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Best Car Rental for Money

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Asking car rental company the right questions can save you some money. It will also assure you get the most comfortable and convenient rental vehicle for your needs.

For example, if you let the rental company know you are only 2 people but you plan to carry a lot of luggage. They would recommend you renting a sedan over a hatchback. You might pay a little more but you will not face a trouble of trying to fit your surf board into the rental Toyota Corolla Hatch.

Unfortunately, people are still doing the same mistake. Even worse, then they shift the blame on the rental companies.

The most common mistakes:

  • Hiring the cheapest vehicle thinking any non-utility vehicle can fit up to 4 people comfortably. Wrong assumption. Compact vehicles normally can accomodate up to 5 “average” people. What is the average you would ask? Exactly! If you are tall, or a little overweight, or you need to fit a child seat besides accomodating the adults, please let the car rental staff member know about.
  • Hiring a 4WD when you plan to go camping. Most probably it will be the best option, but somewhat inaccurate assumption that any 4WD can go through the unsealed road conditions. And it is not only the vehicle, it is also the insurance options you have to be aware of. Letting the rental company know you are going off-road is a must.
  • Hiring a medium to large size sedan just because you have a lot of luggage. This is a tricky one. You can have 1 piece of oversized bag that might not fit in anything but SUV. Or you can have 5 or 6 small bags that any compact size hatch like Hyundai Getz would fit.
  • Hiring a ute or a van when moving the house. This is the most common mistake. If you only expect to deliver your old TV, a few chairs and clothes to your new home, you might even want to look into the options of renting a 7- or 8- seater where you could put the seats down and fit all your belongings. Moving the same things in the ute can be difficult and potentially dangerous, as you would have to make sure you secure your luggage in boxes, cover with moving blankets and tire up with the stripes.

Please remember, especially during the peak season, Low Cost Car Rentals gets at least 50 emails and over 200 phone calls every day. Our staff is trying their best to ask you all the important questions. Nevertheless, it is your responsibility to make the final call on which car to rent.

What is the right knowledge the car hire company needs in order to provide you the best car for rent? Think before enquiring, may be they are some circumstances about your trip you need to let the car rental company know. Here is the short list of things that you might let your car rental company know before booking the car for hire.

Things to let car rental company know:

  1. Number of people who travel.
  2. How far are you travelling.
  3. What are the road conditions on the way (to be sure when are where you are covered by the insurance).
  4. Your Driver Licence conditions and Country of Issue.
  5. Whether you are familiar with the area in case you need to rent a GPS.
  6. What are the age of the youngest and the eldest traveller (children might need the baby seats to be fit for them, elder people might need side steps to be able to comfortably get in and out of the hire vehicle).
  7. How much of luggage you expect to carry at most. Please note on any oversized, irregularly shaped or fragile items.

Please do the home work to make sure the list is complete. Once you got a quote, please make sure you search the car on Internet and read its specifications.

There is always that one traveller who is unique and here at Low Cost Car Rentals we are happy to assist.

Inspecting your Rental Vehicle – What to look for?

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Inspecting rental car

When you enter into a car rental agreement you are signing a contract that will make you liable for payment when a car is damaged. Whenever you are renting a car you should definitely inspect the vehicle thoroughly. Most reputable rental companies will provide you with a damage report to fill in. If a rental company does not provide this, you should be very cautious about renting from them. So what should you mark on your damage report? We hope the following list is of assistance.

The Exterior:

Check for dents and scratches and mark them in the corresponding area of your damage report. Good practice is to circle the area on the damage report where there is a dent. Place an ‘X’ where there are stone chips and scratches. Use lines to indicate long marks or scratches. It is also good practice to put notes on the damage report explaining what you have marked. It also helps to take a video or photos of what you find. If you do this try and get a shot that shows the  position on the car, not just a close up of the damage. Be thorough with your inspection and ask questions of a company representative if you are not sure what fair wear and tear is.

The Windscreen:

It is important to check the windscreen carefully. Most rental companies deem small stone chips as fair wear and tear. Always make sure you mark any windscreen chips on the damage report using and ‘X’.

The Interior:

Sometimes you might come across damaged interiors in rental cars.  If there is no room on the damage report to mark this, then writing a comment about the interior damage is acceptable. You may want to note things like rips and tears and stains so that you avoid cleaning fees.

Drivability of your vehicle.

Rental cars come in various types, ages and condition. If you have elected to drive an older model car then there may be some things that you have to accept. Things like faded paint and interiors are inevitable on older model rental cars. However, they should always be maintained to roadworthy standards. Things like lights, windscreen wipers, tyres and brakes should be serviceable. So if you notice issues with these, bring them to the attention of your rental company.

