Choosing a car rental company

Car rental 101 - eligibility At Budget Rent a Car of Kenya, we pride ourselves in giving our clients all the information that they will need to make an informed choice and their discount car hire experience first-rate.

So you would like to hire a car for your business trip to Nairobi or Mombasa or are researching your options for a 4 x 4 Self drive East African Safari? What are the terms and conditions for auto hire in Kenya? Common with all car rental companies worldwide, you will be subject to a minimum age requirement and a driver's license check. In some cases, a credit check may be run. Car rental companies may cancel your reservation if you do not meet the terms and conditions of that particular company.

Age requirements: The universal minimum age limit for car hire is 25. However, younger drivers (between 18 and 24) may hire vehicles under the condition that they pay up a younger driver surcharge. They may also be an upper age limit in some agencies. Confirm with the car rental company what the age requirements are for car hire and whether these age limits are linked to the type of car you can rent or the locations in which you may drive your hired vehicle. Age limits may be waived in cases where drivers are in the military or using the rented cars for business purposes where the car rental company has an agreement with corporations to permit younger drivers the use of company cars for business. Check with your company if any of these exemptions apply to you.

Driving Licence checks: Even your confirmed reservation is no good if you have a history of driving violations. Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, driving with a suspended or invalid licence and accidents (even when they are not your fault) are all grounds for car rental companies to deny you service. Seatbelt violations are not taken too lightly either.

Credit History: Most car rental companies will not accept a cash deposit for car rentals. Car Hire companies need a guarantee of payment for services rendered.


Choosing a Car Rental Company.

Having established that you qualify to rent a vehicle, these are the things you might want to think about ahead of selecting your car rental company:

First you must settle on the size of car you need to use and the amount you are prepared to spend on Car Rental. Knowing what your auto hire requirements are will very likely save you from being convinced to rent a more expensive vehicle.

Bear in mind that vehicle sizes and classifications vary between car rental agencies. "Economy" and "Compact", "premium" and "luxury" all mean different things to different car hire companies.

Choosing the right rental car for your needs The Budget Car Rental system is designed around nine classes of vehicle models according to the fuel capacity of each car. When you make a reservation with Budget Rent A Car of Kenya, you are assured a certain rate. The exact car model you will be driving on hire, however, will be determined by the class of vehicle you booked and the availability of your preferred car type when you arrive at the counter.

These are some of the things you may want to consider before renting any car:

1. What are you using the vehicle for? Saloon cars are the practical option for business - minded city sleekers in Nairobi or Mombasa while bush whackers will find a 4 x 4 Off Roader the more serviceable choice in and around Kenyan game reserves.

2. How many passengers will be travelling with you? A Mini bus is a far more comfortable ride for 8 passengers than a 7 seater 4 x 4 Toyota Prado.

3. How much luggage do you have and are you carrying any extra equipment e.g. tents?

4. How much will you buy during your trip? Presents and mementos from your memorable African Safari will certainly mean more luggage space.

Be sure to check the class size of the vehicle you hire. You may end up with an "Economy" vehicle when what you were looking for was a "Compact" car.

Right Car Rental Rates:

Go shopping: The second most important consideration is the amount of money you are going to have to spend on your car rental. The key to getting that discount cheap car rental is research. Car rental prices will change in line with the economic laws of demand and supply. You may find yourself having to pay much higher prices for short notice bookings during travelling peaks. Go online and visit car rental web sites, use the yellow pages to find the right car rental prices for your pocket or visit the car rental companies in person to get first hand information on rate deals. Travel agents may also be able to give you rates on car hire in the area you intend to visit. Bottom line: shop around.

Car Rental Rates:By and large there are four kinds of charges for car rental companies:

• A daily rate with a mileage charge
• A daily rate with a limited number of free miles per day
• A daily rate with unlimited mileage
• A rate that has free mileage over an extended period

As a general rule of thumb, the longer you use the car the lower the rate. A basic daily rate is best for 2 or 3 days use of a rented car while a weekly rate is the better option for using the vehicle for 6 days or more. If you might need to extend the use of the rented car beyond 2 or 3 days, it is prudent to enquire about the basic weekly charges and any other charges incurred on extension of hired car use.

Cancellation: Ask about the car rental company's cancellation policies in case your plans change. There may be some charges if your reservation is not cancelled within a specified period usually 24 - 48 hours.

Discount Rental: Save yourself considerable change by finding out if there are special offers on say making your reservations online or on specialty vehicles such as SUVs, discounts on minivans or pickups. Are there any specials geared towards the length of time you use the car? Ask the car rental agent if their car hire company has a customer loyalty programme to which you can subscribe or if there are any corporate arrangements between your company and the car rental company. Ensure that you discuss the discount offer with a sales representative so that you fully understand the conditions for the deal. There may be restrictions such as blackout dates on special offers. Do not be afraid to ask questions as sometimes vital information may be omitted.


