Becoming Familiar With Your New Car Rental
Imagine you’ve rented a new car for your impending holiday, but just as you get the car out of the parking lot you find yourself faced with an incomprehensible control panel that leaves you not even knowing where to begin.
This makes renting a car a new experience in the sense that, whereas you are already familiar with the look and operation of your own car, your experience with your new rental car is going to take some getting used to.
That’s why it is important to get familiar with your rental car before you launch into your holiday so you can avoid any hurdles once you are on the road.
Here is a guideline of the steps you can take to get prepared for your new car rental ahead of time:
Do a Visual Inspection
This is also a good idea for the sake of being able to prove that you have returned the car in the same condition that it was in when you picked it up.
It is recommended to take pictures of any scratches or other damage on both the interior and exterior of the vehicle.
Start it Up
The next place to start is to get the engine up and running.
This lets you make sure in advance that it is running well and won’t give you any problems once you’re on the road.
If you hear any rattling, stuttering, or any other strange noises make sure you alert the rental company right away.
Check the Heat and AC
Regardless of the season, you will almost definitely want to make use of either the heat or the air conditioning at some point on your trip.
Make sure you check out where the controls are and how to work them ahead of time to avoid any confusion or discomfort once you are on the road.
It is also recommended to figure out how to defrost the windows if it’s wintertime since this is important for the sake of visibility.
Figure Out the Stereo
If you are going on a road trip, you will definitely want to bring your tunes along.
But you don’t want to have to focus on figuring out the stereo system while you are driving. F
ind the volume or bass controls, if and how to attach your phone, and so on before you set out.
Check the GPS System
A lot of newer rental care will come equipped with a GPS system, which is helpful if you don’t know the exact way to your destination.
Once again, it is always better to figure out the controls beforehand so this won’t distract you from driving.
Find the Controls for the Lights
Driving without lights at night is enough to get you pulled over by the police, so it’s always best to familiarize yourself with the light controls ahead of time.
Make sure you know how to put the high beams on as well in case you end up on an unlit road.
It is also recommended to get out of the car and make sure that both headlights are working before you start out.
Fuel
No one wants the embarrassment of driving into the petrol station with the fuel latch on the wrong side of the car, so definitely get out of the car and make a note which side it is on since this can vary greatly from car to car.
Ask Ask Ask
Finally, if there’s anything at all that you are unsure about make sure you ask away to the car rental company.
That’s what they are there for, so there’s no reason to hit the road with any unresolved concerns.
