Car rental agencies, along with other factors, have played a vital role in increasing the ease of traveling whether for business or pleasure. The ability to rent a vehicle of nearly any style, size and model at reasonable rates has been a boon to travelers, world-wide. The process of renting a car, however, can be about as daunting as buying a used car. You should proceed very carefully, armed with knowledge about the rental industry and information about your specific needs.

In short, there are four different kinds of basic rates charged by car rental companies: daily rates with all mileage billed extra; daily rates with a limited number of free miles per day; daily rates with unlimited mileage; and a rate that has free mileage over an extended period of time. Naturally, all rental car agencies charge different rates based on the size and style of the vehicle, with most firms renting economy, compact, intermediate and deluxe cars. Tip–renting a car for a full week is often cheaper than renting for five days.

An important consideration when renting a car is the length of time you will be needing the vehicle. If it’s less than a week, you’ll probably find lower rates with a major, national company like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz or Thrifty. For rentals of a week or more, you may get better prices from local companies, especially auto dealers. Be wary of local companies if you plan to drive quite a few miles; if you have a break down or an accident, they usually lack the services and support of the major companies.

The basic rate you see advertised in big print in magazine, newspaper and television ads, are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to car rental costs. Surcharges (usually in the form of taxes) are sometimes the result of greedy cities, states, airports or the rental car company itself. Whoever is at fault, these nasty little add-ons can boost your total rate by as much as 50%. Sales taxes, airport taxes, concession fees, vehicle leasing fees, and drop-off fees often don’t show up when you’re quoted a base rate for renting a car. Renters sometimes find themselves charged other miscellaneous fees, such as a bill for the shuttle that brings them from the airport to the car rental parking lot, or an expensive fee for additional drivers.

The best remedy to reduce “contract shock” is to use travel agents, booking services and Web sites that disclose all fees in advance. Some companies are taking away the mystery surrounding car rental rates by offering “total pricing” for their cars. Your total rental cost will be calculated prior to making the reservation, guaranteed to be within one percent of the actual rate.

An additional expense of renting a car is the insurance the company sells. The term “insurance,” by the way, is a misnomer since rental car companies aren’t licensed to sell insurance. What they are selling are waivers, so you’re not on the hook for any damage caused in an accident.

The three kinds of waivers “encouraged” by the major car rental agencies are as follows: physical damage waivers that cover any harm done to the rental car; liability waivers that cover any harm you do to others and their property while in the car; loss damage waivers that cover theft, vandalism and loss of use, which covers the rental fees the company might lose while the car is being repaired.

Your personal car insurance might cover these occurrences, but they might not! The only way to know for sure is to call your auto insurer and ask about insurance coverage on rentals. Even then, your personal insurance may not cover rentals abroad, or certain vehicles such as SUVs, trucks, vans and campers. Do a little research now, save yourself some money later.

When it comes to fueling plans you also have a variety of options. You can: prepay for a tank of gas when you rent the car (favored by the car agencies since you probably won’t use a full tank); the worst deal is simply turning the car back in empty since you could be charged about $5 a gallon plus a re-filling fee. The best choice–pay for only the gas you do use. Make sure the tank is topped off when you pick up the car, and leave yourself enough time to find reasonably-priced gas near the airport on the day you leave so you can re-fill the car yourself.

Always comparison shop, even on the Web. Major car rental companies often offer Web-only discounts–take advantage of them whenever possible. Check the Car Rental Center, as well as the individual car rental sites. Ask about discounts for membership in national organizations (like AAA or AARP) or special rates for frequent-flier programs or credit card plans you may enjoy. They frequently offer good deals on car rentals.

Whether you book online or by phone, you can usually get a much better price by renting well in advance of your trip, especially if you reserve during a low travel season and travel in a high season. Make sure to ask the agent about restrictions, additional fees and insurance costs.

Finally, be careful to coordinate pick-up and return times so as not to be charged for an extra day. Best wishes for safe traveling.

About the Author

Larry Denton is a retired history teacher having taught 33 years at Hobson High in Hobson, Montana. He is currently V.P. of Elfin Enterprises, Inc., an Internet business providing valuable information on a variety of timely topics. For a garage full of suggestions, resources and advice about car rentals, visit http://www.CarRentalGuy.com

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair

(ARA) - Whether you re expanding your deck, improving the landscaping in your yard or finally adding on a new screen porch, you probably are hauling a lot of cargo around at this time of year. Home improvement projects often require large, bulky items that don t fit easily into a family vehicle. Make sure that safety is your first consideration when you load up your truck or car.

