Choose a vehicle that will accommodate the people you are traveling with and your luggage. If you are traveling on a long road trip, you will want to consider the cost of gas as well as the comfort of the vehicle you are renting. If you will be traveling in bad weather or on snowy roads, you may want to rent a vehicle equipped with four wheel drive. Rental companies also offer luxury vehicles and convertibles.
Insurance coverage is offered to you when renting a vehicle. Contact your personal insurance company to see if your policy extends to rental vehicles. If it doesn't, consider purchasing this option. Some companies may require this to rent a vehicle to you. Rates vary depending on the car rental company that you are renting from, along with what insurance options you choose. These insurance options include liability coverage, collision coverage, comprehensive insurance and personal injury insurance. Liability coverage covers damage that you cause to someone's vehicle or property. Collision coverage covers damage to the rental vehicle regardless if it is your fault or not. Comprehensive insurance will pay for the vehicle in the event it is stolen or repairs to the vehicle if there is damage caused by something other than a collision, such as a tree falling on the car or a broken window. Personal injury insurance will pay for medical bills in the event of an accident that results in injuries.
Many car rental companies only rent to customers who hold a valid credit card. They will not accept debit cards or cash to secure the vehicle rental, however they may be used to pay the rental fees once the vehicle is returned. If you do not have a credit card in your name, you will want to search for companies that offer the option to rent with debit cards or cash. Generally these locations will require that you be at least 25 years of age and have adequate personal car insurance coverage. If you are traveling on official business or with the government, many companies will waive this requirement.
Car rental companies will generally rent to anyone over the age of 25. For an additional fee, they will rent to customers between the ages of 21 and 24. These fees range from $25 to as much as $100 per day. Companies will not rent to anyone under the age of 18, as they cannot legally sign a contract, and will only rent to these customers if they are on a business trip or traveling on government orders.
