Archive for the ‘Car Rentals’ category

Best Car Rental Options

December 5th, 2009

Certain things need to be considered when choosing a car rental agency. It is always best to plan your trip in advance and make your investigations about rates that are charged by the different companies.

Do not be misled into thinking that an advance booking will give you discounted rates, normally this is not the case. Most car rentals have variable rates on their service depending on the time and season of the year. So at the time of your booking make sure you know which rates will apply when you pick up the car.

So before choosing a car rental it would be best to have an estimate of the amount that you are willing to spend on the rental, and the different sites that you intend to visit. You should also know the exact dates of your trip and whether you can change them or not. Knowing all these things will help you when you are negotiating and choosing the type of car that you will use.

The best way to make a car booking would be to do it online. Most companies will offer you a discount for booking online because they save on time and money. It is possible that you might require a car with extra features find out if these are available. Extra features like storage facilities, roof racks for luggage or sports equipment.

Most agencies have a daily rate that applies for a limited number of km and charge for any km’s that are exceeded. Some will offer cover charges for rentals that are up to a week and not consider the number of km’s traveled. Some are flexible on drivers as long as you register the drivers with them others will require you to pay for the extra drivers. If you have good negotiating skills you can get a better deal than the original one, just compare the different agencies. Some of the agencies that you might want to look are:

  1. Imperial Car Rental Sandton
  2. Car Hire Johannesburg
  3. Alamo Car Rental South Africa
  4. Disney Travel Specials

GPS Tracking Systems Overview

November 28th, 2009

The Global Positioning System, or GPS as it is popularly known, is a tracking system aided by satellites in space that beam down precise signals through radio to GPS receivers throughout the world. This system is effective in pinpointing the exact location of moving or stationary objects anywhere in the world through helping the receivers accurately find their location in terms of longitude, latitude and altitude.

There are various GPS receivers available on the public market. Some come with special features and a group of looks. There are lots you can choose from to suit your business or personal needs. Take the time to research the different types of GPS receivers and decide what would be best for you.

Motor Vehicle GPS: This is the most convenient type of GPS. For the first time you do not have to be fumbling and flipping through a map book whilst driving. There are some affordable models for your car, and are easily attached to the dashboard or windscreen. There are some GPS systems that will help you calculate the distance in kilometers to your destination, and will even help you choose the best and quickest routeline. Car GPS systems normally have a voice guide that will tell you when to turn and where to go without you being too distracted by having to look at the screen when you’re driving. You can also save similar destinations into your system to access them easily. GPS trackers are even capable of telling you where there will be a speed trap or police activity on the road. You can even load pictures and photos onto your GPS and have these images showing as a slide show whilst the system is not in use.

PDA Navigation: These are personal GPS devices, which can be useful on hunting or hiking. You will be able to know your exact position at any given time, and will be able to find your way successfully to any destination that you wish. There is a surplus of PDA navigation devices for you to choose and benefit from.

GPS Vehicle Tracking: This is only to keep track of where the car is traveling, but will not tell you how to reach the destination. GPS tracking especially useful for companies who are wishing to track exactly where company cars are being driven, and how far. Car security and insurance companies have caught onto vehicle tracking in a big way, for this kind of GPS is very efficient in locating stolen cars. A paranoid parent can even use a GPS vehicle tracking system to check up on their teenager who has just started driving, and the use of this kind of GPS system can even extend to those suspecting a spouse or partner of disloyalty.

GPS Maps: GPS maps are great for fishing expeditions, and will help you to locate hidden coves and following coastlines. GPS maps ensure you travel safety .

In conclusion, there are many different specializations of GPS systems, and you only need to decide what you would need a system for before venturing out to purchase one.

Rental Insurance for Car Rental Uk

November 28th, 2009

 

This is a subject which causes a great deal of confusion with customers who are hiring cars in the UK.

The reason being there are many options available to you and you’re not quite sure what you need and what you can afford to refuse.

Experienced travellers can often get confused with this.

The part I am going to cover relates more to customers arriving in the UK from North America. North American credit card companies offer additional advantages with their card . Car hire insurance is one of these benefits . Very often car rental customers from North America when booking a car in the UK will ask that the car rental company insurance is not included in the price as they have insurance with their credit card company.

The car rental company would only consider this if the credit card was a Gold card or a Platinum card, as these cards can cover, the whole cost of the car.

As a customer you should be aware of this. If you choose to use a Gold card for example to cover the insurance and you are involved in an accident. If the damage to the car was extensive and the car had to be replaced, the car hire company would take the total cost of replacing a car from the credit card.

To be reinbursed the renter would have to make contact with his credit card company .

If you don’t have a Gold card, just an ordinary credit card, you can still use your credit card insurance to cover some of the insurance cost. I am referring to the deductible when mentioning the insurance cost. Damage excess is referred to in Canada as a deductible. If the car is returned damaged this is amount of money that the car rental company will hold you responsible for. The amount is likely to be in the viscinity of £600 .

In this situation you cannot directly make use of your card to cover the excess . In this situation you would refuse the optional insurance offered to you at the car hire desk by the car rental company representative. The member of staff will authorise your credit card for the total excess amount. If the car was returned damaged they would deduct the cost of the repair from your card up to the maximum amount of the excess. You would then claim that amount back on your credit cards insurance.

Some independent car rental companies will offer you cheaper insurance packages.

See Car Hire Prestwick Airport Cheap