Safe Car Hire Checks Before You Drive Off
Launch library · evergreen read
Inspecting a hire car thoroughly before leaving the rental lot, photographing any existing damage and confirming it is properly noted on the rental agreement, protects against being charged later for damage that was already genuinely present on the car well beforehand. A few photos taken calmly can prevent a frustrating dispute later.
Checking that basic safety features, including working lights, brakes and tyre condition, are genuinely in order before driving off, particularly for a longer trip or unfamiliar road conditions, is well worth the extra few minutes actually spent checking. These checks take only a few minutes at the rental counter.
Understanding the insurance already included with the rental, and whether it is genuinely sufficient for your specific trip, avoids being caught out by unexpected excess fees if an incident happens to actually occur somewhere along the road. A quick question to staff can clear this up immediately.
Familiarising yourself with the vehicle's controls, including headlights and windscreen wipers, in the rental lot itself rather than while already driving in unfamiliar conditions, makes the first stretch of driving considerably less stressful overall for everyone travelling in the car. A calmer, more confident start sets the tone for the whole trip.