FOR FOCUS ISSUE -- CAR RENTAL

FOR FOCUS ISSUE -- CAR RENTAL
;JP;
ANPAv..r..
Photo-car-rentals-tips

Important guide to finding reliable car rental firm

For business travelers, renting a vehicle is an indispensable
part of their trips, especially when they visit a city or a
country that they have never visited before.

Almost all big cities, including Jakarta, offer a lot of
choices for car rental companies. Although it may be easy to
select the type of car you want to rent, finding a reliable and
credible company is somehow more difficult.

The first step you have to make before you start your visit is
to get information from your business partners about renting cars
in that city. It would also be a good idea to ask for a
recommendation on which car rental company is suitable for you.
The most practical way would be to let your partners arrange it
for you.

Even the most savvy traveler would have to suffer through the
realities of renting a vehicle: delayed airport shuttles, long
lines at the counter and lost reservations. Most business
travelers do not have the luxury of a car service that picks them
up at the airport and drops them off stress-free downtown.

Below is an essential guide to help ensure that your next car
rental experience goes smoothly. The tips were taken from the
Internet's leading business information provider, About Inc's
travel guide website businesstravel.about.com.
- The best way to avoid rent-a-car hassles is to avoid renting a
car in the first place. Do you absolutely need your own wheels or
can you use public transportation, shuttles or taxis to get you
and your party where you want to go? Conference resorts cater to
the nondriver.
- In many cities, a variety of transportation services are
available to take you to conference destinations -- at a fraction
of the cost of renting a car. If your final destination is an
urban center, weigh the taxi fares against the costs for parking,
possible parking tickets and the trouble you may have negotiating
unfamiliar streets.
- Membership has its privileges. No doubt about it -- if you are
going to rent cars, you should join a car rental's frequent
traveler program. While upgrades and frequency points are
terrific, one of the best benefits you receive with some is the
ability to bypass lines. Car rental companies want the frequent
flyer's business. Once you pick one that suits your needs -- try
to stick with it.
- Review your company's travel policy. Does your company restrict
the type of car you can rent? Will the expense for renting a SUV
or convertible be rejected by the accounting department? Before
you rent, make sure you know what will and won't be approved.
Some companies may cover a car rental expense over the weekend if
that means a lower airfare for the business trip.
- Reserve ahead of time and try to arrive early in the day.
Again, it helps if you are a preferred customer -- but always try
to make your reservation as soon as possible. Write down the
confirmation number and verify the class of car and guaranteed
rate. If possible, try to get the information from the company in
writing through your corporate travel department. One day or even
hours prior to your trip, verify the reservation again. Even with
a confirmed reservation, you may be out of luck if you arrive
late in the day when cars have just turned over.
- It's always a dilemma for travelers -- do you really need the
optional loss or collision damage waiver (LDW/CDW)? Understand
your company travel policy about CDW. If you use a personal
credit card for business expenses, check to see if it covers
collision and liability for rentals. It may, but some cards don't
cover certain vehicle types, long-term rentals or rentals in some
countries. Extra insurance fees can really add up, but so can the
cost of an accident.
- Should you gas up now or later? Or should you prepay for gas?
It depends. Understand your company policy and the price
implications. If you think you will be running late or trying to
catch the last flight home, check off the fuel prepayment option.
Review all of the rates before you sign the contract.
- Sign up additional drivers on the spot. If you're sharing the
driving duty with a business colleague, make sure they are listed
as an additional driver before leaving the parking lot. You'll
find that most car rental companies have a policy where coworkers
can sign on for free. Don't skip this step -- only authorized
drivers should be behind the wheel in rental cars -- or you'll be
liable if there's a problem.
- Study the exterior of the car. Take a few minutes to look over
the car before pulling out. Check for scratches and dents. If you
find anything, be sure to get this documented. If there is a line
at the counter inside, have this documented at the gate leaving
the lot. You will be held liable for car damage, unless it is
written down. Don't get stuck paying for a stranger's damage.
Look at the tires and check out the brakes and lights. If the car
is unsafe -- change it -- no matter how late you're running for
your next meeting.
- Familiarize yourself with the car's interior and control panel.
Get the air just right and find your kind of music on the radio.
You don't want to be searching for the windshield wipers while
you're doing 65 in a sudden downpour. If the car has antilock
brakes -- and more than 50 percent of today's rental fleets do --
practice braking before heading out on the highway.
- Know where you are going. Many overconfident business travelers
leave the lot without a clue as to how to get to where they are
going. If you haven't been to the location before, get directions
and a map first. --- The Jakarta Post