Archive for November, 2008

What Other Types of Items Come in A Rental Car?

Monday, November 24th, 2008

When you rent a car from any car rental provider, there are usually a few basic items that are located in the car, but we often hear of many stories where people have found some additional automotive parts or tools in their rental car.

We checked out a lot of automotive resources to see what some of these items could possibly include, and based on our research the majority of the items included automotive tools such as roadmaster tow bars or auto lifts. Most of these tools are actually used in case of emergency, but most people fail to realize this and think that it’s a “mistake” that it’s in their rental car. Either way, this just goes to show the importance of properly checking all the contents of the car before signing off on your rental car.

That way you can detect anything in the rental car that should not be there and avoid any potential complications that may arise if you, for instance, would have returned the car without one of the tools that you didn’t even know was even in the car in the first place. This way the car rental company can’t ever try to levy extra fees or charges against you for a misplaced item you never knew existed.

That’s one of the most important car rental tips we can offer, is make sure you do a full visual inspection with a representative from the company before signing off for your rental car!

Can You Get a Car Rental Even if You Don’t Have Driver’s Insurance?

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Something that concerns a lot of individuals looking to rent cars is whether or not they can rent the car without having their own driver’s insurance. Why would someone not already have driver’s insurance? Well, they may live in a city in which their own transportation is not needed, so they use public transportation. This may mean that they don’t have a car. However, they may have their license.

Most individuals who have cars have driver’s insurance. But once in a while there is that person who comes to the car rental establishment and they don’t have a car. That means they don’t have insurance. So what does that mean for them when wanting to rent a car? Are they going to be able to rent the car? The answer might surprise you.

No Insurance?

So let’s say you walk into your local car rental place and you tell them you don’t have insurance. Do you think they’re going to look at you like you’re a terrible person? The truth is that they won’t. They’re not going to look at you like you’re terrible because there are plenty of people who walk into their establishment and they don’t have insurance.

Here is how they do it:

- The car rental establishment will make a copy of your driver’s license. From there they will then tell you what your options are. They may also offer you other things that you may or may not need, so make sure you’re not going to end up paying for things that you don’t need.

- If you tell them that you don’t have driver’s insurance, then they will let you know that they have an insurance plan for you. You will have to purchase that insurance plan if you don’t have insurance of your own or your insurance doesn’t cover rental cars.

That’s another issue - that some insurance companies may not cover rental cars. This has to do with what sort of insurance you have taken out with them. If you have a full coverage plan, you can expect that a rental car is going to be covered. If you have a liability plan, you need to look closely at what you have purchased. Either way, you’re going to have to provide the car rental business with a copy of your insurance card.

But if you don’t have an insurance card, that’s alright. They will offer you their own insurance, which will cover you while you rent the car. The prices will vary based on the business you decide to do business with. So if you don’t have driver’s insurance, make sure you make this part of the deal when shopping around for a company. Make sure you find the best rate or you may find you’re paying more for insurance than what you need to.

Problem solved

So now you can see how easy it is to solve the problem. If you don’t have driver’s insurance, that is definitely not an issue. If you have a license, then you’re in business. The only reason why someone should have to worry about not being able to rent a car is if they are too young or they are not licensed to drive. Other than those two things, you should be fine when it comes to renting a car anywhere in the world. So at least you now know that you don’t have to worry if you need to rent a car and you have no insurance. That is just one more thing that you can add to the things that you know.

What’s the Best Way to Find Affordable Full-Service Long Distance Movers?

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Finding long distance movers does not have to be a daunting task. However, it is important you don’t want to pick just anyone. This is because you don’t want to risk your possessions becoming damaged. If your possessions do become damaged, you want to know that you’re dealing with a long distance mover that will take care of things for you. You shouldn’t be left in the dark with a job that is not done well and belongings that are damaged.

Finding the Best Movers

There are some initial steps that you must take to find the perfect full-service long distance mover. Those steps include:

- Look around in your local area or look on the Internet to see what long distance movers service your area.

- Once you find the full-service long distance movers that service your area, it is time to look on the Internet for reviews on the services that they provide. Reviews are fantastic at helping people make informed decisions regarding the services that they need.

- Once you narrow it down based on Internet reviews, it is time to make the phone call. This means that you’re going to ask them questions such as what sort of insurance they have. You need to know what it is they cover and what they don’t cover so that you know you’re protected.

- Make sure you take a look at the state you are moving to, if it is a different state. The laws differ from state-to-state, which means things could change during the move. The mover should go over this with you when you are telling them where it is you are moving to.

- Get a written estimate for services from the moving company. Don’t trust a verbal estimate. You need to have on paper what your moving service includes and what it doesn’t include. From there you can compare with other companies you have received written estimates from.

- Don’t forget to compare costs. The idea is to find an affordable full-service long distance moving service. You don’t want a service that is going to charge you an arm and a leg for something that someone cheaper can do just as well.

Doing this takes a lot of the stress out of moving. You shouldn’t have to bite your nails down to the quick out of nervousness because you’re afraid valuables are going to get damaged. You should be able to have confidence in your full service long distance movers. You should be able to acquire a track record from them that shows they are very good at what they do.

Other Things to Consider

When choosing your full-service long distance movers, make sure you get a list of what they do and do not move. This can vary from company to company because of the trucks that they have. This could be something that determines who you choose to be your mover. Remember that your possessions are traveling a long way, so you have to ensure that everything is in good hands.

