Summary
Car Rental Dilemmas: How To Deal With Trouble

Preventing Car Rental Problems
Most car rental companies are more than happy to sell you their own insurance.
Facing Problems

If you do encounter problems on the road with your car rental, you may be in for some costly surprises. Often the car rental company may not even have a copy of the key. On newer models equipped with electronic door panels that have a code for admittance, the car rental company can supply the code if you lock the keys in the car.
Report the accident immediately to be advised how the car rental company wants you to proceed.
Lot of persistence.
Carefully checking the customer satisfaction of customers through Consumer Reports and the Better Business Bureau will help you avoid pitfalls associated with car rental.


Car Rental Dilemmas: How To Deal With Trouble

Even with careful planning, troubles can be encountered when renting a car. Sometimes these problems are your fault, and sometimes they're not. Caution on the part of the renter can reduce many common problems that consumer's report.

Preventing Car Rental Problems

Careful inspection of the automobile before you drive it off the lot can reduce liability and expense. If you see damage either to the interior or exterior, either ask for a new vehicle or have the damage noted before you leave. If you see damage, be sure to get it in writing!

Other ways to reduce potential problems include verifying that the rate and discounts you were quoted are accurate in the computer. Make sure you are clear on the company's policy regarding contract extensions. Confirm if the same rates apply, your travel points will be credited, and how an updated or renewed contract will be sent to you.

When traveling abroad, be sure to become familiar with policies in advance. You'll need to know if your driver's license be honored or will you be denied a car rental because you don't carry a license for the country you'll be traveling in? Some nations require an international license.

Outside your home country, you will need to verify that your credit card will be honored.

Another important element to consider that takes care of many problems is the big I, insurance. You are liable for any damages for a car rental sustains while it is in your possession. Check with your own insurance to see if you are covered in the event of an accident. Most car rental companies are more than happy to sell you their own insurance. Ultimately, the additional cost of this coverage will impact the budget of your trip.

Facing Problems

If you do encounter problems on the road with your car rental, you may be in for some costly surprises. Losing your keys is not a small problem.

Many newer model cars are equipped with ignition systems that are updated frequently and are extremely difficult to duplicate. Often the car rental company may not even have a copy of the key. If it is necessary and or even possible to have a copy made, the car rental company may charge a hefty fee. It may be more frugal to use your own credit card to pay a locksmith to come out. Either way, you should call the rental company right away to report the problem.

On newer models equipped with electronic door panels that have a code for admittance, the car rental company can supply the code if you lock the keys in the car.

In the event of an accident, carefully take down all the relevant information: including make and color of the other car and the other driver's license number and insurance information. Report the accident immediately to be advised how the car rental company wants you to proceed.

Problems associated with billing can be resolved by carefully recording your correspondences with the company and persistence. Lot of persistence.

However, there is no strategy better than prevention. Carefully checking the customer satisfaction of customers through Consumer Reports and the Better Business Bureau will help you avoid pitfalls associated with car rental.