Car Rental Toronto

Renting a car is never easy. The Internet is full of advertisements promising the best deal and they usually give a ‘base price’ in the range of $70 to $100 per day depending upon the size of the car. However, at most times the companies do not explain the hidden costs or even what constitutes the base price offered. Depending on which country the customer rents a car, the quantum of various fees varies. However, it is best to make informed choices when it comes to renting a car – keeping abreast of all the fees that make up your rental bill is the first step when you head out to your travel destination.

Most car companies demand a safety deposit the first time you hire a vehicle. This portion of the rental fee is fully refundable and may come to a couple of hundred dollars depending upon the size of the car. The car rental fee is next; this is the actual charge for renting the car. Most car rental companies also charge a ‘contract fee’ to cover the administrative costs of renting the car to the customer. If the customer requests for a delivery of the car and a place for collection of the returned car, the company may charge two separate fees, once for delivery and the other being the collection fee. Beware though! A collection point designated in a different state by the customer may attract anything up to a couple of thousand dollars as collection fees depending upon the distance of the collection point from the car company’s home office. If the delivery is requested at the airport, a separate ‘airport surcharge’ will also be applicable. In addition, if the delivery or the collection is requested after normal working hours, an ‘after hours fee’ may also be charged. Traditionally, car companies charge a state taxes fee should the client need to drive across states. Driving across international borders may even attract a cross border fee – this is a mandatory fee that may be substantial and not easily waived. Also if you have an additional driver, an additional driver fee can also be charged.

Some countries also charge a tourism fee for tourists who wish to rent a car. Most US cities charge a flat rate as toll tax, and this can range from $2 to $5 per day. Some car companies also charge fuel charge fee or extra mileage fee. This may depend on what scheme of car rental the customer has opted for. Some companies go by a set number of kilometers driven per day or set number of hours per day. Any excess kilometers or time is then charged as extra fee. In case the customer requires a baby seat or a ski rack then additional fees are required to be paid. In some countries being young, usually under the age of 25, attracts extra fees in the form of younger driver fees. Again look out for the hidden fees. With fancy names such as collision damage waiver (CDW) fees, you may pay hefty sums as much as $15 a day. This fee is not actually collision insurance but more as a guarantee that the rental company will pay for any damage to the rental car, along with a caveat of some ‘deductibles’.

Finally if you intend to return the car earlier than planned, don’t hope for a sizeable refund. Many companies actually penalize you for cutting the rental duration; an early return fee becomes admissible! It is therefore extremely important that you – a prospective customer – are attentive to the ads and the terms and conditions of hire before signing up for a car rental. If you take renting seriously, consulting your car insurance company or your credit card company before hiring a car would be a great idea. In the end, don’t fall for tall claims and false promises – choose your rental company prudently and have a worry-free vacation!

Taking the long planned step to move abroad? Seems like you have finally met all the ‘requirements’ having employed an international moving company to do the job. Hold on! There are some pre-move checks which must be done by you prior to handing over the items to be packed by your packers and movers. Your first step is to segregate the items in identifiable groups – try organizing your clothes, electronic items, crockery and glass ware, sports and gym gear and so on. Next dehumidify and dry all items. Take a photograph of your expensive items and furniture and ensure that the moving company signs on a copy of these photos. This will help you in case of a claim for damages at a later stage. Check with the embassy of the host country for specific documentation that may be required on specific items. Have these ready well in time as you may be required to give these documents to your moving company along with a copy of your valid passport, Visa and work permit, as well as appropriate insurance documents.

Next, choose the date of moving with great care. The best days to move would be on working days, especially when you take into account the loading and unloading at the other end. This would help you avoid demurrage charges for holding your baggage over weekends at the custom warehouses in the host country where you are relocating. Avoid delays by skipping the first or the end of a month for moving as many people tend to move at this time. Be sure to also check the holiday schedule of your new country of residence.

