehicle you really need. If you are traveling on your own, there’s a good chance that you can get away with renting a subcompact car for your trip. That’s generally the most cost-efficient way to go because the rental and the gas will be cheaper. However, if you will be traveling with a family or co-workers, comfort will be of importance so you will most likely want to upgrade to a mid-size car that can handle the demands of your passengers and ensure a safe comfortable ride to your destination.

Get quotes and ask about specials. Before you decide from what company you plan to rent the car from, get out your local yellow page listings or get online to find the best deals. Then locate a phone number and make a telephone call to get price quotes. Oftentimes, if you explain the reason for your trip and that you are calling around to other companies for quotes, each company will try to under-quote their competitors in order to get your business. Customer service agents do their best to get you to rent from them so be sure and take advantage of this by speaking with a live person first.

Ask if the rental club checks driving records. Many consumers do not know this, but when you give the rental company a copy of your driver’s license and sign the rental agreement and release, you are giving the rental company the right to check your driving record through the DMV. Many rental companies can increase the rental price or refuse to rent you a vehicle if you have multiple tickets or accidents appearing on your driving record. So be sure to ask about this before signing anything.

Learn more about hidden fees and extra insurance. When renting a vehicle from a car rental company, they each will assess small fees to increase the rental rate. Fees like vehicle refueling charges, cleaning fees, late return fees, and extra insurance can really rack up. In many cases, if you have your own insurance policy for your own cars, your insurance carrier will cover your rental vehicle for no additional cost to you for liability and collision. You do not have to purchase the additional insurance that car rental companies sell- these policies are often grossly over-inflated and useless.

Check with your company for corporate rates. If you are traveling for business purposes, the best thing to do is check with your corporate travel or human resource department to see if your company is eligible for any corporate rates with rental companies. Oftentimes, they will be able to provide you with a special code to use or a contact that will allow you to rent a car for a reduced price. You can hold onto this code and use it later for personal use if you wish and save even more.

Join a club. That’s right, if you want to save money join a travel club like AAA or AARP. The memberships cost very little, but the savings you will realize on car rentals, hotels and other travel amenities over time will be well worth it. Many club members save as much as 50% of their travel costs, including car rentals.

The Fine Points of Hiring A Car - Car Rental Fees Must Know’s

Renting a car is never easy. The Internet is full of advertisements promising the best deal and they usually give a ‘base price’ in the range of $70 to $100 per day depending upon the size of the car. However, at most times the companies do not explain the hidden costs or even what constitutes the base price offered. Depending on which country the customer rents a car, the quantum of various fees varies. However, it is best to make informed choices when it comes to renting a car - keeping abreast of all the fees that make up your rental bill is the first step when you head out to your travel destination.

Most car rental companies demand a safety deposit the first time you rent a vehicle. This portion of the rental fee is fully refundable and may come to a couple of hundred dollars depending upon the size of the car. The car rental fee is next; this is the actual charge for renting the car. Most car rental companies also charge a ‘contract fee’ to cover the administrative costs of renting the car to the customer. If the customer requests for a delivery of the car and a place for collection of the returned car, the company may charge two separate fees, once for delivery and the other being the collection fee. Beware though! A collection point designated in a different state by the customer may attract anything up to a couple of thousand dollars as collection fees depending upon the distance of the collection point from the car company’s home office. If the delivery is requested at the airport, a separate ‘airport surcharge’ will also be applicable. In addition, if the delivery or the collection is requested after normal working hours, an ‘after hours fee’ may also be charged. Traditionally, car companies charge a state taxes fee should the client need to drive across states. Driving across international borders may even attract a cross border fee - this is a mandatory fee that may be substantial and not easily waived. Also if you have an additional driver, an additional driver fee can also be charged.

Some countries also charge a tourism fee for tourists who wish to rent a car. Most US cities charge a flat rate as toll tax, and this can range from $2 to $5 per day. Some car companies also charge fuel charge fee or extra mileage fee. This may depend on what scheme of car rental the customer has opted for. Some companies go by a set number of kilometers driven per day or set number of hours per day. Any excess kilometers or time is then charged as extra fee. In case the customer requires a baby seat or a ski rack then additional fees are required to be paid. In some countries being young, usually under the age of 25, attracts extra fees in the form of younger driver fees. Again look out for the hidden fees. With fancy names such as collision damage waiver (CDW) fees, you may pay hefty sums as much as $15 a day. This fee is not actually collision insurance but more as a guarantee that the rental company will pay for any damage to the rental car, along with a caveat of some ‘deductibles’.

Finally if you intend to return the car earlier than planned, don’t hope for a sizeable refund. Many companies actually penalize you for cutting the rental duration; an early return fee becomes admissible! It is therefore extremely important that you - a prospective customer - are attentive to the ads and the terms and conditions of hire before signing up for a car rental. If you take renting seriously, consulting your car insurance company or your credit card company before hiring a car would be a great idea. In the end, don’t fall for tall claims and false promises; choose your rental company prudently and have a worry-free vacation!

Hire a Car Without Leaving the Airport

If you’re travelling to Murcia then you will find that you can get around much better if you hire a car. If you can find a fantastic deal when hiring a car then you will be able to get much more out of your holiday.

If you’re travelling with a large group of people then hiring a car will probably be much more affordable than taking cabs and public transport. This means that not only is car hire more convenient but it should also be cheaper. You will find hundreds of different activities to explore around the region. Many tourists have really enjoyed hiring a car as it’s the perfect way to get around and see the country.

