Summer is right around the corner which means many travellers will be starting to plan their vacation getaway, if they haven’t started already! Depending on what your plans are you may need to factor in a vehicle rental, whether you’re flying somewhere and then need local transportation, or if you want a different vehicle to take a road trip from home.
Before you book your rental check out our tips and make sure you haven’t forgotten anything!
1. Look for Savings & Discounts
Some insurance companies, credit card companies, retailers, and workplaces offer a discount or special offer for vehicle rentals. BCAA offers exclusive pricing and perks to their members, when you rent a vehicle from Enterprise, Alamo, or National. These perks may include a discounted rate, free unlimited mileage, and a free child safety car seat rental! Credit card companies, such as Desjardins and TD, offer a preferred rate for a few different rental brands when you use certain cards for payment. Retailers, such as Costco and Save-on-Foods, also offer perks for purchasing your car rental through them. Save-on-Foods allows you to redeem More Rewards points for car rentals, and Costco provides exclusive pricing, no cancellation fees, and waives the additional driver fee depending on where you’re renting.
You can also check with your employer if they offer any savings or discounts!
2. Check Insurance Coverage
Like insurance on our every day vehicles, insurance on any rental vehicle is important coverage to have. Depending on what your current ICBC vehicle insurance is, you may already be covered, but they also offer vehicle rental insurance coverage as an additional add-on. The vehicle rental coverage is included in both the RoadStar and RoadSide Plus ICBC packages. BCAA, and many other private insurance companies within BC, offer rental vehicle coverage under their Optional plans as well. Before you book a rental, make sure to read through your insurance policies and ensure that a rental vehicle is covered.
You should always check with the vehicle rental company that they will accept the insurance coverage from another provider, and make sure that you bring copies or photos (not the originals) of your insurance papers. You can also purchase insurance from the vehicle rental company, but it will often cost more than if you were to opt in for an add-on through an insurance company.
3. Who Can Drive a Rental Vehicle
You should check both your insurance policy as well as the rental company’s policies to see who is allowed to drive a rental vehicle. ICBC’s rental vehicle coverage requires that additional drivers are named in the package contract, and this applies to the coverage if you purchase it as an add-on or if you already have the RoadSide or RoadStar package. BCAA covers both you and your spouse, but any other drivers must be named as a permitted driver on the rental contract. Make sure you check the named drivers before you leave for vacay!
Even if you ensure that all drivers are named in the contract, you still need to check the rental company’s policies for driver eligibility. Some rental companies, such as Alamo, have an age restriction of 21 years for any drivers, and you may find yourself paying extra if you’re on the lower end of the restriction.
4. Where Can You Drive a Rental Vehicle
If you’re renting a vehicle in another country, or will be crossing any borders, it’s important to check that your current licence is valid and accepted in that country. For any drivers with a Learners or Novice you are allowed to drive in most countries, but you need to follow the same licensing restrictions you do at home, such as passenger limits or designated driving times. You will, as mentioned above, still need to follow any rules under your insurance coverage or rental company’s policies. If you are only 16, you may not be able to drive some rentals due to the age restriction.
Although most vacationers will not be away from home for too long, different countries and jurisdictions will have varying rules in regards to how long of a period you can drive there. In the United States you are allowed to drive with a foreign licence for up to one year, but in Australia you can only drive with a foreign licence for three months.
You should also brush up on road rules and regulations that may differ from one jurisdiction to another. This can be something as well-known as driving on the left in places like the UK, or something as bizarre as car washing rules in Moscow. It is also important to check for road restrictions wherever you may be driving, like some of the routes in BC that require winter tires during specific months of the year. Some locales across the globe will also have restrictions on specific roads or routes that will void any coverage or incur large fees for any damage caused or help needed if you run into issues on those routes.
If you are planning to drive through multiple countries, you need to confirm that both your insurance coverage and the rental vehicle company will allow you to do so. Enterprise, for example, does not allow cars rented in Canada to be driven into Mexico but some Enterprise branches in the United States do allow this. If you’re looking to drive abroad, many car rental agencies within Europe allow you to cross borders but also have a list of prohibited countries. Many of them also have restrictions on which vehicles can cross borders.
5. When Should You Inspect the Vehicle Rental?
Before signing off on the paperwork, rental agents will perform a walk-around inspection for the vehicle you’re being given. They will be checking for cleanliness and damage, and they will also note the kilometres and gas tank gauge before you leave. These will be marked on the contract you are signing so that your mileage can be tracked. Gas tank levels are also noted because renters are liable for covering the cost of the amount of gas that the vehicle is rented out with. Many agencies have a pre-pay option that you can purchase upfront so that you don’t have to worry about the gas tank at the end of your rental period, but if you opt-out make sure you hit the fuel station and fill up before you return the vehicle!
Walk around with the agent during their initial inspection, so you can shadow the inspection and catch anything that they may miss. If you’re feeling rushed or they complete the walk-around before you have a chance to be included, snap some photos of the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Make sure the photos are date- and time-stamped, or have some of the company’s branding in the background to show the photos were taken before you left. It’s important to pay attention so that you don’t incidentally get charged for damage you aren’t responsible for when you return it. Use this same procedure and process when you return the vehicle!
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Embarking on a road trip with a rental car, or even just using one for daily transport at a faraway destination, is a great way to travel during your vacation! As with driving at home, it’s important to research and be prepared before you head out, whether it’s for a week of driving or just to get from your hotel to dinner.