Car Hire Guide: How To Keep Down The Cost of Hiring a Car

Have you ever tried renting a car? At first, you may think the process is just easy as long as you have the money to pay for it. The thing is, whether you have lots of money not, you don’t want to get ripped-off.

Over the years, the car hire industry has been getting bigger. More and more people travel and more and more of them rent a car to add flexibility and comfort to their trip.

Here’s one gentle reminder from Anna Laitin, director of financial policy at Consumer Reports: "consumers have to be particularly diligent, as the price quoted rarely seems to bear any resemblance to the price charged when the car is returned at the end of a trip.”

To keep down the cost of hiring a car, here are some important points you need to remember:

1. Do your research first on various car rental companies and make a comparison of their fees and services before you decide to make your booking. Remember that if you want to get the best deal, you really have to make an effort to understand the entire process (from the time you get the car until you return it) and to have several options to choose from.

2. Avoid last-minute car rental bookings. As much as possible, book your car hire in advance so you can get lower rates. Aside from that, you can also enjoy other perks like getting your preferred car. Also, if ever something comes up and you’d change your mind, you’ll still have enough time left to shop around for alternatives.

3. Aside from the car rental fee, be familiar with the necessary add-ons that you’ll have to get, specifically car hire excess insurance. Before you buy an independent car hire excess waiver policy, make sure to know and understand first how it works so you can avoid getting overcharged for it. Truth be told, there are some rental companies that take advantage of clueless customers and for sure, you don’t want to be one of them. There are many online sources that can provide you useful tips and information and one good site you can check out that offers quick, easy, and affordable car hire excess insurance for Indians is https://www.carinsurent.com.

4. Choose a full-to-full fuel policy. One of the factors that you have to consider in choosing a car hire company is their fuel policy. Typically, when you rent a car, it comes with a full tank of fuel. When you return it, make sure to drop by a petrol station first and make the fuel tank full as it’s going to be cheaper than letting the car rental company charge you for it. Don’t go for prepaid fuel as the you will most likely pay a premium for it.



5. Avoid the airport. While it is convenient to rent from an airport location, it will also cost you more due to mandatory airport taxes and fees. The ideal way of dealing with this is to make use of the free airport shuttle if your hotel offers it.

6. Make sure you get unlimited miles. Before you finalize your booking with the car rental company, make sure that they offer unlimited mileage within the same country or state. There are some companies that offer a daily allotment of mileage, and this won’t be a good idea due to a high penalty fee you’ll incur in case you go over.

7. Be aware of the 24-hour clock. Most car rental companies count time based on a 24-hour clock, so be alert. While a grace period may be given, do not stretch it too much. Once you exceed, even just for a minute or two, some companies may count it as another rental day and you’ll get charged for it.

8. Make use of your smartphone GPS such as Waze instead of renting a car with GPS. It will only cost you more if you let car rental companies provide you a GPS.

9. Don’t forget to inspect first the vehicle you’ll be renting before using it. Always be thorough. Once you see any scratches, make sure it is indicated in your contract for your own protection. One thing you don’t want to happen is to pay extra for damages you never caused. If possible, take photos/videos of all four sides of the car. Again, that is for your own good. Also, make sure you take a new set of photographs/videos of all four sides of the car before you turn it over to the rental company to prove that you’ve returned it without any new damage.

10. Make sure you rent the car on weekdays as rental companies charge almost 2x the price when you rent it on weekends. This would work for you if you have plenty of leaves at hand or if you are on a flexible schedule. – This last tip was provided by regular reader and friend Sriram Venkat. Thank you Sriram for sharing this useful tip here.

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7 Highly Essential Rules for Renting a Car

Life is probably already stressful enough for you if you're looking to rent a car. Perhaps your car is in the shop, or maybe you're planning a huge vacation and overwhelmed by the planning process. You could be one of the 54.7 percent of people who request a car rental on a business trip. No matter your reason for renting a car, you can help the process run smoother by following these rules for renting one.

1. Shop Around
The first thing you should do when you know you'll need a car rental is to compare different companies in the area. Check online for rates, models, and discounts, and search for reviews on the particular car rental company. With this information, you can decide on the cheapest and most convenient company for a successful and stress-free trip.

