National Car Rental

The world has really gone cyber one can fly, find a date, buy a house, make arrangements to move and rent car online, great conveniences at the click of a button. As a consumer you must find out all the pros and cons of renting a car and carry out “comparison” shopping.

1. Visit company websites to determine what is on offer. Look for competitive rates and great facilities.

2. Try and locate a rental company close to where you intend to use the car it will save you money.

3. Before you proceed list your needs: what kind of car, how many people will travel, how many days you need the car and so on.

4. Use a reputed agency and call on their toll free number. Be sure to read all the terms and conditions carefully. Make sure you use a safe payment gateway and that you receive a confirmation e-mail. Some well known companies are Hertz (https://www.hertz.com), Dollar, Alamo, and Avis (http://www.avis.com). Or, try travel sites many have great offers for clients who book hotels, air tickets, as well as cars.

5. Ask for packages and find out when rates are cheaper.

6. Be sure to ask for an agreement.

7. Ask about the age of the car, its condition, and how many miles it has been driven. If you expect to drive in bad weather be sure to check about tires, snow chains, and other equipment.

8. To rent a car online keep handy your driver’s license, passport, photo-ID, and proof of address. Ask about travel insurance and whether the car has a current insurance.

9. Check the charges carefully and whether any additional payment will be charged for drop off and pick up.

10. Check whether your driver’s licence is valid for the state/ country you wish to drive in or whether you need to obtain a new license.

It is a competitive world and online there are company’s like Fox Rent a Car http://www.foxrentacar.com that offer discounts, reward points, coupons, hotel discounts and more. Check as many sites as you can to get a great deal. Popular companies are: Yahoo travels, priceline.com, and Travelocity. Be a discerning consumer and hire a great car at a great price. Many car rental companies offer special rates if you are a member of one of their affiliate clubs or professional organizations.

Before you drive away in the rental car find out as much as possible about traffic rules, laws where you intend to drive, and safety norms. If your family is with you then choose a safe and comfortable car that will accommodate luggage, boisterous kids, and pets. If you intend to drive alone then you could opt for a compact car. Gauge your needs before you make a choice and carry your driver’s license and insurance papers with you at all times. As a precaution inform a friend, family member, or the office of your travel plans. Cary a mobile phone for emergencies or arrange to call in at specific times. Enjoy your rent-a-car experience.

Andrew Bermam is a freelance writer for http://www.1866Cars.com, the premier website to find help on Cars including topics on car rental, national car rental, thrifty car rental, online car rental, pickup trucks rental, cargo van rental and more. He also freelances for the premier Car Insurance Quotes site http://www.1888Carinsurance.com

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Filed under: nationalcarrental.car-rental-zone.info on June 26th, 2008 | No Comments »

Auto Insurance is a bouquet of different covers like liability insurance; collision insurance; comprehensive insurance; medical insurance; uninsured motorist insurance; rental reimbursement; towing and labor cost coverage; as well as gap coverage.

What is essential and what will protect a car owner from problems varies from state to state. It is advisable to insure for a little more than absolutely necessary. Insurance premiums can be prohibitively high so, as an informed consumer you must do your research thoroughly.

Golden rules:

Access consumer information available on the state’s insurance department web site. Read all the guidelines and determine what coverage is required by you. Be sure to read the sample rates listed. This research will give you a fair idea of what the premiums are likely to be.

Ask for quotes from at least three big players in the auto insurance business. Companies like Geico http://www.geico.com; Amica http://www.amica.com; State Farm http://www.statefarm.com; and Allstate http://www.allstate.com

Find out what is the highest deductible permissible and if you can afford it. Generally increasing a deductible from US$ 200 to US$ 500 can reduce premiums payable by as much as 30%.

Evaluate the worth of your car. If it is old and worth less than US$ 2000 then you can consider opting out of collision and comprehensive coverage for the car. The premiums paid will be much higher than what you will collect. Ask the insurance companies to evaluate the market value of the car. Find out the worth of you car by using http://www.kbb.com/ the site of Kelley Blue Book.

Use common sense when buying a car. Be sure to choose one that does not require higher insurance premiums. It is important to not just consider buying costs but cost of insurance too.

Find out if the insurance company has a scheme that offers discounts on the basis of lower usage or mileage. Some companies offer discounts if you utilize public transport to go to work. They require you to submit proof that you do.

Ensure that your insurance credit history is accurate. Many insurers use credit history as a basis to calculate premiums.

Study the laws of the state where you live. Find out whether any further adjustments in premiums can be made because you car if fitted with: airlock brakes, air bags, and other safety features. Find out from the companies as well as your agent.

Find out whether membership to organizations like American Automobile Association makes you eligible for any discounts. Ask about trade, professional associations, and corporate benefit’s program. Some companies offer: student’s discounts for students with a GPA of 3.0 and higher; retirement discounts; loyalty discounts and more.

Be sure to ask the insurer if they have schemes to insure mare than one car under a group scheme. Such schemes referred to as multiline discounts have a huge umbrella of options, home insurance, safety features, accident free driving, driver over 50 years old, anti-theft devices fixed, and so on.

For ready reference see:

Insure.com at http://info.insure.com/auto/autosave.html has useful information, a privacy policy in place, is updated daily, has links to over 200 companies that sell various kinds of insurance, a toll free line, and an option to buy insurance online.

Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America at http://www.iiaa.org/na/default?ContentPreference=NA&ActiveTab=NA&ActiveState=0 is one of the largest associations of independent insurance agents and brokers. According to experts buying auto insurance from agents can get you a good deal as it cuts out the middleman.

InsWeb at http://www.insweb.com/ a site dedicated to the lowering of insurance costs. Offers competitive quotes from big players in the market like The Hartford, GMAC, AIG, Travelers, Amica, and Liberty Mutual.

Remember insurance premiums are higher for high performance cars. The premium depends on how high repair costs are, ready availability of parts, and what the chances of car theft are. Buy a car that does not require higher insurance premiums and explore the market for the best deals.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1866Cars.com, the premier website to find help on Cars including topics on car rental, national car rental, thrifty car rental, online car rental, pickup trucks rental, cargo van rental and more. He also freelances for the premier Car Insurance Quotes site http://www.1888Carinsurance.com

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Filed under: nationalcarrental.car-rental-zone.info on June 17th, 2008 | No Comments »

Buying a car needs not just investment but deep thought. The market is overflowing with choices and temptations. Buyers need to think, what kind of car and can I afford it?

Think, what do I need transportation for right now and what will I need two years from now? Do I want a car as a status symbol or as something that makes my life easier? Will the car be a commuter vehicle, or to transport children? Would a van with cargo space and high clearance be more suitable for a growing family? Should the car be a two-wheel or four-wheel drive? What kind of terrain will I be driving in most of the time? Go through auto magazines as well as consumer reports to get a clear picture of the world of cars.

1. Work on your finances and determine what you need to spend each month on transportation. A car should not cost more than 10% of your net pay per month. If it is more, then consider leasing a car instead of buying one.

2. Before you finalize anything, find out what the target price is. Four figure discounts are available with almost every make.

3. Never sign an arbitration clause or blank financial forms. Try and get finance from a separate source, a bank or financial institution.

4. Haggling will get you a good deal apart from shopping around for finance. The market is competitive be sure to check dealer fianc

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Filed under: nationalcarrental.car-rental-zone.info on May 31st, 2008 | No Comments »