‘Automotive Answers: PPPBAVPDAAATALIPIDAAAAADIVAPEPPIIVEPERVIVIVAPEPIPPIIAAVIPIPAT The Key To Car Rentals CNAPSA)—Amerieans rent millions of cars every year—whether it’s for business, to replace a car in the shop or to take a vacation. Whenit comes time to return the vehicle, however, unexpected costs can sometimes makerenters feel they’ve been traveling the wrong road. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be the case. Experts offer these car rental tips: * Do You Need Insurance? Check to see if your auto insurance covers rental cars before buying extra insurance from the rental company. Your personal or corporate insurance may cover collision damage waiver (CDW), personal accident insurance (PAI) or even additional liability insurance (ALI). Your credit card may offer renter’s insurance as well. * Keep An Eye On The Clock. Some car companies use what’s called a “24-hour clock rate.” That meansif you rent your car on a Mondayandreturn it on a Tuesday, you are charged for one day only if you return it within 24 hours. Companies sometimes charge for two days if a car is returned more than 24 hours after pickup, but some companies give up to 59-minute grace periods. * Gas And Mileage. Most rental companies allow for unlimited mileage, while others provide unlimited mileage along with inter-state travel. However, some companieslet you drive out of state andstill receive unlimited mileage. It’s a good idea to find out your rental company’s policy before hitting the road. In addition, be sure to return the car with the same amount of gas as it had when you received it. There are usually fees Drive Down Costs—Be sure to understand a company’s mileage policy before renting a car from them. associated with returning a vehicle that’s low on fuel. Most rental tips won’t help drivers if they do business with a company that’s less than scrupulous. So what’s the best way to choose a rental company? Experts generally recommend working with established businesses that have plenty of pickup and return points. For instance, Hertz has a good customer service reputation and about 1,300 suburban locations across the U.S.—it’s opened more than 800 locations in the past three years alone. The companyalso offers renter’s perks such as AAA discounts, Sirius Satellite Radio and GPS navigation systems. It even offers a “Prestige Collection” of rental cars. The collection lets customers rent Jaguars, Land Rovers and other luxury vehicles. Perhaps most important for people with cars in the shop, though, the company works directly with insurance companies to provide replacement rentals to people who need them. For more information, visit www.hertz.com.
