- check your car insurance and/or credit card to see if they provide coverage for rentals. if they do, skip the insurance at the rental agency, no matter how safe and secure they make it sound. it's crazy expensive.
- if you don't have a credit card, check that they'll take debit cards. most agencies *won't*
- ask if there's a gas station near the rental agency. if there is, tell them you'll fill it yourself before dropping it off.
- if you'll have extra drivers, check for fees for that as well. your lovely wife will be able to share a rental with you free of charge most places, but if someone else needs to drive as well they'll likely charge you for it.
- i always get the second cheapest, instead of the cheapest rentals, because subcompacts scare me. :)
- if you're renting at an airport, ask if pick up is at the airport or if they use a shuttle to another location. at the airport will save you time.
- oh, and, if it's relevant, some agencies will give you a car seat for a child if you request one.
My grandparents leased a car. The two things that they learned the hard way was 1)make sure that you watch your mileage so you don't have to pay a ton of penalties at the end of the lease and 2)make sure you take it in for ALL of the service dates because if you miss even one, you have violated your part of the contract. And the other thing I have been told is to carefully check on lump sum payments/penalties at the end of the lease. Apparently, several people thought it would just be there normal monthly payment and then turn in the car but then they found out about the lump sum payment at the end.
All of the people who I know that have leased a car said they wouldn't do it again. In fact, my grandparents bought a new car in their 70s rather than lease another one.
If you're thinking of doing it for yourself, everyone I've talked to has been less-than-thrilled with the experience, so my first recommendation would be "reconsider." If you still need to, I'd carefully read every tiny bit of the fine print, as there can be some nasty boobytraps in there, and you don't want to try negotiating those after you've signed. Not that you need me to tell you this, but you did ask, and Male Answer Syndrome is kicking in.
If you're doing it for work, on the other hand, then potential expenses are not such a hassle, but I'd find out things like how many miles it's likely to be driven in a given year. I'd then try to negotiate for somewhat over that when getting the contract written, the best-laid plans of mice and men being what they are. Again, "watch out for sneaky penalty clauses," and "shop around" come to mind as advice.
Not sure why I'm trying to answer this, since I've never leased a car in my life, but I guess it's that Male Answer Syndrome again...
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cadfael
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a random list of car rental thoughts
Date: 2004-03-01 07:31 pm (UTC)- if you don't have a credit card, check that they'll take debit cards. most agencies *won't*
- ask if there's a gas station near the rental agency. if there is, tell them you'll fill it yourself before dropping it off.
- if you'll have extra drivers, check for fees for that as well. your lovely wife will be able to share a rental with you free of charge most places, but if someone else needs to drive as well they'll likely charge you for it.
- i always get the second cheapest, instead of the cheapest rentals, because subcompacts scare me. :)
- if you're renting at an airport, ask if pick up is at the airport or if they use a shuttle to another location. at the airport will save you time.
- oh, and, if it's relevant, some agencies will give you a car seat for a child if you request one.
Re: a random list of car rental thoughts
Date: 2004-03-01 07:42 pm (UTC)i'll go on about my business now.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-01 07:39 pm (UTC)All of the people who I know that have leased a car said they wouldn't do it again. In fact, my grandparents bought a new car in their 70s rather than lease another one.
Is this personal, or for work?
Date: 2004-03-02 06:51 am (UTC)If you're doing it for work, on the other hand, then potential expenses are not such a hassle, but I'd find out things like how many miles it's likely to be driven in a given year. I'd then try to negotiate for somewhat over that when getting the contract written, the best-laid plans of mice and men being what they are. Again, "watch out for sneaky penalty clauses," and "shop around" come to mind as advice.
Not sure why I'm trying to answer this, since I've never leased a car in my life, but I guess it's that Male Answer Syndrome again...
Lease/Buy Issue
Date: 2004-03-04 03:27 am (UTC)I drove a Honda CR-V yesterday - neat! I want to drive a hybrid Friday and try to get into a Toyota today.