10 Things You Probably Don’t Check on a Rental Car (but Should)
Whether you rent a car from one of the Big Three car rental companies (Hertz, Enterprise and Avis), from one of the thousands of smaller companies (which are often owned by one of the Big Three anyway), or from car sharing services. Like Zipcar, the experience is pretty much the same: you book, inspect the car, sign off on its condition, and drive away .
If you’re like most people, this inspection will be fairly superficial. We arrive at airports or car sharing locations when we need to hit the road, so most people just walk around the car, take a video or a few photos, and hit the road. This is really not enough because you are putting your health and safety on the line, not to mention the success of any trip you embark on. While most rental cars are in fairly good condition, you should do much more than just a quick visual inspection before you hit the road.
What to check
Nearly 70% of car renters have reported some kind of problem with their vehicles, so the chances that a more thorough inspection will turn up something are relatively high. The moment you sign off on the condition of the car, your fate will be sealed: hidden damage can be laid at your financial feet, and problems with the car can make your journey unbearable. Or even stop him. Here’s a short list of things you should check.
-
Air conditioning and heating. This may not be a big deal in some scenarios, but if you’re driving in hot or cold weather, you don’t want to be miles away from the rental agency before you discover the climate control isn’t working.
-
Seat belts. Bottom line: Seat belts save lives in car accidents. Before you sign up for a rental car, make sure they are all working properly.
-
USB chargers. Another minor problem that can become serious if you don’t notice it until you find yourself in the middle of nowhere with a phone with 5% charge.
-
Windshield wipers and washer fluid. Make sure they work mechanically and visually inspect them to ensure they are not corroded, torn or worn. Then make sure there is washer fluid by running a cycle, which will also confirm that the wipers are in good condition. You won’t find out your windshield wipers are old when you’re caught in a blinding downpour fifty miles down the road.
-
Tires. Visually inspect the tires and make sure the “low pressure” light is off. To check tires without a pressure gauge , press the tire with your thumb – it should not give way too easily. Tires should also not be noticeably flat underneath. You can also check the tire tread visually or use a coin to make sure the lug nuts are not loose. Finally, make sure the tires are suitable for the conditions you’ll be driving in: rental cars often come from all over the country, and you don’t want to be driving on icy roads on summer tires .
-
All the lights. Know how to turn on your headlights, high beams and hazard lights, and make sure all lights work, including brake lights and signal lights. Broken headlights can stop you and create a safety hazard while driving.
-
Keychain. Before you drive off, make sure the key fob that locks and unlocks the doors is working properly. Don’t find out that you can’t lock or unlock your car when you park it overnight.
-
Spare wheel. Make sure there’s a spare tire (or at least a donut or emergency tire inflation kit ) in the trunk and that it’s in good condition, as well as a wrench and jack. While you can rely on an agency’s emergency roadside service if they offer it, the ability to get back on the road after an explosion or accident can be incredibly valuable.
-
Registration. Rental cars come from all over the world, so make sure the inspection and registration tags are up to date. The police will pull you over if they notice expired tags, and it could affect your driving record, get you into trouble with tickets and fines, have your car literally impounded and towed away – or worse . Check before you go and insist on another car if anything is out of date.
-
Be able to manage everything. We’ve all done it: You’re in a hurry to get going and are driving down the highway at 65 before you realize you have no idea how to turn on your high beams, open the gas cap, open the trunk, or turn on the hazards. More than 20% of renters admitted they couldn’t figure out how to operate their rental car in any way, so take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the car before you hit the road.