By: Chesca Rama
If there’s one thing that Filipinos love to do, it’s to travel. Especially in groups with the rest of the family. Despite the fun and excitement that traveling with family can bring, traveling can still be sort of a hassle. There are several things to think about before you go on a trip such as: What things will you bring? How long will you be staying? How will you get to your destination? And how will you get around?
Why Rent A Car?
Maybe you have thought about leaving your hometown for a while to travel abroad or go to the province with your family. It could be an extra weight on your shoulders to think about how to get around with such a big group of people. Luckily, there is an easy solution to help you out with this. This would be through renting a car.
With car rentals, you and your family can go around the area with your own temporary car instead of having to look for public transportation to get around. This is just one situation wherein you should rent a car. You can also rent a car in cases wherein your current car is under repair and you need to borrow a car for a while. Others rent a car because they don’t really go around using a car that much but when they do, they could borrow one instead.
Overall, car rentals are a convenient and affordable way for you to own a car for a period of time in the event that you do not have one at the moment.
It might be your first time renting a car, so here are some things that you should know before renting a car:
1. Young Adults Pay More
Even if you are a 20-something year old who has never gotten a parking ticket, car rental companies tend to see the younger ones as liabilities and hence, ask them to pay more. If you are below 25 years old, you are likely to pay an additional fee in case you might damage the car.
2. Limit the number of drivers
Additional drivers usually mean additional daily fees. So, if you want to avoid extra fees, limiting your drivers to just one would be worth considering.
3. Car Insurance
There are different types of car rental insurance, however, here are the two most common types:
- Basic Car Rental Insurance – this type of insurance is usually offered by the car rental company. It protects you from theft and accidents.
- Full Coverage Car Rental Insurance – this type of insurance often times includes what the basic car rental insurance can cover with an additional protection to third parties in the case of accidents. By paying more with insurance, you would not have to pay for any additional repairs that could happen to your car in the future.
4. Don’t rent at the airport
Renting at the airport would cost you additional fees as well because of the added airport fee. If you want to save up on expenses, you could consider taking a taxi that could take you to a car rental company to pick up your vehicle instead.
5. Know Your Roads
You need to make sure that you will be travelling on even, paved roads. Car rental companies are usually particular with what kind of roads you will be travelling on because rocky and uneven surfaces could damage the tires of the vehicle. There could also be other unforeseen circumstances such as getting stuck in mud, for example, which would cost additional fees to have the tires unstuck and cleaned.
6. Refuelling Your Tank
There are car rental companies that will charge you if you do not return the vehicle with a full tank. You could always bring your car back to the rental company to have them refuel your tank for you, however, it will probably cost twice or more of the amount compared to if you had just refueled the tank yourself.
The best time to refuel your tank is once you’ve gotten your vehicle. This is also to help you familiarize yourself with gas stations around the area.
7. Know Your Credit Card Policies
Before renting a car, it is best to be aware of which fees your credit card policy can cover. Car rental companies require a valid credit card to cover for incidental charges such as parking tickets, traffic violations, and etcetera.
8. Bring Your Own Extras
Including extra items from a car rental company can quickly add up your expenses. If you already own these things, it is best for you to bring your own. This could include children car sets, DVD players, GPS, and others.
9. Ready Your Documents
For most rental cars, foreigners need the following before making a car rental reservation:
- A copy of your passport
- A copy of your driver’s license
- Proof of billing abroad
- Proof of accommodation
- Copy of your flight ticket
In addition to this, it is best to take note that some car rental companies have other added policies such as a minimum of three years driving experience, a reservation fee, or a certain minimum age. This differs per company so make sure that to check beforehand.
While actually getting the car, car rental companies may ask for:
- A government valid ID or a copy of your credit card (both sides)
- Rental balance (cash)
- Security deposit (usually, this is 10,000 pesos)
- A copy of your plane ticket, if any
10. Choosing A Car
Although this all boils down to your own personal taste, there are still some things that everyone should consider before choosing your car. First, is the number of people you will be accommodating. This will determine the size and kind of car that you will choose. Second, is what extra things you would need the car to have, if ever. Another important factor could be how much space the car has especially for your luggage and bags. You can also consider if you will be traveling on any difficult roads such as sand or dirt, etcetera. Lastly, you must consider the price of your car and make sure to stick to your budget. If you want to check out which car rental companies offer the cheapest rates, you can click here.
This is simply a guideline to show you what car renting is like in the Philippines and what kind of policies they have. Make sure to double-check with your car rental company to make sure that you have everything you need to know taken down. Use this list the next time you go travelling with your family and friends!
Sources:
“12 THINGS TO CHECK BEFORE RENTING A CAR.” Eurocars Car Rentals, 31 Aug. 2017, www.eurocars-gr.com/12-things-to-check-before-renting-a-car/.
Ed Hewitt. “10 Things Not to Do When Renting a Car.” SmarterTravel, SmarterTravel, 29 Oct. 2019, www.smartertravel.com/10-things-not-renting-car/.
Gilson, D. “7 Things to Know Before Renting a Car.” 29 Mar. 2021, www.carinsurance.org/7-things-to-know-before-renting-a-car/.
Hall, Judd. “How to Rent a Car: 8 Top Tips to Keep in Mind: Skyscanner.” Skyscanner US, 29 Jan. 2020, www.skyscanner.com/tips-and-inspiration/8-valuable-things-know-renting-car.
Rodrigo. “14 Essential Things to Consider Before Renting a Car for Your Trip.” The Art of Backpacking & Adventures to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone, 24 Feb. 2021, www.outofyourcomfortzone.net/14-essential-things-to-consider-before-renting-a-car-before-traveling/.
