Are you shopping around for a quality car rental service? Whether you are looking to rent a car for a road trip or for a weekend within the city, there are a few things you should first be clear about. In this article, we will cover important information that you need to know and the best practices for renting a car.
By following this guide, you can rest easy knowing that you will be borrowing the right car without any negative surprises.
The first question that most people ask themselves would be the type and model of car to be rented. Setting aside personal preferences and tastes for a moment, there are several factors that you need to consider.
It is easy to forget given that you may own a car of your own, but the transmission type plays a vital role when choosing a car to rent. For starters, your car license would dictate whether you are eligible to rent a manual car or only automatic cars.
However, on top of your license eligibility, you should also consider your comfort level with each. Given that you would be likely driving a different car model from what you are used to, having some level of familiarity with its operation would be of great help.
One other consideration to be paid is that automatic cars do usually cost more to rent. This makes manual transmission cars more popular for those who are comfortable driving stick and who are looking to save on rental costs.
Rental cars may run on petrol or diesel. It is important that you are clear about the fuel that the car depends on for its power as using the wrong fuel could lead to disastrous results. Filling the car with the wrong fuel would cause damage which you would be liable to pay for when returning the car to the rental company.
Depending on the car’s consumption as well as the route of your trip, you may require a car that is more economical with fuel. This will help you to reach each destination safely with buffer fuel to spare. Additionally, if you are planning to drive to more isolated areas, then consider bringing along extra fuel in your boot for the journey.
The next consideration should be the number of people in your group. All cars have a recommended seating capacity that should be followed for safety reasons. Should you be planning to take longer road trips, consider getting a more spacious car as your guests may need more room to stretch out. Additionally, the extra space would be great for their wellbeing as they would feel less cramped.
Another related consideration to be taken into account is the amount of baggage or logistics that you are planning to transport. If the amount of luggage exceeds the capacity of the boot, you would have to store them within your seating area. As such, it is always a good practice to rent a car with excess buffer space to accommodate extra baggage.
When considering the trip itinerary, you should circle two factors. Firstly, the estimated time needed for your trip. Always consider inbuilding buffer hours or days in the event that unforeseen circumstances pop up. Furthermore, an itinerary will also inform you about the type of car to rent.
For example, for longer trips, a more spacious car would do you wonders. On the other hand, if you are travelling along more narrow roads and congested areas, a more compact car would serve you better.
If you are intending to rent a car in a different country, then you should know about the driving rules, regulations and practices in that country. Equally important is that you take note of all requirements and best practices for renting a car in this foreign environment.
Do be sure to check the legal driving age in foreign countries before you make the trip. Not all countries have the same legal driving age as your homeland, and thus would leave you with a rude shock when attempting to rent. It is recommended that you check with car rental operators in the country ahead of time on your eligibility.
Should you be travelling in a group and intend to rotate drivers, then do check whether the rest of your group is also eligible to drive the rented car.
With that being said, we recommend checking with the car rental company if there is an additional charge for each extra driver. Some companies require that you pay an extra daily fee per driver, regardless of whether they end up driving or not. Even if they do confirm an extra charge, you could request a waiver should you only be with your spouse. At times, these companies make concessions for couples, but this policy varies from company to company.
Depending on which country you are in the world, cars would either be driven on the left or right side of the road. This directly impacts which side the driver’s seat is on and thus the hand in which you will be shifting gears with. For drivers who are not accustomed to both systems, driving with the other system can be disorienting at the start.
We recommend that if you are not comfortable with an alternate system that you spend time familiarising yourself at the rental place. Many rental companies offer to help orientate you to the car and ensure that you are competent driving it.
Singapore Car Rental provides a full suite of services for both corporate and individual needs. Our clients are secure in the knowledge that we offer quality cars and professional expertise to ensure that every ride is smooth, comfortable and safe. We offer both daily car rental Singapore services as well as longer term rentals.
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.
Discover our car rental service Singapore today!