There are plenty of great places to get estimate prices on car rentals, like CarRentals.com. Whether you are going to a comparison website or checking out the rental company's website before you arrive, be sure to always get an estimate before walking in the door. Most importantly, allow yourself time to compare companies so that you're not searching the web on the way to the lot to help you make a more informed decision.

2. Make Arrangements Beforehand
Sometimes there's no predicting when you'll need a car rental, such as if your car breaks down and you need an emergency replacement while it's being repaired. However, if you know ahead of time that you'll need a car, such as if you're flying for a family vacation or a business trip, it's important that you reserve your rental car before you depart for your trip. This offers several advantages. - You can often get a discounted rate if you book your rental a week or more ahead of time. - You'll know that there's a car waiting for you, so you won't have to settle with the last pick or run around town trying to track down a rental car. - Booking early allows you more flexibility to choose the car you want at the most affordable price.

3. Consider the Vehicle
If you're booking in advance, you'll have plenty of options to choose from, but the key with so many choices is that you have to consider which car you want to drive and choose the best option for your trip needs. One of the first things to consider is the size of the vehicle. If you have a large group, you have to make sure you have enough room for people and luggage.

You should also look at fuel economy to help you save on gas during your trip. Other factors to look at include safety features, technology, and reliability. In addition, the type of car for rent can influence the price so make sure to compare prices before settling on a specific vehicle.

4. Confirm You Have Insurance
One common mistake people make with car rentals is that they overlook insurance. First, confirm with your primary insurance provider whether your policy covers rental cars. Even if you know your insurance policy covers rental cars, make sure you understand the parameters of the coverage. For example, your insurance may not cover vehicles when you rent internationally, or there may be additional restrictions on your policy.

If your primary insurance provider doesn't cover rental cars, the rental company will likely offer you insurance. At this point, take it. Since it's not your car, something is bound to go wrong. And if you don't have insurance to cover it, the cost of damages will come out of your own pocket.

5. Understand Extra Fees
When you rent a car, you're generally charged an initial fee plus a certain amount for every mile you drive. However, there are several extra fees that come along with renting a car that you should understand before signing anything. These types of fees and the costs will vary depending on the company you rent from, but some common things that could add extra costs to your bill include: - Adding an extra driver to the agreement. - Returning the car late. - Damaging the car in any way. - Driving out-of-state. - Renting additional items such as a GPS or a car seat. - Returning the car with an empty gas tank. For more information on extra fees, check out this article that explains more about hidden costs.

6. Rent Longer Than You Need
It doesn't sound like you would want to rent a car longer than you need it, but it could actually pay off. The New York Times explains that if you plan on returning your car on Friday morning but you extend the length of the agreement by a few hours, you could end up paying the weekend price for the vehicle, meaning you'll drive it at a discounted rate.

But it's not just this money-saving strategy that can make this idea pay off. In the world of traveling, if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. Give yourself a bit of extra time in case you have to deal with traffic or other issues. This will help you avoid charges for returning the car late. However, make sure you read the fine-print in case there are any charges associated with returning the car too early.

7. Prepay for the Vehicle
You could qualify for large discounts, sometimes up to 20 percent, if you prepay for your vehicle when you book it. This also leaves you with peace of mind knowing that your car will be waiting for you and not already rented out to someone else. But be careful. If you don't show up or if you cancel your reservation, you may have to charge extra fees, and the amount you paid isn't usually refundable. If you're sure you'll be there, though, it's a great idea to opt for this discounted option.

As you follow these tips, you can ensure that the car rental process will run smoother, leaving you one less thing to worry about on your travels. For more information about renting a car, check out this additional information before you rent.

About the Author: Abigail Clark is an up-and-coming freelance writer. She graduated from The University of South Florida with a bachelors in marketing, minoring in journalism. When she isn’t up to her neck in coupons she is enjoying the outdoors fishing. She loves doing reviews for technology, home products and beauty products. If you would like her to do a review for you look her up on twitter @downtownabby17.

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What to Check before Renting a Car on Vacation

You are finally ready to take that long deserved family road trip vacation but you are going to need to rent a car. Before partaking in your road adventure, you want to make that the vehicle you’re renting fits all your needs.

