A Guide to Renting a Car

The process of renting a car isn’t always straight forward as you may not know where to rent it from or things you should consider.

This guide to renting a car will take you through the process step by step and explains all the factors that you need to keep an eye on when renting a car.

The most common problem that people face when they are renting a car is regarding car insurance in NZ. It isn’t necessary to buy rental car insurance but third party rental insurance could come in case of an accident. 

What is car rental?

Car rental is a company or an agency that allows you to hire a car for a short period of time that could vary from agency to agency.

The vehicle is owned by that particular company and may only be used by the person who rents it for a specified period of time. Car rental in NZ makes this convenient and fast for the people of New Zealand to rent cars online. 

Why should you rent cars?

Car rental is an option that is now being availed by more and more people as awareness increases.

People who love travelling are moving from place to place and an opportunity like this allows them to commute on their holiday easily. Even if you are going for a business trip, you can rent a car and travel freely.

Car rental allows you to be free of any worries about the taxi prices or timings. Moreover, you can easily find car rental services when you reach a particular place as they are mostly located near the airport.

Along with that, you can enjoy the privacy and comfort car rental will allow you to have. 

Where can you rent cars from?

If you are new to New Zealand and plan on renting a car, you need not worry anymore. The place is full of shops and companies that deal in car rental services as the demand for car rentals has been increasing.

Renting a car in Wellington and renting a car in Queenstown is super easy, as there are car rental shops almost everywhere! This might be because Queenstown is the biggest tourism city in New Zealand, so having car rental shops is useful for tourists.

Ace rent a car is a company located near the airport for people flying in. Dollar car rental is another popular car rental company that will let you be able to rent a car in Christchurch and you can rent a car from Auckland too. 

Do your research

When you get into the car renting process, you need to make sure you have the right information. You should be able to compare costs between different companies and among different car models as well.

You should search for any discounts that you may be able to avail. Moreover, make sure that the model you are renting has not been recalled by the government.

As you are entering a legal obligation, make sure that you are aware of the terms and conditions that may be there. Last but not the least, don’t forget to take into account any taxes or charges that could be involved in renting the car.

The more you research, the more likely you are to find the best car rentals, price wise and the quality of the car. If you’re low on cash or on a budget, doing research will help you find budget car rental in NZ.

You should also do some research into insurance for car rentals as that can always be a good idea. You can find more information by comparing car insurance in NZ and find what car insurance you can afford.

Check the car before using it

A lot of people make the mistake of skipping this step, but it is essential for you to make sure that you have a detailed look at the car before you leave with the car.

You must check for any scratches, dents, and any damages that may already be there on the car before you rent it.

Book the car in advance

Just like when you plan your vacations beforehand, it is advised that you rent the car in advance as well. It will allow you to stay relaxed while you travel as you will already have everything in order when you land. As soon as your flight is confirmed, you must book the car as well.

If you book the car at short notice, you will have to pay a higher price for it.  Booking the car in advance will allow you to pay a lower price and you may also be able to get discounts. It will save you money on your car rental!

Understand the potential fee charges

When you are renting a car, you need to be aware of the charges that you will have to pay. There could be taxes or surcharges involved when you rent a car. Additional fees could also be charged given the situation.

Some of these charges include early or late pickups and drop offs, airport charges, mileage charges, and equipment rental charges. Moreover, if you hire a driver, you will have to pay additional fees.

Be sure of such charges as companies don’t always disclose them with the advertised price. When you sign the contract, read it carefully to know all the charges involved. 

Check the car when you pick it up and when you drop it off

Inspecting the car is a very important step when it comes to renting a car. People often forget to do it, but it is essential for you to take a detailed look at the car. Make sure that before you exit the agency with the car, you have inspected the car inside out.

Look around the body of the car for any scratches, dents, or damages and note them down. This will allow you to avoid any problems that may occur later. For further confirmation, you must document everything to avoid confusion.

This can be done by taking pictures and informing the agent to keep them as a record. Moreover, the paperwork must also have a record of the damages that already exist. Such precautions will help you to avoid any misunderstanding with the car rental. Lastly, in the case of any further damage, you must inform the agency.

Get travel insurance for your car rental

This is something various people are worried about and needed a solution for. What if your rental car is damaged, stolen, or met an accident? Don’t worry! Travel insurance policies have you covered as they cover car rental excess in the case of a robbery or an accident.

Car hire excess will allow you to save money when it comes to any damage done to your rental car. It is even more beneficial when you have a travel insurance policy that covers for car hire excess. Such travel insurance policies will allow you to cover car rental excess, which is the amount that you pay to the agency in case of damage or an accident.

Travel insurance can also be bought from overseas. Some policies also cover the expense of transporting the vehicle back to the closest depot. 1Cover is one such company that offers travel insurance policies.