Extra Charges/Hidden costs:

The advertised rate is sometimes not what you pay when you commit to a car rental company. Always check if the advertised fee is inclusive or if there are any extra charges that will be added on to the final bill. Supplementary costs may include: insurance, taxes, younger driving fees, extra mileage, out of state fees, refueling charges, additional equipment and drop off fees, airport surcharges and late return penalties. It is also a good idea to check if the car rental company will be charging a licensing fee usually added on to the car rental fees to help the company recover government licensing costs.

Read the car rental agreements carefully to be clear on what the agreements covers, agreement covers restrictions and renter's liability. Cost savings should outweigh the agreement's restrictions for the best deals.

Taxes: There may be taxes which vary depending on country or state charged in addition to the daily rates. For International Car Rentals, Valued Added Tax (VAT) and other taxes may bring the base quote up by 10 - 30%. Check with the car rental company agent what taxes will be included in the base rental rate.

Insurance: If you own a vehicle for which you are already paying insurance, the best course of action is to check with your insurance agent whether your insurance policy is transferable and what specific areas of car rental your insurance will cover. If you do not have a car then it is better to buy yourself the car rental company's insurance policy to cover damages and accidents. Some credit card companies have offers in which they will provide a minimum insurance cover for any car rental deal made on that credit card. Please be sure that you understand the extent of the credit card insurance cover before declining the car rental agency's offer.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): An insurance charge that guarantees that the car rental company will take care of any collision damage to the rented car. Caveat emptor: CDW/LDW will be voided where a driver is found to having been driving carelessly. The CDW/LDW is technically not insurance. It does not cover personal injuries or damage to personal property. Be sure to thoroughly understand the car rental agency's CDW/LDW policy. By not taking the CDW/LWD cover you take full responsibility for all damages to the rented car.

Supplementary Liability Insurance (SLI): A necessity for any driver without Personal Liability Insurance. SLI covers over and above what Personal or Business insurance covers. Please check what your personal and insurance cover provides.

Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) and Personal Effects Coverage or Protection (PEC/PEP): PAI will pay off a portion of your medical bills should you be injured in an accident. Personal Accident Insurance is usually covered under your own auto or health policies and it is a good idea to confirm that you are covered before buying it from the car rental company. PEC/PEP is an extra charge that will compensate you for damage to your personal property in the event of accident. An expensive option, PEC/PEP should be reserved for only your most precious possessions.

Deposit or refundable charge: It is practice for car rental companies to require this payment before a car is hired. A deposit will usually be charged to your credit card but is fully refundable upon safe return of the hired vehicle.

Airport surcharges: If you plan to pick up your rented car from an airport, be sure to enquire whether the advertised rate includes airport charges. Car rental companies are sometimes charged Concession Recovery Fees for doing business out of airports; costs which are shared by you, the consumer, and could significantly increase your car rental fees if counted separately.

Drop off fees and Late Return Penalties: Drop off fees may be required if the rented car is returned to a different location than the initial pick up point. Car rental companies may charge extra for the delayed return of a hired vehicle. Confirm with the car rental company if any of these charges are applicable before committing.

(Re)Fueling Charges: Find out the car rental company's refueling policy on returned hired cars. You will not normally be charged for fuel if you return the rented vehicle with a full tank, avoiding extra fuelling fees and saving yourself some money in the process.

Extra Mileage over Set Limit: Ask the car rental agent what the mileage limit is to determine how far excess miles will affect your budget.

Additional equipment: It is possible to rent extra equipment at an additional charge. It is a good idea to let the car rental company know of any equipment you may require above standard issue at the time of reservation to avoid disappointment on collection of your rented car.


Booking your reservation:

Connected: Once you have chosen your car rental company, you can now make your reservation. Many car rental companies like Budget Rent A Car Of Kenya have web sites where online bookings are a simple process. Layout is usually very user friendly making it easy to complete your booking process without any complications and in the shortest possible time.
Yellow pages: The car rental company could also be accessed by telephone, usually toll free, where you can speak to a sales representative and give the details for your reservation. It is usually Theduly of the car rental agent may to follow up with your booking but it would be helpful for you to confirm your reservation within the stipulated time usually 24 - 48 hours before the collection of your hired car. Check with the sales representative what your confirmation time limits are.
Up Close: The third option is tradition: visit the car rental company and make the reservation in person. Aside for allaying any of your concerns that may might come from having to deal with disembodied voices on the telephone or cold computers, this method helps you make a personal connection with your car rental company.

Payments for reservations: Most car rental company will require all payments to be made through credit cards as a guarantee of payment for services rendered. However, some companies will accept their own pre-paid vouchers issued through an appointed travel agent. Cash payments may necessitate large deposits and advances exceeding the estimated charges of the rental, or cash qualification questionnaires that may need some time for verification.

Confirmation: Clients must obtain a voucher or confirmation slip once their reservation has been booked. This receipt should show the car rental company's name, a confirmation number, type and/or class of vehicle requested and contact information for the renting office at the pick up location. More About Kenya