8 Things You Need To Know When Renting A Car In South Africa

As great as city slicking is whilst you're here, sometimes you just need to hit the open road and expand your horizon. There are a few things to know; because of the lack of demand for car rental options are fewer than in other major city destinations. Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) - covers medical costs and accidental death for the renter and passengers in the event of an accident during the rental.

Also referred to as loss damage waiver or one of the many acronyms invented in car hire contracts, this extra cost can seriously jack up the price of your car hire. Car-hire is available from Hertz, Avis and Thrifty alongside plenty of smaller independent car-hire firms.

As far as I am aware, they do not actually charge your credit card, they just stake a claim on an amount until they are sure you don't owe them any money, usually when you return the car undamaged. The first is because you automatically get extra protection (as long as the amount you pay is at least £100 of the total car hire bill) as the credit card company is then equally liable.

When asked about this behaviour, the companies claim they need to bring in extra revenue as headline" rental rates have been driven below operating costs by the competition to feature at the top of the best buy" tables of the price comparison sites. During peak times, very popular vehicle types may be booked out, so please ensure to book early when hiring a car.

Don't forget to check the interior as well as the outside of the car, and it's also a good idea to take photos of any damage on your phone. Great rental car options: Enjoy car hire shopping in our website as we list down different types of vehicles - from economy and SUVs to luxury cars.

Our survey found that more than half (58%) of customers bought insurance from the rental company they booked through, with about one in four (23%) feeling it was unnecessarily upsold to them. During the online booking process, specify which city and branch where you would like to pick-up and drop-off your rental car.

Your car hire agent will usually inspect the vehicle together with you to check for any pre-existing damage and will need to swipe your credit card and settle your bill (usually upon arrival). 5.1 The vehicle shall be at the Renter's sole risk from the date of delivery up and until the vehicle is returned to Tempest.

In a consumer-driven market, Budget has topped Canstar Blue's customer satisfaction ratings for car hire in 2018. Debit cards are accepted for payment at the end of your rental. If you are booking online, some companies may ask you to enter credit card details. This spacious Ideafit.Com 7-seater Galaxy is part of our large car hire range and is a great option for both business travels and family holidays.

Don't include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. The other options are for them to collect the toll fees from your credit card after your trip is over (this is what I would do) or pay the fees yourself at a post office.

Check the total cost of your booking before finalising payment. For example, renting a car from an airport location may incur an extra daily surcharge. Automatic cars come at a higher price and you do need to book them quite some time in advance to make sure there will be availability.

Car rental agencies primarily serve people who require a temporary vehicle, for example, those who do not own their own car, travelers who are out of town, or owners of damaged or destroyed vehicles who are awaiting repair or insurance compensation. Drivers aged between 21 and 24yrs at time of rental may be subject to an underage driving surcharge.

If it's not noted on the vehicle's condition report, speak to the rental agency to make sure it's included. The amount of days you want to rent the car for. This has raised issues about hiring cars abroad - a process already fraught with such pitfalls as fuel and mileage policies, excess waiver insurance and damage charges.