Fuel and Kilometres travelled:

Make sure you note the amount of fuel in the car and how many kilometres the car has travelled. This is important where you opt for deals that have limited kilometre usage so that you do not pay for kilometres you did not use. Checking the fuel in the car is important as you do not want to be charged for fuel you did not use.

At Low Cost Car Rentals, we understand that accidents happen which is why we give you a damage report to fill in. We always recommend you take your time with filling in the damage report and take a video or photos of your rental vehicle.

The Positives of Car Hire

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Cheap car rental

There are many good reasons for car hire. The most common would be for someone from out of town who doesn’t have their own vehicle and doesn’t want the restrictions and inconvenience of using public transport. There are some other positives as well and we’ll take a look at some.

Why Buy When You Can Hire?

Maybe you need a specific type of vehicle for a few days or the week or two. There is little point buying a car in a temporary scenario like this. Car hire is the obvious solution. No need to go shopping for a vehicle, paying registration fees and ongoing insurance policies. For one off occasions and circumstances, it really is the simplest solution.

That Special Occasion

Some people hire special cars just for the wedding day. These cars are used to transport the bridal party and other dignitaries. Not everyone getting married has access to modern and nice looking vehicles, so car hire is the tailor made solution.

When friends visit town and you want to drive them around to see the sights, but you only have a small car, then hiring a much bigger car solves this problem. This can also be applied to other special occasions like a milestone birthday party or wedding anniversary. There are many occasions when car hire makes perfect sense.

Impress Your Date

For the guys out there. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you finally landed a date with your dream girl, agreed to pick her up, but are embarrassed about your rambling old car with the engine running rough and flaking paint?

Impress her and make a good first impression by hiring a nice shiny new and modern car. Even if she knows the car is not yours, she’ll be impressed that you went to so much trouble for her and your date with her.

Car Hire can be a Tax Deduction

When it comes to business, car hire is a legitimate tax deduction. You might be travelling for business and need transport when you get on the ground. Even in your home town, perhaps you have a high end client coming to visit and you need a better car to drive them around in to make that all important positive first impression. Car hire solves the problem and can be claimed against tax as well when used for business purposes.

Car Hire Sydney

For good quality but cheap car rental Sydney, come in and see us at Low Cost Car Rentals. We have a good range and great deals for rentals cars Sydney has to offer.

Car Hire Comparison

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Cars for rent - prices compared

It is easier to select the car for rent rather than compare the car hire deals.

When you get a quote from a hire company for Sydney car hire, you just assume that the price on the quote is the price you will pay.

Don’t be fooled by the numbers! Read blow to know what are some of the gotchas with the car rentals prices.

What often happens is that when you picking up or returning the hire car you may be slugged with all manner of extra fees such as:

  • Administration fees
  • Airport levies
  • Registration recovery tax
  • Insurance excess / liability reduction waiver
  • Surcharge for drivers under 25
  • Visa and Mastercard surcharges

Unfortunately, those fees are not uncommon in the car rental industry. When you face these extra hidden costs you have no option but sign the contract and pay it.

Low Cost Car Rentals live up to our reputation and words

But not at Low Cost Car Rentals! When we provide a quote for cheap car rentals, we guarantee there will be absolutely, no hidden costs. All our prices include the default insurance cover and once the full amount paid you can drive away. And you get your credit card bond back as soon as you return the car when meet the simple conditions:

  • the fuel tank is full;
  • the mileage allowance is not exceeded
  • and the car is in the same condition as at the time you had picked it up.

The price per day we tell you in your quote is the total price you will pay for your rental car!

Additional charges may apply for things like:

  • additional drivers;
  • child seats, GPS, handsfree sets or other extras;
  • after hours airport pick up or drop off.

But we let you know this upfront, because we pride ourselves on transparent and honest pricing.

The safety and comfort of our customers is paramount to us, so you can have peace of mind knowing our cars are always safe and reliable. If you have rented our car for long term and noticed it is due for a service or something is worrying you, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us and we will organise a day when you can bring the car for a quick check up or service.

Low Cost Car Rentals Sydney are not the same as other hire car companies. We are a family owned Sydney car rental business with a focus on customer service.

Lastly, we have include a free 24/7 road side assistance to every single car hire. As we want you to be safe on the road and enjoy the trip as much as possible.

We will go the extra mile to make sure your car hire experience is as stress free and economical as possible.

If you need something special, our staff will go out of their way to make sure you get it!