Now your moving company will have many ‘packages’ to offer. Ensure that you have thoroughly read through the terms and conditions of each one of them. Basically the choice rests between moving your household items by air or by ship. If you have a large number of household items and furniture to be transported, shipping it by sea is a cheaper alternative. However, depending upon the transit time, it may take anything from three weeks to a month or more for you to get your items at your destination. Moving by air can either be termed as ‘accompanied’ or ‘unaccompanied’. Accompanied baggage is extremely expensive and something that not many can afford. Unaccompanied baggage is the usual choice which does entail a delay of a day or two over and above your own travel plans. Most people, who have a earmarked residence at the new location send their baggage a day or two in advance and ‘time’ it with the moving company is such a way that the baggage is available for collection on arrival.

Now that you have gotten all your quotes ready, select the appropriate ones taking into account any atypical fees or surcharges. Check for the quantum of company liability to be signed for, which is the amount the moving company promises to pay for your items in the event of a loss. Prepare a complete list of items which require insurance and its estimated cost. The moving company will also check that you have a realistic quote and then offer a liability agreement. A regular insurance premium will be payable, but this liability agreement will have to be backed by a regular baggage insurance, especially if you are transporting some invaluable items. Follow these handy tips and set your relocating worries to rest.

Are you looking for a good deal on a rental car? There are several rental car companies to choose from and they all have different rates and specials. Finding the best rental rates can be a bit tricky but once you know the ins and outs of finding deals it can be fairly simple. Here are some tips to finding the best car rental rates.

Search for Rates

To look for the lowest rental rates, the internet is a great tool. There are online travel websites, such as Expedia and Orbitz that will give you the available rates and car models from various rental agencies. You can easily price and model compare for the dates you need a rental. Keep in mind the rate that is initially displayed usually does not include all taxes and fees. There also may be better rates available from individual car companies’ websites since they reserve the best rates for customers who rent directly through them.

Find Discounts

There are several discounts available but they are rarely advertised so it pays to do some research. Common discounts include corporate, auto clubs (such as AAA) and senior discounts. If you qualify, there is usually a place for a discount code on the agency’s website. If you don’t know the code, contact the qualifying company and ask for the code or call the rental agency and ask. Keep in mind that that discounts can not usually be used in conjunction with special rates. In any case, special rates are usually the cheapest option. To apply the discount you’ll need to show proof such as a membership card at check-in.

Partnerships

Most rental car agencies partner up with airlines and other companies in the travel business such as cruise lines, hotels and theme parks. If you’ll be renting your car on vacation then it pays to ask the airline, hotel or cruise line if they partner with a rental car company. You’ll need to show your ticket or confirmation when you pick up you rental car.

Insurance

Insurance costs can be more than the actual rental fees. Sometimes your own car insurance or the credit card you’ll be using will cover part or all of the insurance requirements. It pays to find out so research it beforehand. If you do need to purchase insurance then figure out which option best fits your needs. Agents will try to sell you the most expensive insurance which may not be what your need.

Be Willing to Switch

Customers tend to give repeat business to the company that gave them the best rate in the past. Since rental companies are constantly changing there rates, it pays to shop around and find the cheapest. If you’re looking for the best rate then be willing to switch and try a different rental car agency.

Rental cars are very convenient to have access to because they keep you from putting the wear and tear of traveling on your own car. They are also great for those who do not have a car that will survive lengthy trips. But there is one thing that has to be considered and that is the fact that accidents do happen. What happens if you are rear-ended in a rental car and you’re not at fault? Are you responsible for the damages or is the person who was at fault? Does the car rental company take care of it? What happens? These are all excellent questions because it can be quite confusing when an accident occurs.

It is also a good idea to get answers to any questions you have when you rent the car. It is not enough to hope that you do not get into an accident. When it is not your fault, that means you had no control over what happened. You could not have prevented it in any way. The only actions that you can prevent are your own, so make sure you receive the necessary information from the car rental company regarding what to do in case of a crash.

