Is your car rental company answering the right questions?
As is the case with every single sector or industry, transparency is important for several reasons. Primarily, it builds trust and strengthens the relationship between a company and its customers. This is something that Pace Car Rental has certainly been leading the way in.
We were one of the first South Africa car rental companies to make our rental rates easily accessible to our clients. Before this, one had to essentially book a car to see what the rate would be. Now, other companies are increasingly following suit in transparency regarding the rental rate.
However, there are still some car rental companies in South Africa that still do not reveal everything to their customers. Here of the questions that your car rental company should be answering.
What is the total cost of my car rental?
This is one of the most common things that some car rental companies tend to be ambiguous about. There are typically 3 amounts that make up the total cost of your rental. The amounts that normally go into this total are the following:
Many companies only include the rental fee amount excluding VAT, and then proceed to advertise this amount as “the price you pay.” When you click on the checkout button to book your vehicle, you find that the hidden costs turn what looks like a reasonably priced car rental into an expensive one.
With Pace Car Rental, you receive a breakdown of your rental costs before you make your booking. This enables you to see the rental amount, refundable security deposit, and contract fee – all of which include VAT.
What are the extra costs?
Besides features such as trailers or baby seats, there are some extra costs that you might incur during your rental. Below are some of the extra fees that you might expect to incur during our rental:
The list of fees above is not exhaustive, but many car rental companies should be able to make this information available to you before you make a booking.
What documents are required?
Another common frustration that rental customers have is finding out that they do not have all the required documents, especially when collecting their vehicle. Most companies require 4 basic documents upon collection of the vehicle.
If you are planning to pay by a method other than credit card, it is very important to first establish if the vehicle group you are renting can be paid for with an alternative payment method. Again, this is where Pace Car Rental has shown itself to be an industry leader. Pace was one of the first car rental companies in South Africa to offer cash car rental as a service to clients, allowing them to pay for selected rental cars via cash, debit card, or via EFT.
What fuel does my rental car take?
A surprisingly overlooked question to ask is what fuel your rental car takes. One should never assume that smaller cars such as hatchbacks and sedans take petrol while larger vehicles such as SUVs and bakkies run on diesel. It is better to ensure that your car rental company provide you with accurate information as to what fuel type your rental vehicle requires.
How close is the nearest fuel station?
Most, if not all, car rental companies operate on a “full tank to full tank” policy. This means that you are given the car with a full tank and are expected to return it with a full tank. Ask your car rental company where the closest filling station is so that you can properly plan when and where to refuel your vehicle when you are returning it.
Where should the rental car be returned?
Many rental cars are returned to the branch where they were collected. In some instances, a vehicle will need to be collected from a point other than the branch. Not all car rental companies will be upfront about whether there is a surcharge for this, so be sure to ask before your commit to your rental.
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Most companies will also charge for collections made after office hours. Be sure to find out what this fee might so that you can better plan how and when you will be returning your vehicle after the rental period.
What is a day in car rental?
Different car rental companies have slightly differing opinions on what a “day” in car rental is. One of the most common interpretations is the 24-hour period from when you collect your vehicle.
This can further be broken up into either the time that you arrive to collect your vehicle or the time that your complete the check-out. The latter approach is taken by many companies, including Pace.
It is important to know what a “car rental day” is for when you are due to return your vehicle after the rental period. Some companies, like Pace, do have a grace period; others charge an extra day in the event of a late return.
To avoid the expense of paying an extra day, it is important to know by what time the vehicle is expected to be returned to the rental company.
Is my mileage limited?
Not all car rental companies are forthcoming when it comes to your mileage restrictions. It is important to find out what your allotted mileage is. Most cases will see you billed for any mileage you exceed, but some companies might make the decision to switch your vehicle off if mileage is exceeded. Ensure that you know what your chosen car rental company’s policy on excess mileage is.
Another related factor is whether there are any travel restrictions on your vehicle. Some companies might restrict you to the province of collection; others may allow you to travel anywhere within the country.
If cross-border travel is required, authorisation from the car rental company will most likely have to be obtained before you collect the vehicle. This may also carry an additional surcharge, so be sure to clarify that point with your rental company to ensure a smooth car rental experience.
What happens in the event of an accident or breakdown?
As careful as we might be when driving, accidents and breakdowns do happen. Depending on whether your rental vehicle has a roadside plan or not, this might not always be straightforward.
Vehicles that are outside of their roadside cover plan are normally towed by the rental company or a company that is appointed to do so. It is important to check with your rental provider if you are liable for any costs involved should the vehicle be outside of its cover plan.
Contact Pace
As we have just seen, there are a lot of things to consider before renting a car that new renters especially might not think to ask. Fortunately, Pace Car Rental is there to make your rental experience simpler and more transparent. Our Reservations Agents are ready to answer all the questions that you might have, putting you at ease. Contact the relevant branch today if you want to get started on your car rental journey.
Johannesburg Branch
Pretoria Branch
Cape Town Branch
Gqeberha Branch