Car Insurance

Sometimes you don’t just want your standard SUV, sports sedan, or mid-size car. Instead, you’d like something – different; something eye poppingly impressive.

Maybe you’d like to rent a Corvette, a Porsche. Or even a Lamborghini. Maybe you’d even like to rent a Harley Davidson to tool around in while you’re visiting or fulfilling the ultimate driving fantasy. With exotic car rental services, you can.

Exotic Car Rental Dealers

Generally, your regular Hertz or Avis car rental agent isn’t going to deal in exotic cars. You’ll need to go directly to an exotic car rental place, like Dream Car Rentals in Las Vegas. Though there is a nationwide Harley-Davidson rental organization, exotic car rentals are usually made through local rental agencies, or even car dealerships.

These dealers treat you well. With your rental, you’ll receive perks like free parking, free EZ Pass for toll roads and bridges, free gas, guaranteed perfect detailing in your car, your choice of custom music, road maps, free mileage, and tons of other little perks. Some of them require that you have a membership, while others require some pretty expensive insurance to make certain you return their car safely or have the means to pay for it.

There will probably be other restrictions as well: no driving outside certain generous areas, no using low-octane gas, no driving on unpaved surfaces. The hardest one to follow: you will be bound to drive the speed limit.

Insurance and Liability

You absolutely must have insurance that will pay for any damage to your exotic car rental. Some dealers will sell you temporary coverage that takes care of this requirement, while others require that your personal insurance cover any liability involved with the car.

You may also be required to pay a damage deposit, or leave surety in the form of your credit card number to ensure any damage is promptly addressed.

Other Things to Know

Exotic car rental dealers are picky about who drives the car. If you have additional drivers, they need to know about it.

You can have the car delivered to your front door, usually for a reasonable fee. Imagine being able to give your spouse that kind of surprise!

You’ve fought with your car for the last two years — it coughs, it sputters, it dies in traffic. Mechanics are stumped, the dealer you bought it from is convinced it’s something you did, and you’ve been debating about contacting your state attorney about the lemon law.

Now you find out that the problem is covered in a technical service bulletin recently released by the manufacturer. You have the problem fixed for free in the recall, but you’re going to be without a car for a week while the repairs are being made. After fighting with a faulty car, do you really think you should have to pay for the car rental too?

Don’t pay for it. Get the manufacturer or dealer to pay for your car rental. Here’s how to get them to pay for the rental.

Things You Must Know

First, you should be aware that a technical service bulletin is different from a recall notice. Technical service bulletins typically don’t involve the most vital parts of your car like brakes or steering, and therefore only cover cars still under warranty. If your car is out of warranty, you may be out of luck, period.

Second, you should be aware that the dealership and car company don’t think they should have to pay for your trouble, even though it’s their fault that your time and money is being wasted.

First Step: Make Your Feelings Known

Don’t be rude, don’t be shy, but let the car dealer know exactly how you feel about the trouble and inconvenience you have experienced. If your salesperson is still at the dealership, go to him or her directly and express your concerns. And let them know that it’s a huge bother to you to not have a car. When you lodge a complaint you should have in mind an idea of how you would like the matter to be addressed or resolved. This is the time to mention that you think you shouldn’t have to pay for a rental.

Above all, do this POLITELY. Quiet insistence is much better than loud, obnoxious behavior when you’re trying to get things done. If you seem reasonable, the dealer is more likely to be reasonable with you.

Second Step: Ask For a Rental Car

Once the salesperson or dealer is nodding agreement with what you’re saying (the nodding is important!!) you should ask if they have a loaner car that they typically hold for people who are having their cars repaired. If they say yes (and they probably will), say, “I’d like to have use of that car. It would go a very long way toward making me happy.”

Many individuals hoping to live out a fantasy, get a little more leg room or save wear and tear on their on vehicles utilize car rentals while on vacation. No matter the reason, saving money and getting the best deal are a priority. Ever dollar saved on travel can be redirected toward other travel budget items such as food, lodging and entertainment. There are a number of ways that individuals and families alike can take advantage of the wonderful rental car deals that keep more money in the travel budget.