Insurance

Your individual insurance should cover you while in a rental car. That is why the rental car company requests that you prove your insurance. They like to have copies of your insurance card in case there is an accident. However, it is fair to assume that they do this in case the accident is your fault and they need to make a claim on your insurance to cover the damages.

When asking the car rental company about how it would work if you’re in a wreck that isn’t your fault, they may tell you to consult with your insurance company. Being that you’re covered by your individual insurance, you are subject to their particular rules and regulations.

What to do in an accident

So what are you to do in the case that you are rear-ended in a rental car? Be sure you call your insurance company before you do a single thing. If the rental car company says that you owe them money, don’t just pay up. Make sure you talk to your insurance company first. They will tell you what to do. They will most likely take the claim and then submit it to the insurance company of the individual who caused the crash. That way the damages are paid to the rental car company. If any deductibles need to be paid, then you’ll pay that deductible to your insurance company and not the car rentals company. There shouldn’t be any reason why you would have to pay them any money for a crash that wasn’t your fault. It also depends on what your insurance policy says about wrecks when you’re in a rental car.

So make sure you know these things before renting a car. That way you’ll know exactly what to do if you are rear-ended on the interstate. When being rear-ended it is obvious that it isn’t your fault. Most rear-end accidents are considered the fault of the driver who hit you. So proving that the crash wasn’t your fault is not a hard task at all. Just know your rights and have all of the information ready so that you don’t panic if you’re in a wreck. Don’t start running crazy scenarios through your head such as having to pay the entire cost of the rental car. That is something very unlikely. Just be sure to call the police and take insurance information from the driver at fault just like you would if it were your own car.

You’re in a foreign country that you have never visited before and you’re in a rental car. This is the perfect combination to get you lost. You have several elements working against you. Those elements are: You’re in a car that is unfamiliar to you, the steering wheel is probably on the opposite side of what you’re used to, and you are not familiar with the area. That is why you need to do everything you can to keep yourself from getting lost. By not getting lost, you are able to get to your destinations faster and enjoy your trip instead of being frustrated all of the time.

Things to do before the trip

Before you leave to go to a foreign country, make sure you familiarize yourself with the spoken language. Make sure you recognize it in writing as well. It is ideal that you acquire maps of the places you’re going to visit in your own language so that you understand what the maps are telling you. If you don’t and you acquire the maps in the country you are visiting, you may be able to acquire maps in your own language from the car hire company. If they are not available, that is another reason for you to familiarize yourself with the language so that you can read the maps.

Try to arrange a group tour. See if there are any tours going on in which you can travel in groups. That way you have some kind of guide on your trip while enjoying the tour and you don’t have to worry about getting lost unless you get separated. The odds of you getting separated is very slim, so hooking up with a tour guide and going on some sort of tour can really be quite the treat and you don’t have to worry about losing your way.

Once you’re there

Many cellular phones nowadays have built-in GPS systems. Many of these phones can also be used in foreign countries because they are designed to work on the different bands that exist around the world. If you have a phone with a built-in GPS system and it is called a ‘world phone,’ then you can use the GPS system on your phone to help you navigate around a foreign country in your rental car. This is stress-free travel at its finest.

However, for those who do not have world phones, there is another option. There are cellular phone rental booths at airports that allow you to rent these phones. If your phone has a SIM card, all you have to do is insert your SIM card into the phone and all of your activity is billed to your cellular phone account. In the meantime, you are able to utilize the GPS feature and make phone calls to your loved ones back home.

You also want to acquire a map when you get there anyway. Even if you acquired a copy in your own language, you want to compare the maps since some things change. You can always pick up a local map from the truck hire or car hire company. You don’t want to miss anything, so this is definitely an ideal task. Even if you didn’t hook up with tour guides before you left, you can learn about tours and find out what types of tours are taking place within the country. That way you can become a part of these tours and know exactly where you are going. No matter which way you do it, you can enjoy your trip to a foreign country and drive around the way you want to so that you can enjoy your freedom.