Factors to consider before renting a car


Needs Assessment. This should be your first consideration. If you are flying somewhere and plan on doing some sight-seeing independently, then you need a car. A car allows you the freedom to pick where you want to go and on your own schedule. Although some package deals offer excursions for a nominal fee, you have to adhere to the tour company’s agenda. However, a car rental will provide you with the opportunity to plan out your vacation and sight-seeing destinations according to your own itinerary.

Car Selection. Nothing is more frustrating than arriving at the car rental company and realizing that the car you reserved in advance is too small. A common mistake amongst travellers is to pick a smaller car in hopes of saving some money; however this can result in major problems depending on the number of passengers and their accompanying luggage. When choosing a car, consider the age and size of the occupants that will be riding in the car, and the amount of luggage that you will need to transport from the airport to your accommodations. Keep in mind that the longer the vacation, the greater the amount of luggage so plan accordingly. Also, consider what kind of activities you will be doing: if you are planning on taking long trips from your base accommodations, a larger vehicle is more comfortable for travellers than being cramped into a compact car.

Finding the Deals. Some car rental companies’ offer a discount if you are travelling on certain airlines, employed by a specified company or association member such as CAA or other similar organizations. You can also search online for promotional deals advertised on selected travel sites or check the rental website to see if there is a discount for booking online. Compare rates from companies located directly in the airport versus those off-site such as Discount Car and Truck Rentals which are usually cheaper due to reduce service fees paid by the rental car company that are passed on to the consumer.

The Insurance Factor. Check with your current automobile insurance company and see what coverage you have that can be transferred to a rental car. Also, some credit cards offer limited coverage; contact the credit card company and inquire as to what insurance components are covered if you pay for the car rental on their credit card. Additionally, be sure to obtain a copy of the credit card agreement which will provide proof of the coverage they offer.

Get it in Writing. A common complaint with rental cars is that the final price never matches the advertised price. Nothing is more frustrating than discovering the total cost exceeds the price you were quoted and now you feel trapped into signing the agreement. Prior to your actual vacation and booking the car, ask the agent for a written quotation for the final cost of the car rental including insurance (if needed), taxes, service charges and fees. With this quotation, you will know exactly what you are renting, and at what price.

Check the Fine Print. Before signing on the dotted line, read the contract thoroughly for any restrictions that make apply. Restrictions to be aware of include limited travel range or mileage allowance, who can drive the vehicle and late drop off charges. Senior travellers should check to make sure there aren’t any maximum age restrictions and related service charges.

To improve your rental car experience, be sure to shop around for the best price and ask questions so you know exactly what you are paying and what you can expect.

About the Author: Riley Gladstone is a travelholic. When she is not traveling the world, she’s writing about her travel adventures. You can find more her travel tips on her blog, TripHole.com. The photo in this post is fully owned by Riley Gladstone, the author of this post.

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Car Hire Services for North East India

This is my mind is the most critical part in planning a trip to North East India. The reason being, most of the places in North East India are remote and have very limited public transport. And to top it, the state of the roads are poor, making a good car a comfortable option. Additionally, it works out on the safety aspect too.


Unlike the rest of India, the car hire services in North East India work on a different model. They either charge an all inclusive (Driver charges, fuel, vehicle rent) daily rate or you pay a fixed daily rent for the vehicle and then pay for all other spontaneous expenses like fuel, driver food, driver accommodation, etc. The going rate varies with the tourist demand. As a thumb rule, the all inclusive rate should start with 3,500 rupees per day and the other option of just vehicle rent should begin at 1,500 rupees per day.


During my recent trip, I was lucky enough to hire the services of Madan Basnat, who owns a Mahindra Bolero car (fully loaded model) and also doubles up as a driver. Madan is a local of Tezpur in Assam and provides his car and driver services on hire for travel in North East India, especially the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland. He has 15 years of experience in driving cars across North East India.


We hired Madan’s services for 12 days paying him Rs 1,500 per day towards vehicle rent. And we handled our fuel expenses as they came up. Madan shared the food and accommodation with us. Hence, that bit was also taken care of. During our trip, we found Madan to be extremely helpful, resourceful and safe. His car was in top condition and he was very reliable too.

I would definitely recommend Madan for folks who are looking to travel to North East India and are looking for reliable car hire/rental services. For bookings or for car hire assistance, you can reach Madan at +91-9854569511 or +91-9401838475.

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