Save money on rental cars by searching for deals on the Internet

The Internet is a great way to locate potential car rental deals because it offers unmatched research capabilities. The Internet also stimulates friendly competition among rental companies and you, the consumer, often come out the winner.

One way that you can search for a good deal on the Internet is to look at the various rental car company websites. Often, the rental car companies will have web-only specials where you can find current specials listed on their website. Keep in mind that you may have to reserve your rental car online in order to take advantage of the rental car company’s special offer. Other restrictions may apply as well. However, this is a great avenue to pursue when trying to find a discounted car rental.

Another way to utilize the Internet and find a good deal is to search for package deals where rental car prices are deeply discounted. There a number of trustworthy travel websites that offer special packages which include airline tickets, lodging and a rental car for one price. The cost of this package will likely offer a significant price reduction when compared to the cost of purchasing each of these items separately. A note of caution with regard to these types of packages is that you need to read the fine print carefully as blackout dates and other restrictions may apply. You should also understand any policies related to cancellations, refunds or changes.

Renting a car is not just for business purposes anymore. More and more often individuals and families are renting cars for a number of reasons ranging from car repairs, vacations or special occasions.

Car Repairs – A few things to know if you rent a car

It has happened to most of us at least once. Your car has been in an accident or is need of repairs but you still need to get to work and manage other daily activities. Depending on where you live, public transportation may not be a viable fall-back option but a car rental just may be.

Renting a car while your own is being repaired is a convenient option for most; however, it can be costly when coupled with repair bills. Some may avoid this additional expense by paying a few dollars extra on insurance premiums that include reimbursement of rental expenses. Talk with your insurance agent before you rent to be sure you incur only allowable expenses. If you are especially pressed for cash, try to get an idea too of how long before you can expect your reimbursement check. Also, be mindful that if you do not have a credit card renting a car may not be a good option as it will tie up the cash you need to have your car repaired. Rental agents can accept a debit card in lieu of a credit card only if you have at least two hundred dollars (this amount varies) on account that can be held until the car is safely returned. Because the funds are held against any damage they will not be available for withdrawal and thus of no use to you in satisfying your repair bill.

Vacations

Planning a trip with the family or a group of friends? Consider a mini-van to give you the room you need so that you will still be on friendly terms when you arrive. Renting a car is also a good idea if you want to save wear and tear on your car, if you have an SUV and want to rent a car with better gas mileage to save a few bucks on a trip (for no more than two); or if you have always imagined your self in a convertible but can’t get one at the moment. Renting a car for vacation allows us to step out of our everyday space and slip into the exciting and unfamiliar territory so synonymous with vacation. Change your scenery, your schedule and your ride for a few days.

As winter draws to an end and the days begin to lengthen, thoughts turn to the open road, fresh air and sunshine. If you’re planning a trip this spring, the last thing you want to worry about is your car rental.

Rent-A-Wreck has some car rental tips to help get the right car and best value for those long weekends and getaways.

1. Research car rental companies before your trip. Call ahead or use the Internet to find out which companies are in the area and their rates and policies. Check online for discounts and last-minute rates.

Reserve your car ahead of time and call the renting location at least a week in advance to confirm the reservation. Always ask for hours of operation and return policies. Many locations offer a key drop or off-hour returns, but don’t assume that all do.

2. Consider “neighborhood” (non-airport) car rental companies. These locations usually offer more reasonable rates and will often come to the airport to pick you up. Off-site rental locations have grown in popularity with budget-conscious travelers who take advantage of lower rates resulting from the absence of airport fees that are passed on to the customer.

3. Choose the right mileage plan, and pay attention to fuel efficiency. With gas prices on the upswing again, consider fuel efficiency when making your selection. Many rental agencies train their agents to “sell up” to a larger-sized vehicle, often for $5 to $10 more per day. Also, many infrequent renters will unnecessarily request unlimited mileage, paying the premium rate.

4. Rent a car on weekends and holidays - it’s cheaper. With 70 percent of the car rental business geared toward business travelers, the best rates for vacationers are during non-work times.