If you are planning to travel overseas, you must understand the car rental guide for self-driving travel in advance. For example, when renting a car, what is the process of returning the car and renting the car? These must be mentioned. Understand clearly. Is it expensive to drive overseas?
General overseas car rental is actually not very expensive. Taking the United States, which is the most cost-effective country, as an example, public transportation is not convenient in many scenic spots such as national parks. The average daily car rental starts at RMB 130, which is less than $20 in U.S. dollars, which is equivalent to buying four McDonald's Big Macs in the United States.
Even if you include gas, tolls (there are basically no tolls on highways in many countries and regions), insurance and other expenses, the total cost of renting a car is not high. If there are many people, it will be divided equally per person. Even better deal.
Of course, if you want to experience the joy of driving a luxury car, there are many choices. Cool models such as Ferrari 458, BMW I8, Tesla, and Audi R8 can also be rented at Car Rental. . Is it difficult to drive overseas?
First of all, most foreign traffic regulations are the same as domestic ones. As long as you understand them in advance, there will basically not be any big problems.
Secondly, driving habits abroad are generally good, and everyone abides by traffic regulations. Many car rental users have the same feeling when they drive back from abroad: it is easier to drive than at home.
Even if some countries and regions use right-hand drive, and occasionally the windshield wiper is used as a turn signal, and it is easy to veer to the left in the lane, it only takes half a day to get used to it.
In addition, overseas car rental insurance has a very complete coverage, covering people, cars, property and third parties, and the claims process is smooth. If you purchase the most comprehensive comprehensive insurance for your car rental, it will cover all types of car damage and emergency rescue. Insurance will pay for it, so you don’t have to spend any money. How to choose a car rental company?
First-line brand car rental companies: Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt, etc.
There are many stores, many models, and high-quality service, but the price is slightly higher. If you have higher requirements for service, brand, and vehicle condition, you can choose this type of brand.
Second-tier brand car rental companies: Budget, Dollar, Alamo, etc.
The service is better, the price is moderate, and the car is in good condition. It is suitable for people who pursue cost-effectiveness but have certain requirements for brands. When choosing this type of car dealer, you still need to be cautious when picking up and returning the car, and pay attention to identifying irregularities in billing.
Chinese service car rental companies: Yesaway, Aucar, Ezu, ReachCarRental, etc.
Some international chain Chinese service car dealerships, in addition to satisfactory service and car condition, can provide Chinese car rental services, which is very Suitable for foreign language novices and those who drive abroad for the first time. Car booking process
Step one: Choose a car rental company and car model
It is generally better to rent a car one month in advance, especially during the peak holiday season, so you need to leave enough time to avoid booking. Can't find a suitable model.
If your self-driving days are not completely determined? Temporarily extending the rental period will have an impact on subsequent orders from the car dealer, and may be rejected, or you may have to return the car first and then exchange it for another car. Therefore, it is recommended that if the price is acceptable, you might as well determine the rental period based on the maximum number of days you are likely to drive by yourself to avoid the trouble of temporary renewal.
The default pick-up and drop-off location is generally the same. If you don’t return the car at the exact same store, it is considered a return at a different location.
Returning the car to another location will usually incur a Oneway fee, and the car rental package will be more expensive, so it is recommended to pick up and return the car at the same location as much as possible.
If you are picking up the car at the airport, when filling in the pick-up time, please note: do not select the flight arrival time, so as to avoid not arriving at the car rental counter on time to complete the formalities after going through customs and picking up your luggage. And affect picking up the car. It is generally recommended to fill in the pick-up time at least 1 hour after the flight arrives. If it is a large international airport or an international arriving flight, more time can be reserved; if it is a small airport or a domestic arriving flight, it can be appropriately reduced.
Step 2: Fill in the order
When filling in the order, you generally need to choose different fuel policies, which mainly include the following two types:
1. Take out when the fuel is full Return
It means that the gas tank is full when you pick up the car, and it must be filled when you return the car. If you have plenty of time before returning the car, it is recommended to choose this method as the price will be more cost-effective.
2. Get a tank of gas for free/Buy a tank of gas for free
Giving a tank of gas for free means that the car rental package includes a free tank of fuel; buying a tank of gas means that you are I bought a tank of fuel when I picked up the car at the store.
In both cases, you can return the car with any amount of fuel when returning the car. There is no need to delay the trip to find a gas station, which is suitable for self-driving tourists who have a tight schedule.
Step 3: Print the pick-up slip
Pay attention to check and save the email. It is recommended to print a few more copies of the pick-up slip for backup before traveling. In addition to the basic expected information, there will also be many practical reminders on the rental car pick-up note. You can read it carefully before traveling to check for any omissions and fill in the gaps.
Note: Order Cancellation and Modification
Most car rental companies allow free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick-up. Once an order is canceled, it cannot be restored. However, the bank may charge some handling fees when refunding the advance payment.
Once the order is confirmed, the pick-up and drop-off location, time, and vehicle model group cannot be modified. Only the contact person's name, contact information and main driver information can be modified. Car Pick-up Process
Step One: Arrive at the Store
Car rental company stores, some are inside the airport and some are outside the airport.
