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Editor s Note : This is part three of our new Insider series on car rentals. Here s the first installment and here s the second one . By the way, if you see something I ve missed in this post, please tell me in the comments downtown los angeles virtual office *protected email* downtown los angeles virtual office .
The base rate is a theoretical price, minus taxes, fees and rental options. No one ever pays the base rate, but the car rental company wants you to see it because 1) it makes their rental look less expensive; and 2) You know how much money the car rental company is actually making, which really isn t that much, most of the time. (In fact, car rental profit-margins are generally razor thin.)
Mandatory taxes and surcharges are then added to the bill. I won t annotate every one of these, except to say that you can t negotiate your way out of them. For example, if there s a an airport surcharge which covers the car rental company s cost of operating at the airport you can t dodge the fee by not flying downtown los angeles virtual office in to that airport, and getting dropped off by car, train or bus instead.
Some of these fees are imposed by local municipalities, the airport or the state, and yes, they often fund stadiums and convention centers and all other manner of pet projects. But for you, the driver, downtown los angeles virtual office the only thing you really need to know is that you must pay them. (Although you can avoid many of them by renting at an off-airport location.)
downtown los angeles virtual office The number you ll want to pay attention to is the estimated total . That s usually the amount of money you ll pay, plus or minus a few percent. If you re making a budget for your trip, that s the figure to use.
The first category is more or less self-explanatory. If you need a navigation system or an XM radio, here s a chance to rent it. You can also get the equivalent of OnStar for roadside service, although downtown los angeles virtual office the car rental company also has a 24-hour, toll-free number you can call if you are in trouble. These are somewhat profitable add-ons, and I would definitely downtown los angeles virtual office think carefully before giving downtown los angeles virtual office them the nod. For $5 a day, you could buy a lot of new music for your iPod and simply play it through the car s stereo. Also, many phones now have navigational system apps. And don t forget the old-fashioned paper maps, which your car rental company should offer at no extra charge.
The second category ( protections ) is not as obvious. Car rental companies offer several insurance options. You absolutely have to think about insurance before you arrive at the counter. If you don t, you may buy too much insurance, or worse, not enough.
Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) This is your basic insurance, and it normally covers the loss of the vehicle and any loss of use to the rental company. (A related kind of insurance, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is more limited, covering the car but not damage to other property or injuries.
You need to understand a few things about car rental insurance before you do. Some of these policies make perfect sense for you and are a good deal. Others are overpriced and unnecessary. Which is which? It depends where you re renting from, and who you are.
Make your decision before you arrive at the car rental counter. Review your car insurance downtown los angeles virtual office policy, credit card and travel insurance before you leave , to see if your rental car is covered. Also, if you re renting outside the United States, be sure that you are meeting that country s insurance requirements otherwise, you may be forced to buy insurance.
Normally, you ll have enough coverage between your car insurance and credit card. But watch out if you re renting a specialty vehicle like a van or SUV, your policy may not work. Read your policy and cardmember agreement before you rent.
Point is, you want to avoid having to make up your mind at the counter. Car rental agents are trained to sell you insurance and other extras. They are not travel agents; they re often evaluated based on how much insurance and other add-ons they can sell you when you pick up the car. You won t be able to avoid the pitch, but you can manage it.
The upgrade. If you re on vacation and want a nicer set of wheels, why not? But you may want to turn it down to see what happens. Sometimes, agents downtown los angeles virtual office will try to talk you into an upgrade when they have no cars in the class you reserved. If you say no they will give you the upgrade downtown los angeles virtual office for free. Incidentally, there may be a time when you ll want to turn down the upgrade. If your insurance won t cover a more expensive specialty vehicle or if you re concerned with gas mileage, you may be better off downgrading and getting the price adjusted.
The fuel purchase option. These come in several flavors, from pre-paying for a tank of gas, to paying for the fuel you consume after you return, to topping off the tank before you bring back the car. If you choose the latter option, keep your gas station receipt you may have to show it as proof you refueled. The first and second option may work for you if you re in a hurry or on an expense account; otherwise, go for door #3.
The insurance. Look, if you haven t done your homework before downtown los angeles virtual office you get to the counter, and have to endure the sales pitch, complete with the images of damaged cars (yes, I ve been there) then you owe it to yourself to buy at least a basic CDW policy. Why? Because you don t know if you re covered, and that means if you re in an accident, you may have to buy a $30,000 car.
Make sure the options you asked for are on the final contract you sign. Some car rental employees have been known to accidentally check the option for insurance, and if you sign the contract accepting it, you will be charged the full amount and there s usually no way to get the money back. It s a tricky move, and only the most ethically-challenged rental agents do it, but in the end you are responsible for what you ve signed. If you don t understand the contract (or if it s in another language) ask an employee to explain what you re signing. If you re uncomfortable with anything at all, don t sign. Take your business elsewhere.
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