Are you a tourist coming into town looking for a private form of transportation? Or perhaps a resident in need of car rental options? If so, then this article is for you. In it, we will be covering what you should know about daily car rental Singapore services. For first time car renters, this guide can be especially useful as it brings you up to speed. From pre-rental processes to car collection, from on the road events to the returning of the car, we have got you covered.
1. Introducing the Car Rental Industry
When introducing the car rental industry, there are a few things you should know.
Firstly, you enjoy a plethora of choices when choosing the brand, type and size of cars. More importantly, you have great flexibility to switch up your choice of drive frequently. Unlike when you purchase a car and are more or less stuck with it for a long period of time, car rental services allow you to easily change cars between each rental.
Secondly, beyond having many choices when selecting your car, there are also many car rental companies to choose from. From large international brands to smaller local rental companies, you certainly will not be lacking for choice. Fortunately, most of these companies have websites and social media platforms, allowing you to shop from the comfort of your seat.
Thirdly, information is not always readily available. In this industry, the details are of vital importance and could make the difference between a fair deal and a bad deal. As such, it is important that you take steps to find out about the full terms prior to the collection of the car.
2. Choosing the Right Car
When choosing the right car for rental, you have to consider its intended usage. This would include the number of people that it is to ferry, the amount of logistics to be moved, the occasion or events involved as well as the environment.
The number of people and baggage will affect the capacity of the car needed in order to comfortably transport everyone around. A number of different car configurations are available, from saloon cars to hatchbacks, from SUVs to MPVs, you certainly will be able to find a model that works for your needs.
It may be tempting to get the car with the largest capacity given its ability to take all of your belongings without further need for planning. However, this would be an inefficient choice as not only do larger vehicles consume more fuel, but they may not readily fit into tighter spaces. For example, if you were to take a high capacity car or minivan into an older and tighter space multi-storey carpark, you would be placing yourself in a stressful scenario.
3. Your Choice of Dates are Important
We always recommend that you book the dates of rental ahead of time by at least 2 weeks to a month. Not only does this reduce the possibility of you being unable to attain the car of your choice, but you won’t be caught out by the prices charged.
Rental rates are relatively the same throughout the year except for the following 2 scenarios:
Typically, rental companies use price differentiation between rentals on weekdays and weekends. Weekend rentals are priced higher due to the increased demand. Having said that, some companies offer a discount if you choose to rent the car for the entire weekend (Friday pickup & Monday return).
Another possible scenario is that of festive periods such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa and Christmas. You should expect a surge in rental rates as there is always increased demand during the period. Many families choose to rent cars in order to allow them to travel as a group to different locations around Singapore.
4. You will need your Driving License
In order to reserve and rent a car, you will need to produce your driving license that is relevant for the category of car to be rented. For local drivers, you would require a class 3 licence in order to rent a car. Depending on whether you had attained a class 3, 3A or 3C licence, you may or may not be eligible to rent your choice of car.
For expatriates, you will have to produce one of the following:
- A driving licence issued by your home country and officially translated to English
- An International Driving Permit (IDP) which has been endorsed by authorised bodies such as the automobile Association (AA)
With these licences, you will be eligible to drive in Singapore for up to a year. Should you wish to drive for a period longer than a year, then you should convert your licence into a local one. To do so, you will just have to pass a theory test that ensure your knowledge of Singapore’s traffic rules.
If you are a probation driver with less than 1 year of driving experience, then you would find that not all rental companies would rent their cars to you. For those who do, a higher insurance premium likely to be requested in order to cover the higher risks that comes with renting the car to you.
When collecting the rental car, we recommend that you show up a good half an hour ahead of the pickup time. Do bring along your licence, identification, deposit (if required) and booking confirmation. By showing up early, you would be catering for the time needed for the entire collection process which can range between 15 to 30 minutes.
As part of the process, the details of your rental will be confirmed and you will be briefed on important details of the rental. For example, if you have requested for child seats or probation plates, then you should double confirmed that they have been catered for.
Another important aspect of the car collection process is your inspection of the rented car. You should always opt to run through a proper takeover of the current car condition with the company’s employee. Do ensure that any dents, scratches, worn out paint, rim damage, brake cracks and marks are found and acknowledged by both parties.
In addition to exterior defects, you should also inspect the interior of your car. This would include the condition of the seats, steering wheel, spare tyres while also noting the mileage of the car.
Both parties should be in acknowledge of the condition of the car as you would not want to be held liable for defects that were caused by a previous renter.
6. Renting for a Road Trip to Malaysia
If you are in need of a car rental for a road trip to Malaysia, you should be aware that not all rental companies allow for entry to Malaysia. This is because their cars are not covered for entry to Malaysia. Moreover, you should specifically check if there are any additional surcharges for brining the car into Malaysia as certain rental companies do levy extra charges.
When returning the car, do try to have it back with the rental company 30 minutes before the end of the rental period. This allows for the car rental company to process your car while also giving you time to clear it of your belongings.
Rent Your Next Vehicle from Singaporecarrental.sg
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But the best part is that we give you all this, at competitive prices – our quotes are all inclusive with NO hidden charges. We also provide delivery of cars to your doorstep island wide at no charge. And offer car rental service to both Changi Airport and Hotels as well.
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