In the airport, the car rental company counters will be concentrated in one area. Just follow the signs like Carrental
center and you can find them quickly. If you are outside the airport, there is usually a free shuttle bus. Please look for the car rental company logo before getting on the bus.
There are more convenient options in popular overseas self-driving destinations, such as Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, and some cities in the United States. There are Chinese-speaking service staff waiting at the airport in advance to deliver the car to you directly. There is no need to go to the store to go through the formalities, and there is no need to swipe your card for pre-authorization, etc. You just sign and leave, just like the "flash rental" of renting a car.
If you choose flash rental, even if you need to add additional drivers, you can just upload the driver's certificate to the APP in advance, and there is no need to go to the store to apply.
Step 2: Present the materials
When picking up the car, the main driver must go through the formalities in person and present the following materials:
1. The main driver Original passport
2. Original valid Chinese driver’s license
3. Certified/notarized international driver’s license/international driver’s license
4. Pick-up order
5. A Mastercard or Visa international credit card in the name of the main driver, with a credit limit of at least US$500-1,000. You can bring multiple international credit cards as backup.
Step 3: Sign the contract
When picking up the car, store staff may sell additional insurance or services. Please consider whether to purchase it based on your actual needs.
When signing a car rental contract, please read the terms and related value-added services carefully to see if there are any additional charges, and make sure they are correct before signing.
If you have any questions, you can ask the store staff and confirm. If the staff compulsorily requires purchase, be careful of malicious deception. It is recommended to contact the car rental customer service on the spot for assistance, or ask the staff to write down in English on paper which items require compulsory purchase (These
itemsaremandatory), and add the employee's signature and write the date in case the complaint is submitted after returning to the country.
If there are additional drivers, cross-border or cross-island car use, etc., please take the initiative to inform the staff when picking up the car.
After signing, the staff will provide you with the car rental contract, expense receipt, and car keys. Please keep all contracts and documents.
Step 4: Deposit pre-authorization
When you arrive at the store, the car rental company will pre-authorize your international credit card as a deposit, similar to the deposit when checking into a hotel.
The deposit amount is related to the vehicle you rent, and is generally 1.5 times the total order amount. When returning the car, the car rental company needs to settle all consumption items and verify whether you have committed any traffic violations during the rental period before releasing the deposit, which usually takes 1-2 months.
Step 5: Check the vehicle
When picking up the car, please pay attention to check the condition of the body, glass tires, vehicle interior and whether the relevant buttons can be used normally, including whether there are scratches on the body, Check whether the window glass is damaged, tire wear, etc. If any problems are found, report them to the staff in person and indicate the location of the damage on the vehicle inspection form.
Check whether there is a spare tire or tire repair tool in the trunk of the car (some models are equipped with run-flat tires, but do not have a spare tire).
It is recommended to take photos of the car's condition and save them for reference when returning the car, including the instrument panel readings when picking up the car.
Generally, car rental companies will put a sign of the fuel type on the fuel tank cap of the vehicle, so you can check first.
In addition, if the car is picked up and returned at the same location, you can also save the location of the car pick-up location in the navigation device, and you can navigate directly when returning the car. Return process
Allow sufficient time
At the end of the trip, set aside at least 30 minutes to return the car. If you fail to arrive at the store in time, your return may be delayed. , incur additional costs. If you return the car at a major airport, it will take time to walk to the car rental store. It is recommended to allow more time to avoid affecting boarding.
Keep the refueling receipt
If you choose "pick up the car with full fuel and return the car with full fuel", it is recommended to keep the receipt of the last refueling. The car rental company may ask for it from you. To ensure that the fuel tank is full of fuel.
Keep the interior of the car clean
As long as it is used normally, generally speaking, there is no need to wash the car before returning it. But please avoid smoking in the car. If there is soot or smoke smell in the car, the car dealer will strictly charge fines/cleaning fees. If your car is dirty, it is recommended to go to a car wash to clean it before returning it.
The car return process is also very simple, mainly including three steps:
Step 1: Arrive at the store
Drive the vehicle to the designated area, park it, and get off the car Check your personal belongings carefully in advance and do not leave them in the car.
Step 2: Check the vehicle
Return the car key to the counter. Staff will inspect the vehicle and record the return time and condition of the vehicle.
It is recommended to take photos of the car body, odometer, fuel gauge, etc. at the scene. When taking photos, be sure to turn on the time display function on the photos.
Step 3: Keep the contract receipt
When returning the car, it is recommended to ask the staff for a receipt and carefully check whether there are any additional charges. If you have any questions about the fees, please contact the counter staff promptly.
After returning home, it is recommended to keep all contracts, receipts, and receipts for a period of time.
Step 4: Deposit return
After you return the car, the car rental company will take a certain amount of time to inspect the vehicle and check whether you have violated any regulations during the use of the car, so a deposit is usually required It will take 1-2 months to be refunded to the main driver's credit card.
TIPS Return the car early or late
Return the car early: For prepaid orders, the rent for the remaining unused days is generally non-refundable.
Delayed return of the car: You must communicate with the car rental company in advance and obtain permission. Due to inventory reasons, car rental companies may not be able to arrange extended rental periods. If consent is not obtained, fines may be charged.