Conclusion

So, no, not all hire car companies are the same. And that is why our customers keep coming back to us at Low Cost Car Rentals Sydney time and time again.

Our fleet includes small, economy cars, sedans, SUV’s and vans.

We will happily organise a quote for you and stay true to our motto. We guarantee that the price we say is the only price you will pay!

Avoid extra charges on cheap Car Rentals Deals

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Sales and discounts

The rate of car rentals might look reasonable, but once you get the final bill for your rental car, the bottom line can be a shocker. Taxes, fees and charges for everything from an additional driver to satellite radio, concession charges at airport locations and refilling the gas tank – all this can quickly add up to a big surprise if you have not navigated the confusing world of rental car contracts before renting. Read the fine print before you go. And don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Q 1 – Insurance

Enquiry your car rentals company about the insurance included in the quotation. You need to know who and what is covered.

Questions to ask:

  • What is the excess in case of an accident?
  • Any additional excess in case of a single vehicle accident?
  • What if the accident is not at your fault?
  • What if there is a dispute in liability?
  • What if the repairs are less than the excess amount?

Q 2 – Roadside assistance

It is something you definitely need while on holidays. Unfortunately bad things happen – tyre puncture, empty fuel tank, broken or lost car key, etcetera. You don’t want to ruin the day of your precious holidays dealing with some towing service or booking a hotel in the area where the car broken down.

All the prices of Low Cost Car Rentals include 24/7 premium roadside assistance. It means a help is just 10-60 minutes away from where you are, depends on your location and type of the issue.

Q 3 – Location fares

If you found the best price, don’t often assume it includes the taxes and GST. Even though it is not entirely legal to hide surcharges and GST, some companies find legal ways to work around it. Do not hesitate to ask the rental company if the price is final. Ask if it includes the car delivery (if applicable), airport fares or any other fees when picking up the car.

Check the company’s drop-off policies, which may include hefty charges for one-way rentals or drop-offs at a different location.

All quotations issued by Low Cost Car Rentals are final and include all the taxes, fares, delivery fees (if applicable) and refundable bond.

Q 4 – Membership points

If you own some credit card that has an awesome points system. Don’t use it just yet. Ask the rental company if there is any charges apply when paying with the credit card. Some companies charge it daily, most of the time it is one-off fee.

Low Cost Car Rentals does not charge any fees for any of the accepted payments methods.

Q 5 – Car Rentals fuel policy

Most of the companies follow the “full tank out – full tank in” policy. It is worth confirming though. You don’t want to get a car with 10% of fuel in and then being asked to return it with a full tank.

Also, sometimes you can be in a rush when returning a car and will not have a chance to re-fill the tank. Ask the rental cars company if there is any charge apply in this case.

If you happened to return a car to Low Cost Car Rentals with less than 100% in the tank. We would refill the car for you and only charge you the amount we pay at the petrol station. This is only valid if you return the car to our CBD location in Alexandria or Sydney Airport. Please ask our staff for any extra charges if you return the car into a different location.

Q 6 – Fines and toll payments

Obviously during the rental period you are liable for any toll payments, fines or parking tickets. If you know you would be travelling through the paid roads, be careful. With some car rentals, they would charge you a fee for each of those fines you receive. Additionally they might charge you an administration fee for each day you use the paid roads.

More tips on using the toll roads here.

Q 7 – Return date and time

Sometimes the trip doesn’t go as planned. Whether you are running late or one of your travel companions gets sick. You have no choice but extend the car rental. Most of the companies would start charging you a non-discounted daily rate. You will not be entitled for any discounts or specials you might of had before. Be careful, it is no uncommon the rental company would start charging you hourly rates. So a day of the extended rental can cost you an air ticket to LA and back 🙂

Here, at Low Cost Car Rentals, we are very flexible. As long as the car you have is available for the dates you need, you will have it for the same price. We are easy on 2-3 hours late returns as well and will not charge you any extra fees. The only condition, you have to contact one of our staff members in advance and make sure they are aware of the extended rental.

ADDITIONAL TIP

Examine both the exterior and interior of the car carefully before leaving the rental lot, making a note of any damages. A quick time-stamped photo on your cellphone is a good idea. Point out any defects out to the rental agent to avoid being charged for damage that was already there when you picked up the car.

WARNING

Follow the rules and conditions of your contract. Do not smoke in a non-smoking car. Never let an unauthorized driver operate the car, even a valet. Never drink and drive. Violations can void the contract and result in hefty charges. Treat the car as you would your own, keeping it clean, parking it in safe locations and always locking the doors and trunk.