Get great deals on car hire

It’s very reasonable to hire a car in Murcia, when you compare this to the cost of public transport and cabs then you might be quite surprised. People can enjoy travelling in car as they get to see more of the sights. Why should you waste time waiting for public transport? By hiring a car you don’t have to wait, you can get around very quickly without any of the hassle.

Hiring a car is surprisingly easy and affordable, you can even do it online without leaving your home. You can find a number of different vehicles, all of which can suit your needs and budget. When using the internet you can also get some very good deals on accommodation in the area that you want to stay in, you could even use it to get discount flight tickets to Murcia airport. Comparing these different prices and deals on the internet is much easier than running between physical shops, or leaving it until you get to the airport. When you have found a great deal then you can easily make your booking, this allows you to sort out your entire holiday without breaking a sweat. Holidays should be relaxing, so why can’t booking them be relaxing too?

Choose from a great selection of vehicles

When you are looking at hiring a car for your holiday then you need to make sure you consider a number of different factors, all of which will determine which types of cars are suitable for you.

Most importantly you need to consider your budget, and also the number of people going on holiday. If you are travelling in a large group then you can get some large vehicles which are very economical.

For people travelling alone or as a couple there are some good priced cheaper cars. You can even get some sporty models if you want to travel around in style! Regardless of the type of vehicle which you choose you’ll find out that getting around Murcia in a car is much easier and comfortable than using public transport, not to mention possibly cheaper!

Alicante Car Hire Tips

by Leroy Calstard

Hiring a car in Benidorm is actually a pretty easy thing to do. Thousands of tourists flock to this city every year. There are over 20 separate companies which hire cars in Benidorm. The city has international and national car rental firms. You should be careful to compare the rates, packages and any fees so that you can get the best deal.

Benidorm Car hire - Reserve your Car

You should make sure that you reserve your car before you leave home, this means that you can get the best deal available. You should make sure that you compare the prices of a number of different companies. Try looking on the internet to find great priced car hire. Make sure you compare the features as well as just the price.

You then have an option, you can either decide to pick your car up from the airport, or you can rent it from a company in the city rather than the airport. Sometimes one is cheaper than the other, which is why you should spend some time comparing prices. If you rent from the city then most companies will come and pick you up. You could also catch a bus from Benidorm so that you can pick your car up.

Additional Costs for a Benidorm Car Hire

There are sometimes some sneaky hidden fees which can quickly add up to a considerable amount of money if you’re not careful. You should spend time asking extra questions and read the fine print in detail so that you can avoid extra fees.

Insurance can be very expensive, this should protect any damage done to the car while you are using it. This means that it prevents you having to pay for the damage. Some agreements have this cost built in, however most charge extra for the insurance. Some people will not opt for this extra cost, however that’s your choice.

There are also extra charges for mileage with some cars, this is a very important cost which you need to think about. Some firms offer unlimited mileage, others offer a certain amount of mileage for a certain price and then you pay more for travelling more. You should ask about the mileage when renting the vehicle. If you want to travel a lot then I would suggest going for an unlimited package.

Make sure you check out the time which you need to return the car, some can be returned 24 hours a day, but you need to know when your car is due back. If you return it late you may have to pay for an extra day, which isn’t want anyone wants!

You should spend time comparing the rates for daily and weekly rental, there can be quite a large difference between the two. Sometimes it might be cheaper to rent it for a week even if you don’t need it for the whole week.

You should also find out how much the company will charge if you take the car back without any gas inside. Sometimes they will charge much more than you would buy the gas at the pump. Make sure you ask about this price difference well in advance.

About the Author:

Budget Rental Car Discount Codes

One of the best ways to guarantee an enjoyable vacation is to rent a car from a budget car rental as it could be cheaper and will definitely be more convenient for you and your friends. Sometimes though, the companies that rent budget cars, supply cars that are at the bottom end of the spectrum. Always be prepared, that is my motto, you do not have to drive a car that should have been scrapped just because you want to save a few dollars on the rental. So, just to help, I have made a written down a few pointers to help.

If the type of car you want to drive is of no real concern to you, use a car rental web site that allows you to dictate your own price level. Do not dismiss this type of sites because they want your business and sometimes offer other incentives like unlimited mileage for example. Package deals like fly-drive and fly-drive and stay often discount the car rental element of the package just try avoid the airline companies when you book. If you do not need to organize your car rental with the airline, try a company that is outside the airport you are landing at and you will see they are much more competitive.

Just remember that you are likely to come across some amazing deals on the internet if you look. In fact many car rental web sites will only give a discount if you book online with them. Do not always take the first offer that comes your way, unless you are limited on time because there are bound to be other discount offers around if you have the time to take a look. The biggest benefit to all this is it can take only a few minutes to do this if you are using the internet.

Another thing to try is whether your credit card company has negotiated special discounts with the car rental company you are going to use. Many car rental companies have arranged special deals with large organizations to ensure they have more business, perhaps you are a member of one of these.

The only problem you may find is that a budget rental car may not have been looked after with the same care as a more reputable company and there may some damage which you do not want to be liable for. In addition, try to check out all the accessories, wipers, radio, brakes, seatbelts etc, to familiarize yourself with them, and also to check if they work, like the previous tip, you might be charged for this if you don’t inform them.

More often than not your existing vehicle insurance will cover a budget rental car but it is always best to check first. Saving money is the game so why pay for auto insurance you don’t need when renting your car. Car rental insurance is always required when you rent a car.

One last tip is to try and collect your budget rental car as soon as the office opens as many of the cars already on rental will not have been returned and there is a good chance you will get a upgrade at no extra cost.

  
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