Car Hire New York - Car Rental Tips

Here are some things you should know and do before booking your car hire in New York.

Additional Drivers
Know who will be driving the car before you make the reservation, as you may have to make special arrangements if you want a second driver to be able to drive the car. This is important, as you may loose your insurance if the wrong person is driving the car.

Car Rental Extras
So now that you have decided that you want to cruise the streets of New York in a luxury rental car, you have to determine what kind of car you will be wanting/needing. A few things to consider are; how many passengers will you have? (is a speedster really appropriate for you), how much luggage will you need to carry with you? (some of the sports cars now a days really do lack in trunk space), and do you plan on bringing the kids along? (perhaps one of our luxury SUVs is right for you. Ever dreamed of driving in an Escalade?).

Insurance
No matter what type you get, get it. Don't ever cheap out on insurance; there is just too much risk involved. Check with your credit card company to see if you are covered by using that card to rent the car, and also check with your personal insurance to find out your options, but never say no to insurance, especially when renting a higher-end car.
Some definitions may help here:

• CDW: Collision Damage Waiver (covers loss and/or damage to the rental car and releases you from financial responsibility under rental contract if you crash the car)
• LDW: Loss Damage Waiver is similar to CDW.
• SLI: Supplemental Liability Insurance (pays over and above what your personal or business insurance covers)
• PAI: Personal Accident Insurance (one-time payment for you or an accompanying passenger in case of death or injury from a car accident)

Car Rental Essentials
Usually you will need the rental contract to inform the police that you are authorized to drive the car, the vehicle manual and an updated map. It may not be a bad idea to have an emergency kit handy in case of accidents.

Automobile Accidents
What to remember to do in case of an accident with your car rental:

• Make sure any involved parties are ok. Injuries come first.
• Call the police and/or ambulance (if necessary), and then call the car rental agency.
• Exchange information with all involved in the accident.
• Attempt to make note of everything on scene; details of the accident, identification of the autos and people involved, and the names and badge numbers of all emergency personnel. Take pictures if possible.
• File an accident report with the police, and report the claim to your own credit card company or insurance company.

Existing Vehicular Damage
Inspect the car for existing damages, such as dents and scratches or other broken features. Record all information on an inspection form that should be left on the dashboard. Also check the interior and the trunk for items such as a spare tire and jack. Check if the rental car has a full tank of gas. If you fail to do any of these things, you could be the one charged for damages that were not your fault.

Driver & Passenger Safety
Unfortunately, rental cars are moving targets for theft, especially luxury rental cars. It is a good idea to make sure that there are no logos or stickers on your rental car. You may be surprised at the extent that criminals will go to try to mug you or hijack your car. In fact it is not uncommon for someone to try to get you to pull over to the side of the road (by faking a small accident (such as bumping into you) or flashing their lights to avert your attention).

Remember: Never pull over, especially if it is dark or if you are not completely sure where you are. Never leave the safety of your car, unless you are sure that it is safe. Keep everything you can in the trunk, and put it all in there before you stop and park (there really are people watching). Do your best to not draw attention to the fact that you are a visitor.