Empire Fleet Solutions

When planning to hire a car in South Africa, it is not enough to just find a car hire company and pay for it.  You need to know about the best car hire deals to subsequently select the best.    In order to get the best car hire deal you have to follow certain steps.  You are sure to get a car hire you will be satisfied with if you follow the steps described below.

• Select three to four car hire companies that best suit your needs and wants.  You have a number of options here, but your best bet are the internet and to some extent a phonebook.  Do not blindly pick the first car hire company you come across; rather look at a number of options.  You will later regret missing out on the best car hire deal just because you got bored in the middle of the research.

• Make contact with the various car hire companies and enquire about their rates, availability, insurance, location, pickup sites, special offers, airline and hotel partnerships, as well as any extra charges.  You should always try and negotiate; you might just get a better car hire deal from the car hire company.

• Decide on a pickup point that will facilitate your car hire experience.  Getting to the pickup point should not be a hassle.  Some car hire companies are even willing to pay for a taxi to pick you up at your home or at the airport and then take you to your desired car hire pickup point.

• Pick a car while keeping all your car hire needs in mind.  Select a car depending on your circumstances, which include the number op people traveling with you and the distance you need to travel.  Factors such as these will determine what type of car you will hire for your trip.

• After picking a car, remember to book it.  Some car hire companies calculate the reservation fee together with the overall rent, while other car hire companies make it out as an extra fee.  Be on the look out for this when hiring a car.            

Due to the many vehicles on our roads these days, you are bound to be involved in an accident at some time or another and thus be forced to make a vehicle insurance claim.  However, you do not have to worry too much as a vehicle insurance claim is a fairly simple process.  You make a vehicle insurance claim, the adjuster comes out to estimate the cost to repair the damage, the insurance company sends you a check for that amount and you use it to pay for the repairs.  Every vehicle insurance claim requires some kind of proof of damage before the insurance company will pay out the necessary amount.  There are usually five elements of proof that will come into play when making a vehicle insurance claim, which include what you tell the insurance company, what the other party tells them, a police report, witnesses, and physical damage at the accident scene.

Steps involved to make a Vehicle Insurance Claim

• Step 1

Summon the emergency services, as medical attention will in all likelihood be needed.  Be sure to phone the police as well, as the police report is crucial for the vehicle insurance claim.

• Step 2

Exchange contact information, insurance information, and license plate numbers with the other party involved.  All the above is necessary to make a vehicle insurance claim.

• Step 3

Be on the lookout for witnesses who are willing to share their account of events.  Also take their contact information, as they could play a crucial role in your vehicle insurance claim.

• Step 4

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.  Most have 24-hour claim-filing service by phone.  The individual taking your claim will assist you with the process of vehicle insurance claim.

• Step 5

If the other party is at fault, you should inform the other party’s insurance company that you are pursuing a vehicle insurance claim through your own insurance company and will seek reimbursement for those costs your insurance company will not pay.

• Step 6

At some or other time you will receive a phone call from the other insurance company asking you to tell them your version of events which led to the accident.  Prepare for this beforehand.  This is done in order for the vehicle insurance claim to be processed successfully.

• Step 7

The adjuster will come out to take a look at the damage to your vehicle and subsequently estimates how much it will cost to restore or replace.  The insurance company will then hand you a check in the amount of the repair.  Your vehicle insurance claim is now close to being settled.

• Step 8

If a dispute arises because you think your insurance company’s damage settlement offer for your vehicle insurance claim is too low, you may demand a form of arbitration to resolve the dispute.  The same applies when a dispute over damage settlement arises with the other party’s insurance company.

Although it is not required by law like in some other countries, it is still a wise decision for all car owners to apply for motor vehicle insurance.  Some people do not understand why they should apply for something so costly.  However, they should understand that motor vehicle insurance will be of benefit to them in the long run.  Those individuals without motor vehicle insurance would suffer dearly if they encountered an accident.

If you are planning to apply for motor vehicle insurance, you might find the tips below useful when going through the process:

• Probably the most effective tip on getting motor vehicle insurance is that of always shopping around.  Acquiring and subsequently comparing different rates and offers will give you a good idea of what deal will fit your needs the best.

• Collect as many insurance quotes as you could possibly lay your hands on.  This will help you compare different types of rates and see whether any discounts concerning motor vehicle insurance are on offer.

• Hiring a broker may be a good or a bad idea, depending on the degree of your shopping and research skills regarding motor vehicle insurance.  Note that it will result in additional expenses if you do decide to hire one.

• You will get better motor vehicle insurance rates if your vehicle has security devices like a car immobilizer or theft alarm installed.  Having a GPS installed, as well as your own locked garage, can also lead to discounts.

• If you are a member of some or other motoring organization, there is the possibility of receiving a discount on your motor vehicle insurance.

• If you are a man and married, it is a good idea to rather obtain motor vehicle insurance on your wife’s name; this will save you a few bucks on the premiums.

• Limit the number of possible drivers of your vehicle.  The more authorized drivers the vehicle has, the higher your motor vehicle insurance will be.

• By applying for a fixed mileage policy, insurers will come to the conclusion that the vehicle is not used that much, resulting in lower motor vehicle insurance cost.

• You can even gain lower discounts or rates on your motor vehicle insurance if you take defensive driving lessons.  Insurance companies usually recognize this.

• At all times maintain a good driving habit.  If this is the case, insurance companies will fall over each other trying to offer you motor vehicle insurance.