10 things you should be ready for before renting a Self-Drive Car

Imagine all of us buying a car and taking them out on the road every day! What a chaos it would be! Using public transport and renting a car makes complete sense especially in today's scenario when we already have an uncountable number of vehicles out there. Moreover, renting a Self-Drive Car is even better if you are planning a vacation. You can save money that you would be otherwise spending on chauffeur-driven cabs. If you are planning to rent a Self-Drive Car for the first time, you must consider these tips to be a smart customer.

1.Choice of car

Before thinking about the minimum rent of a car, you need to think about the type of vehicle that suits your needs on the trip, which will depend on the place you are traveling, people accompanying you, and the stuff you plan to carry along. If you are going to hilly terrains, you will need an SUV or a large sedan because of their large engine. If you have a family with children accompanying you, you may still need a large car to accommodate your stuff. However, while traveling with friends to the plains, you can simply save money by hiring a hatchback. You can also ask for additional accessories such as a GPS system, ski rack, car cushions, etc.

2.The trusted brand of cars

While renting a car, you must hire one that has the dealers across the country. For instance, while hiring Self-Drive Car Rental India, you can blindly trust Tata, Maruti, and Mahindra. In case, some fault occurs in your vehicle that you cannot deal with on your own; you can take help from their service centers located all over the country. However, the newer cars of other brands can also be trusted well as they do not cause any issues too soon. Nevertheless, whichever car you hire, be informed about their dealers and service network.

3.Looking for a Self-Drive Car Rental company

While several international car rental companies let you book a car for any place around the world, you can still give a try to the local players that can offer lower rates at an equivalent quality. Read about the local Self-Drive Car Rentals online and check their prices, reviews, services, etc. You can also make a booking using aggregator sites and booking engines.

4.Book early

Like you do for booking a hotel room to save money, you should also book a car well before the time you want to travel. Last minute deals can be very costly if you are going on a long weekend or during the holiday season.

5.Negotiating for price

Even the prices mentioned online are negotiable after applying coupons and credit card discounts. If you are planning a long distance trip for several days, you can always give a call to the company and ask them to negotiate the price. The chances are that they do not want to lose their customer and may offer a better price. If you have a coupon code, you can Google it along with the name of your company; you may find a great deal that can drop down your car price. You can also join the loyalty program of a company to enjoy consistently lower rates.

6.Condition of the car

It is important that you check the health of the car you hire before you take it. You can also ask for a test drive if the company allows. Since you are going to drive it yourself, the company will hold you liable in case there is any damage or dent on the car. While inspecting the car, if you find any marks or fault in gear, engine, pedals, etc., you must notify the company representative beforehand. The company expects you to return the car in the same condition as it was at the time of delivery.The reason for having an impeccable car makes it necessary to hire it from a respectable company. If you are organizing your vacation in India, you can look for the top-notch car rental services, one of them being MyChoize Self-Drive Car Rental. Despite being a new player in the market, the company offers great deals on good quality cars at affordable prices.

7.Check your driving license and the car documents

Before picking up a car, you must verify the validity of your driving license and have the car-related documents such as the registration certificate, insurance certificate, pollution test paper, etc. Make sure that you carry these documents in their original form as photocopies are not legal to carry and show if required.

8.Ground clearance

The roads in India are generally in not-so-good condition, and the humps are not scientifically designed. Therefore, it is better to insist on hiring a car that has higher ground clearance. It may become a real pain to drive a car with low ground clearance. It may harm the vehicle as well, and you may end up paying for the damage if you do not drive according to the car’s design.

9.Ask about the terms and conditions

Many companies deliberately forget to mention their terms and conditions while giving away their Self-Driven Cars on Rent. You must ask the company representative about the limitations on distance covered, any additional costs, and fuel cost liability, etc. Some car rental companies put a restriction on the maximum distance you can cover in a day. If the company gives you a full tank, e.g., MyChoize, you have to return the car with a full tank. Else, a certain percentage of fuel amount is charged. Similarly, some companies give you an empty tank of the car and expect you to return the same.

10.The repair charges you pay

In case the car breaks down, and you have to pay for the repair, the car rental company usually reimburses the billing amount. However, if the damage occurs due to driver's negligence or rash driving, the company is not liable to pay anything. You must ask for a comprehensive list of their terms and conditions of renting a car.