The following are some tips for safely transporting outsized cargo around town:

* Do not tie items to the roof or allow lumber or other long objects to protrude from a window.

* Cover up precious cargo in a pickup bed. Invest in a bed cover such as the new Genesis Seal and Peel Tonneau cover from Lund Industries. One of the easiest to install on the market, the cover has a double-channeled sealing system that allows the user to open and close it in seconds, and it will not damage the pickup bed. Designed for extreme climates, the durable cover protects cargo from the elements and prevents anything from flying out of the truck bed. Lund also makes a Hinged Tonneau Cover that provides quick, easy access to the truck bed and has a convenient Slam-N-Scram latch that secures itself instantly when the cover is closed.

* Measure the dimensions of the item you want to move in advance, and the dimensions of your truck bed, or your car s trunk and door openings to make sure that the item will fit.

* Wrap items that could be scratched easily with a thick blanket or large piece of bubble wrap.

* Avoid busy interstates and highways. If possible, find a secondary route on residential roads where traffic is moving at slower speeds.

* Provide a padded surface such as foam, pillows or blankets on which the item will sit to prevent scratches.

* If an item is so long that it extends three or more feet past the end of the car s trunk or pickup truck s bed, tie a red flag or bandana to the end to alert other drivers.

* It is illegal in some states to carry items that protrude out of the vehicle. Regulations can vary, check with the local police about hauling items that hang out of the trunk.

With some simple precautions, you can ensure that you, your vehicle and your cargo will arrive at your destination safely. For more information on Lund Industries vehicle accessories visit www.lundinternational.com or call (800) 377-5863.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:

Courtesy of ARA Content

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair

In today’s world of contemporary society, we have many cartels and monopolies, but the one, which stands out for being the most profitable, most effective, and most powerful is the one involving oil.

This is the main reason why oil prices continues to escalate in the market area. On a global basis, this high-pricing of oil is considered as a worldwide dilemma.

Hence, in order to cut down extra cost in gas or fuel consumption and have a better gas mileage, it is a must for every driver to understand and employ the different ways on how to maximize their fuel consumption with a lower cost so as to achieve a better gas mileage. Here’s how:

1. Check your filter.

One of the most important factors that affects your chance of getting a better gas mileage is your car’s air filter. In order to have a better gas mileage, it is important to know and maintain you car’s performance by checking on its air filters. Clean air filters gives the machine’s performance a considerable boost enabling it to travel farther with a lesser fuel consumption and a better gas mileage.

2. Inspect your tires regularly.

Tires in good condition can also contribute to a better gas mileage. The tires condition directly affects your car’s gas mileage when the tire is “under-inflated”. It tends to make your car run relatively slower than its usual pace but increases your probability of getting a better gas mileage.

3. Remove excess weight.

Based on the common belief of many, light cars do travel faster. And so, in order to have a better gas mileage, be sure to always check on things in your compartment that are no longer needed.

4. Change oil regularly.

It is very important to have a regular oil change. Usually, a car has to exert more effort if it has to wrestle with a dirty oil, thus, it consumes more gas. So, a regular oil change will enable you car to run smoothly and, therefore, acquire a better gas mileage.

5. Check your carburetor.

Carburetors can also affect your car’s fuel consumption simply because car’s exert more effort when grappling with a dirty carburetor. In this instance, your car is consuming more gas than you can imagine. And so, it’s better to have a cleaner carburetor in order to have a better gas mileage.

6. Cut air conditioner usage.

Air conditioners can also increase fuel consumption and lessen the possibility of getting a better gas mileage because it uses extra strength to power up the compressor that boost the air conditioner’s performance. If this is the case, then it will be impossible for you to have a better gas mileage. So, in order to cut down additional fuel consumption, do not use air conditioner especially when you are driving in a highway. After all, natural air is still the best for your health.

7. Slow down.

Do you believe in the old saying, “Slowly but surely?” It is highly applicable to driving. Normally, when you drive faster, you tend to put more stress on the gas pedals, right? And because you increase your speed by hitting hard on your gas pedals, you are also increasing your car’s consumption on fuel. In doing so, you will have a difficulty in achieving a better gas mileage.

All of these conservation tips boils down to one common point, the better car you have and the slower you drive your car, the better gas mileage you have.

About The Author

Ken Reno is the owner of http://www.CheapGasIsGone.com

the309er@yahoo.com

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair