Rental cars are very convenient to have access to because they keep you from putting the wear and tear of traveling on your own car. They are also great for those who do not have a car that will survive lengthy trips. But there is one thing that has to be considered and that is the fact that accidents do happen. What happens if you are rear-ended in a rental car and you're not at fault? Are you responsible for the damages or is the person who was at fault? Does the car rental company take care of it? What happens? These are all excellent questions because it can be quite confusing when an accident occurs.
It is also a good idea to get answers to any questions you have when you rent the car. It is not enough to hope that you do not get into an accident. When it is not your fault, that means you had no control over what happened. You could not have prevented it in any way. The only actions that you can prevent are your own, so make sure you receive the necessary information from the car rental company regarding what to do in case of a crash.
Insurance
Your individual insurance should cover you while in a rental car. That is why the rental car company requests that you prove your insurance. They like to have copies of your insurance card in case there is an accident. However, it is fair to assume that they do this in case the accident is your fault and they need to make a claim on your insurance to cover the damages. When asking the car rental company about how it would work if you're in a wreck that isn't your fault, they may tell you to consult with your insurance company. Being that you're covered by your individual insurance, you are subject to their particular rules and regulations.
What to do in an accident
So what are you to do in the case that you are rear-ended in a rental car? Be sure you call your insurance company before you do a single thing. If the rental car company says that you owe them money, don't just pay up. Make sure you talk to your insurance company first. They will tell you what to do. They will most likely take the claim and then submit it to the insurance company of the individual who caused the crash. That way the damages are paid to the rental car company. If any deductibles need to be paid, then you'll pay that deductible to your insurance company and not the car rental company. There shouldn't be any reason why you would have to pay them any money for a crash that wasn't your fault. It also depends on what your insurance policy says about wrecks when you're in a rental car.
So make sure you know these things before renting a car. That way you'll know exactly what to do if you are rear-ended on the interstate. When being rear-ended it is obvious that it isn't your fault. Most rear-end accidents are considered the fault of the driver who hit you. So proving that the crash wasn't your fault is not a hard task at all. Just know your rights and have all of the information ready so that you don't panic if you're in a wreck. Don't start running crazy scenarios through your head such as having to pay the entire cost of the rental car. That is something very unlikely. Just be sure to call the police and take insurance information from the driver at fault just like you would if it were your own car.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
In a Rental Car in a Foreign Country? Don't Get Lost
You're in a foreign country that you have never visited before and you're in a rental car. This is the perfect combination to get you lost. You have several elements working against you. Those elements are: You're in a car that is unfamiliar to you, the steering wheel is probably on the opposite side of what you're used to, and you are not familiar with the area. That is why you need to do everything you can to keep yourself from getting lost. By not getting lost, you are able to get to your destinations faster and enjoy your trip instead of being frustrated all of the time.
Things to do before the trip
Before you leave to go to a foreign country, make sure you familiarize yourself with the spoken language. Make sure you recognize it in writing as well. It is ideal that you acquire maps of the places you're going to visit in your own language so that you understand what the maps are telling you. If you don't and you acquire the maps in the country you are visiting, you may be able to acquire maps in your own language. If they are not available, that is another reason for you to familiarize yourself with the language so that you can read the maps. Try to arrange a group tour. See if there are any tours going on in which you can travel in groups. That way you have some kind of guide on your trip while enjoying the tour and you don't have to worry about getting lost unless you get separated. The odds of you getting separated is very slim, so hooking up with a tour guide and going on some sort of tour can really be quite the treat and you don't have to worry about losing your way.
Once you're there
Many cellular phones nowadays have built-in GPS systems. Many of these phones can also be used in foreign countries because they are designed to work on the different bands that exist around the world. If you have a phone with a built-in GPS system and it is called a 'world phone,' then you can use the GPS system on your phone to help you navigate around a foreign country in your rental car. This is stress-free travel at its finest. However, for those who do not have world phones, there is another option. There are cellular phone rental booths at airports that allow you to rent these phones. If your phone has a SIM card, all you have to do is insert your SIM card into the phone and all of your activity is billed to your cellular phone account. In the meantime, you are able to utilize the GPS feature and make phone calls to your loved ones back home.
You also want to acquire a map when you get there anyway. Even if you acquired a copy in your own language, you want to compare the maps since some things change. You don't want to miss anything, so this is definitely an ideal task. Even if you didn't hook up with tour guides before you left, you can learn about tours and find out what types of tours are taking place within the country. That way you can become a part of these tours and know exactly where you are going. No matter which way you do it, you can enjoy your trip to a foreign country and drive around the way you want to so that you can enjoy your freedom.
Things to do before the trip
Before you leave to go to a foreign country, make sure you familiarize yourself with the spoken language. Make sure you recognize it in writing as well. It is ideal that you acquire maps of the places you're going to visit in your own language so that you understand what the maps are telling you. If you don't and you acquire the maps in the country you are visiting, you may be able to acquire maps in your own language. If they are not available, that is another reason for you to familiarize yourself with the language so that you can read the maps. Try to arrange a group tour. See if there are any tours going on in which you can travel in groups. That way you have some kind of guide on your trip while enjoying the tour and you don't have to worry about getting lost unless you get separated. The odds of you getting separated is very slim, so hooking up with a tour guide and going on some sort of tour can really be quite the treat and you don't have to worry about losing your way.
Once you're there
Many cellular phones nowadays have built-in GPS systems. Many of these phones can also be used in foreign countries because they are designed to work on the different bands that exist around the world. If you have a phone with a built-in GPS system and it is called a 'world phone,' then you can use the GPS system on your phone to help you navigate around a foreign country in your rental car. This is stress-free travel at its finest. However, for those who do not have world phones, there is another option. There are cellular phone rental booths at airports that allow you to rent these phones. If your phone has a SIM card, all you have to do is insert your SIM card into the phone and all of your activity is billed to your cellular phone account. In the meantime, you are able to utilize the GPS feature and make phone calls to your loved ones back home.
You also want to acquire a map when you get there anyway. Even if you acquired a copy in your own language, you want to compare the maps since some things change. You don't want to miss anything, so this is definitely an ideal task. Even if you didn't hook up with tour guides before you left, you can learn about tours and find out what types of tours are taking place within the country. That way you can become a part of these tours and know exactly where you are going. No matter which way you do it, you can enjoy your trip to a foreign country and drive around the way you want to so that you can enjoy your freedom.
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