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.            

The issue surrounding whether or not one should get car hire insurance is being raised more and more.  However, it does have a clear and simple answer, which is yes; you do in fact need car hire insurance.  Anyone who owns a car is aware of the risk that is not having insurance; the same risk applies to not having car hire insurance.  Car accidents take place each and every day, especially during extreme weather conditions such as snow, heavy rain, fog, and frost.  There is also the risk of potentially being the victim of theft, burglary, or vandalism.  The risk that comes with driving a hired car is the same as driving your own car; it might even be bigger, seeing as you do not know the ins and outs of the hired car so well.  That is why having some car hire insurance is so vital.  When hiring a car, the last thing you want to deal with is having it damaged or even stolen.  Taking out some form of car hire insurance is a necessity, no matter where you hire a car. 

By taking out car hire insurance, you are basically protecting yourself from financial liability.  This means in essence that you do not have to pay for thousands of rand worth of damage.  For example, if the hired car is stolen while in your possession and the car hire insurance covers this, you are safe from any potential legal action.

Some people are of the opinion that car hire insurance is too expensive, whether you only hire for a day or over a longer period of time.  While this might be a valid argument when it comes to certain car hire insurance companies, it most certainly is not the case with the majority.  Most car hire insurance companies are quite reasonable with their car hire insurance packages.  Besides, would you not rather pay a bit extra for good car hire insurance than end up having to pay ten times more when legal costs are involved if your hired car is indeed stolen or damaged heavily?

Certain car hire companies even specialize in car hire insurance.  When you need to hire a car next time, it is good idea to try and come into contact with such a car hire insurance company, seeing as they might offer you amazing deals on any type of car hire insurance for various lengths of time.

If you ever wondered about the issue regarding how to get the best car rental rates, you are not alone.  Most people in need of car rentals will not settle for the first car rental agency they come across.  It is thus important to compare different car rental agencies in order to get the best possible car rental rates.  Fortunately, most car rental agencies do not charge you anything when you reserve a car.  That means if you find a better car rental rates deal a week later, you do not have to pay a penalty to cancel your old reservation.  Money can thus be saved in the process.  However, what to do if you do not have the time to check car deals every day for two weeks?  Below are some great tips for getting good car rental rates on a single-day, weekend, or airport rental.

• Single-day car rental rates

If your car rental is last-minute, make sure to check each car rental agency’s last-minute specials regarding car rental rates.  There are a number of car rental agencies which offer last-minute deals.  If your travel plans do not require a last-minute dash to the car rental counter, another option is to take advantage of any prepay promotions on offer.

• Weekend rentals

If you only need a car for the weekend, usually defined by rental companies as Friday through Monday, look for car rental agencies offering good car rental rates. Some car rental agencies have ongoing promotions for 50 percent off weekend rentals.

• Airport rentals

Airport car rentals are usually more expensive than non-airport locales.  However, this does not mean that you have to fall victim to higher car rental rates at the car rental counter.  If you do not mind some inconvenience, you can usually save money and eliminate car rental rates by taking public transportation from the airport into town and picking up your car rental at a non-airport location.

If you want to pick up your car rental at the airport, then reserving a vehicle online ahead of time will allow you to take advantage of online promotions that can save you on car rental rates.  Thus, the sooner you book, the more your saving will ultimately be on car rental rates.

Breaking down in your vehicle can create a very worrying, stressful, and dangerous situation for you as driver; even more so if you happen to break down on South African roads.  Each year, hundreds of people suffer serious injuries or even lose their lives while working or stopped at roadside due to car breakdown. This is why it is so crucial for all drivers and passengers to know what to do in the event of a car breakdown.  Passing vehicles on the highway is not the only concern when your car breaks down; crime is also a big factor.  Although the latest government figures suggest that crime levels have fallen, fear of crime remains high – especially when offences such as car-jacking receive such high-profile media attention.  It is thus not surprising that women, in particular, feel vulnerable if their car breaks down, especially when driving alone at night.  Practical steps have to be taken in order to get peace of mind regarding a car breakdown. 

General Car Breakdown Procedures

- Before your car breaks down:  

• Reduce the risk of having a car breakdown in the first place by servicing your car on a regular basis;
• Ensure that your car breakdown cover is up to date;
• Keep the emergency number close by – this will give you more confidence when you are out on the road;
• Before undertaking your trip, always check your vehicle’s petrol, oil, water, and tyres;
• Take a map with you so that you do not get lost and subsequently have to stop and ask directions;
• Always let family and friends know when you are leaving and when you will return; and
• As a sensible precaution, at all times keep your doors locked and your windows wound up, especially at traffic lights and junctions.

- After your car broke down:   

• Pull as far off the road as possible;
• Immediately put your hazard warning lights on;
• Display your emergency triangle at least 50 metres behind your vehicle;
• Give your car breakdown agency a call and let them know if you are traveling alone or with children.  Women and children usually get priority;
• If your car breaks down on the highway, be extremely careful, as you might get hit by another vehicle;
• Lock your vehicle, except for the front passenger door; this will enable you to get back in quickly if necessary; and
• Never get into a vehicle with a stranger; thus, avoid hitchhiking. 

Simply hopping into your car rental straight away and heading out on the streets without working through a proper car rental checklist first is big no-no.  If you neglect to check the car with the help of a car rental checklist, the possibility exists that you could run into some serious consequences such as road accidents.  It is of the utmost importance to check the vehicle with the assistance of a car rental checklist first before driving it to avoid having problems when traveling.

Car Rental Checklist:

Before you rent a car

• Communicate with your car insurance agent to verify which coverage you have when renting a car; determine which coverage is most effective; and
• Communicate with your road service provider to find out whether they cover service calls on rental cars.

At the rental cars counter

• Enquire whether the vehicle you are renting has undergone its pre-rental maintenance check;
• Enquire what steps you should take if the vehicle breaks down or if you lose your car key, etc.; and
• Ask a variety of questions so that you will know how to react and what to do in situations you are likely to encounter while on the road.

In and around the car

• Walk around the vehicle, and while doing so inspect all four sides to ensure that there is no obvious damage.  As soon as you leave the car rental lot, you will be held responsible for any undocumented damage;
• Ensure that the license plates are valid;
• Look at the tires for inflation and tread wear;
• Check the trunk for a spare tire, jack, and wheel spanner;
• Open the hood and check fluids such as the oil and water;
• Get in and check the cleanliness of the car;
• Familiarize yourself with the cockpit and everything it contains;
• Check the lights, which include headlights, turn signals, and dashboard/interior lights;
• Check the odometer.  Be more thorough in your inspection if the vehicle has a lot of miles on the clock;
• Spray the windshield to ensure that the washer system works and the wipers are in good shape;
• Ensure that there is an Owners Manual in the glove box;
• Test drive the vehicle in the rental lot to get a feel for it, as well as to check whether any handling or braking problem or odd noise exits before taking the vehicle out on the open road; and
• Remember to take your own map, as a map is not always included in car rental.