When you read the title, you probably ask yourself, “What can go wrong with renting a car?” Unfortunately, there are many answers to that question. First, your rented car may be a lemon car. You may get conned, and to pay for damage that is not your mistake. Second, you can’t expect much for safety features in rented cars. Seatbelts and airbags may be faulty, and the tires may be worn out.
But don’t be discouraged. Renting a car has many benefits for sure. Here are the safety precautions you can do to prevent bad things from happening:
Get a Rental Company with Online Presence
The most common scenario people opt for renting a car is when they travel to a new place. And once you arrive at the hotel you book, you are most likely to find many car rentals offered to you. But don’t make any decisions just yet. These days, rentals that have online presence provide some sort of user protection better than those who don’t. Just in case you have a bad experience, you can always share it with many other people.
Review the Coverage
Insurance is your best protection here. Check your credit card and see the details of your coverage. Usually, it will cover you regardless if you are using your own car or a rented one. But there is always a possibility that you may not get the coverage. If that’s the case, you should look for a separate insurance provider. Paying several hundred dollars upfront for a premium is much better than to spend thousands later.
Check the Engine’s Oil
This step looks trivial, but somehow many people seem to forget about it. Although the indicator on the dashboard is supposed to be your way of knowing if the engine has enough oil, you can’t be so sure unless you open the hood and see for yourself. In fact, you can’t be too careful about it. If you rent the car for a long trip, bring it to an auto shop to get inspected.
Do a Test Drive Around the Rental’s Lot
This is the rule of thumb in renting cars. You don’t leave the rental’s lot unless you are sure everything in the car works properly. And the only way to know that is by driving the car around. You should check the braking system, gear transition, and the steering. As for the airbags, make sure that the rental contract explicitly says the car’s airbag system works properly. …