Mitch Port
In late July I rented a car to travel to my cousin’s wedding. Since it was my first time renting I learned a few things along the way:
Look Around
The Internet is a wonderful place, so use it to your advantage. Take a look at several different car rental places online (Enterprise, Budget, and Hertz are the places I checked first). Explore sites and look for what you need for the cheapest price.
You Don’t Have To Be 25
Wait… What?! Yep, it’s true. The age-old story that you have to be 25 years old to rent a car is actually a myth. Some car rental businesses actually allow customers to start renting at age 18. There is a catch though, most of these locations will add a “Young Renter Fee” ($30 for Enterprise) to your final bill.
Checking for Damages
When was told that one of the employees would join me outside to check the rental car for damages I was relieved. As a first time renter, I thought it might be helpful to have some extra eyes looking out for. Little did I know that when he joined me that I would still be the one pointing out all the dents and scuffs on the car. My advice is to be overly picky with what you consider to be damaged because it could end up biting you in the butt if you pass over that dent on the hood.
To get their insurance or not get their insurance? That is the question.
But in all reality it actually is. And it will honestly depend on what insurance coverage you have from your insurance company. Luckily, my car insurance is one that would cover the damages on the rental car, so I chose not to get the insurance from the car rental company. If your insurance is not going to cover potential damages then highly consider getting their insurance for the duration of your trip.
Renting my first car was definitely a great learning experience and I look forward to renting cars on my travels in the future!