Car Rentals and Travel Deals

Securing the best travel deals and car rentals options for your holiday

Looking for tips on hassle-free car rentals? Working with a holiday planner can ensure you get the best travel deals with a reputable car rentals company.

• Travel Directories
• Holiday Planners
• Cars

Whether you're travelling on business or planning a much deserved holiday with the family, organising car rentals and finding the best travel deals doesn’t need to be a headache. Working with a qualified holiday planner can make finding the right car rentals and travel deals quicker and easier, so you can focus on making the most of your trip.

Make a reservation
Booking a rental car is no different to securing cheap flights and hotel deals. Don’t just assume you can rock up to a car rentals dealership on the day of your departure and expect the get the perfect car to meet your needs – particularly during peak travel times. The earlier you can book and make a rental car reservation the better, and some rental car companies will even offer a discount if you make your reservation online.

If your plans aren’t set in stone, find out about the company's cancellation policy when you make your reservation. Find out whether there is a cancellation charge and how much advance notice is required to avoid heavy penalties. Even the best laid plans can come unstuck if something unexpected crops up, so it’s best to be prepared.

Selecting the right car rentals company
Frequent travellers are often privy to special programs offering for discounts, greater choice of vehicles and faster service. For occasional travellers however, it's a good idea to compare rates based on the type of car you want and the location and dates of your trip.

A travel planner can help you secure the best car rentals hire and travel deals for all aspects of your trip, and may even be able to offer better fees through affiliations with partners than you could secure yourself. Shop around and check on availability before you make a reservation.

It’s also a good idea to find out what kind of roadside assistance your car rentals company offers, because if the rental vehicle breaks down it’s less than ideal to be in the position of having to pay for towing out your own pocket.

Rental cars insurance policies
Car rentals companies offer a variety of insurance options for added protection, so be sure to review each plan and all of its provisions and limitations before signing on for the rental. If you’re working with a holiday planner to secure the best travel deals and options, they will be able to provide added advice on which insurance option will best suit your requirements.

Put all drivers in the rental contract
Driving for long stretches of time can be inconvenient and tiring, so if you’re travelling with other fully licensed drivers you may want to share the driving burden. Just remember, if you let someone not included in the rental contract drive the vehicle you could risk voiding the contract if you do get into an accident.

Even if adding extra drivers extends the overall fee, it’s best to put everyone who could be driving your rental car on the contract.

Inspecting car rentals thoroughly before leaving the carpark
Since you will be held responsible for any damage to the rental car you are hiring, you should make sure you take time to walk-around with the sales agent and take note of any existing damage before driving off. Inspect the vehicle for pre-existing dents, scratches and other damage, and request that anything you find is noted in the contract for future reference.

Opting to hire car rentals during your holiday or business trip can be a great way to travel, with the convenience of being able to get around at your own leisure. Working with a holiday planner to secure the best rates and travel deals for your trip is a great way to ensure you are getting the best bang for your buck, and feel confident you are hiring from reputable dealers.

For more information about car rentals and travel deals visit the NZS.com directory.

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Travel images from Flickr: car rentals and travel deals, New Zealand Lake and Dolphin.