If you’re ever in doubt about any details of your contract, the ideal full-service long distance movers should have their contract details on their website. This is so you can refer back if you need to. Never let yourself be in doubt over anything. All doubt does is cause you to worry. These tips are in place to try to remove some of that worry. You have enough on your mind when it comes to moving to a new home, so you don’t need more than what you can handle.

Effectively Evaluating the Reputation of a Moving Company

Monday, November 10th, 2008

Moving is a time of great emotional stress and upheaval.  You have to say good-bye to the place you’ve lived, sometimes for many years, and head off to a new destination.  Frequently, this change is accompanied by a new job, new home, and a new school for the kids, not to mention new friends, new town, and other changes.

Given all this change, it’s no surprise that the choice of hiring a moving company can be fraught with difficulty.  After all, this moving company will be handling all of your most valuable possessions. You want those possessions to be unharmed and in one piece as your relocate and set up house again.

But how can you make sure your moving company can be trusted? Are there any secrets for looking into their reputation? The key to protecting your possessions is doing lots of research. Read on to find out more!

Start with the Web

Most reliable moving companies will have a web site advertising their services.  This is a great place to start your research.  Use the web to come up with a list of potential companies, based on price, location, and services.  A good moving company website will also include contact information for the company.

Next, do a web search for each company on your list. Look for user reviews, both good and bad. Have other people used the company? How have they felt about the services?

Word of Mouth
Now that you have a list of movers in your area and a few ideas of other users’ experiences, try asking around locally. Most people have used a moving service at some point, and they will have either good or bad things to say about the company. Ask neighbors, co-workers, even your child’s teacher or the clerk at the grocery store.

Research, Research, and More Research

By now, you probably have a revised list of movers. You’ve scratched off any company that has bad online user reviews or received negative assessments from your local friends and family. Now it’s time to learn more about these companies.

The next step is to contact the Better Business Bureau. If there have been any grievances filed against the company you are considering, the Better Business Bureau will have a report. Most companies have a few unhappy customers, but if the grievances were resolved quickly and satisfactorily, the Better Business Bureau will have that information in their report as well.

Next, call the US Department of Transportation to ensure the company has registered properly. Your chosen moving company should have a Department of Transportation number.

Red Flags
Even after you have thoroughly researched a company, you may have a few lingering concerns. If you see any of these red flags, more on to the next company on your list:

-    There is no contact information on the company website, and there is no local address for this mover.
-    Rather than answering phone calls with the company name, the representative uses general terms to refer to the company. Worse, there isn’t a receptionist that answers, just a recorded message.
-    The moving company only accepts cash and requires large up-front fees or deposits.
-    The moving company claims that their insurance will cover all of your household goods.
-    Rather than agreeing to a pre-move inspection of your goods, the mover agrees to move your possessions without seeing them.
-    When the moving truck arrives, it is not marked with the company name.

Trust Your Instincts
The biggest factor in making a decision about a mover is your own gut reaction. If something just doesn’t feel right to you, go with that initial reaction and move on to another company.  There’s enough stress involved in moving without having to wonder if you made the right choice in moving companies.

What to Expect In a Car Rental Contract

Monday, November 10th, 2008

While each rental company will have its own contract, there are some standards that cover the basic areas of every car rental agreement. If the contract has anything different in it, the company is obligated to point this out to you, though it is still a good idea to look through any paperwork before signing it.

A car rental agreement is basically a contract between the lender of the car and the renter who will be using it. These usually favor the lender, but if you pay attention to the extras, you’ll be able to keep things pretty fair.

Standard Requirements from the Renter

Every car rental contract will require the presentation of a valid driver’s license. This is standard. Only drivers whose names are actually on the rental agreement can drive the vehicle . . . if someone else is driving and has an accident, you`ll be liable for everything, even if you purchased insurance.

Age is another issue. While you can drive at 16, you can’t rent a car at this age. Most states require drivers to be 21 or older before they can legally sign a contract and rent a vehicle. This does vary somewhat, though and if you are traveling outside the country, you will want to find out what the standard age is.

Contract Sections Dealing with Potential Problems

There is always the risk that a vehicle will get dinged or even destroyed while in the renter’s hands. For this reason, there is usually an optional insurance that you can purchase at the same time as you rent. Many people actually have this covered under their usual auto insurance, so check this first, before buying extra insurance.

Any tickets, speeding, parking or otherwise, that are incurred during the lease of the vehicle will need to be paid by the renter. Any damage is usually fined, so it pays to take a walk around the vehicle and point out any damages that are already in existence. Be sure these are marked and signed on the contract so you have proof that they didn’t occur while you were driving.
There should also be well laid out consequences for things like returning the vehicle late or with an empty gas tank. Returning the car to a different location than where you rented it is something that often comes with a fee, as well. Be sure to read this part carefully, since you can save quite a bit of money by paying attention and making sure that you bring the vehicle back in the proper condition.

Possible Restrictions of Use

Every contract will tell you how you can use the vehicle that you are renting. Most won’t allow you to cross a border or go off-roading. Some areas will have very specific rules, while others will depend on the type of vehicle that you are renting. Some companies will allow you to use only up to a certain number of kilometers or miles within the time period specified. If you go over this limit, you`ll end up paying premium prices. This makes it cheaper to stay in the area.

It’s important to always read through the rental car contract before you sign it, just in case there are any surprises. You won’t have any defense if you just don`t read it. Most rental forms are fairly short, so you don’t need to waste too much time checking it and learning about what your responsibilities are. This also prepares you for the possibility of problems, since you will already know how these are commonly dealt with. Car rentals are a great convenience and it helps to understand the contract.