Automotive World

1. Know Your Provider: This is the first & one of the most important issues to check when you decide to hire a car. Not all companies can provide the quality services nor do they care! So your choice for a car rental service provider is the most important issue for getting the better service. From our experience, the providers who are not affiliated with any single manufacturer have a good record of providing a variety of choices for you. Small agencies may sometimes lure you to take their rental services because of the stunning & exotic looking car models they offer at a low rent. Nothing wrong with the small agencies as long as they assure the road assistance or in a worst day you may find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere!

Your friends & relatives who have used the rented car services can give you better and practical advices and their experiences shared with you can surely help you decide an excellent provider. Also, make sure your renting agency offers any extras you might need or want, like a GPS system, ski rack, car seat etc. Better provider better services – is a true adage for almost all service providing companies and specifically applies for car rent providers.

2. Choose your Car: This is one of the important issues that most of the clients overlook; we can say from our experience. If you are intending to hire a car for fun-riding with your friends then a fancy looking luxury car that accelerates pretty fast will serve your purpose. But what if you are travelling with kids? In case kids or older people travelling with you, you should consider a SUV or the car that fits your needs. Our advice for clients who are looking to save money on car rental rates & fuel, to reserve the small car model available. Also be sure whether you are hiring a manual or automatic transmission since at the last moment it might contradict your preference.

3. Booking your car: When you are certain about the service provider and the car type you are hiring, decide the duration you would be using the rented car. It’s advised that, for a longer period (more than a week or so) local companies, particularly auto dealers provide better price whereas rely on a major rental company of your area if you are to rent for only a couple of days or so. However, for the local providers check whether they can provide the support services in case your car gets into an accident or in any unexpected damage. Consider car sharing as it can be a convenient way for you to save money if you rent cars frequently.

4. Be-aware of hidden charges: A very common scenario for new clients is the rental agency convinces them a low and competitive rent and yet the final voucher shows a lot more. This happens because of the hidden charges the agency has not specifically mentioned. Be bold when you deal with a rental agency, ask them whether they are providing you any additional services that may add charges to your bill.

In addition to hidden charges, know whether the rental service provider will ask for cancellation fees in case you change your mind about the reservation and if so what would be the exact cancellation fees? Look at the cancellation policy online if possible.

Check whether your car insurance and credit card insurance cover rental cars as part of their standard coverage or not. If yes, have the Loss-Damage-Waiver removed from your rental policy or otherwise you’ll pay for collision damage on top of your regular insurance which is not expected at all.

Another important aspect you should consider is the drop off fee. Some companies do not charge you this fee when others will charge if you drop-off your rental car at a different location from where you picked it up. Make sure it’s not too high to baffle you at the time you return the car. So try to return your car at its original pick-up point to avoid this extra fee.

5. Service Quality: Aside from the regular cost, hidden & cancellation fees, you must consider the quality of the service. This includes the service points, their operational timing, the facilities and assistance provided by the companies without any additional service charge, the location map and extra information while receiving the cars, the choice of payment option, necessary safety features etc.

6. Understand your Rental Policy: Most of the hidden charges that the car rental companies add to your bill are mostly due to penalties for breaking your rental policies intentionally or unintentionally. This is why you should read and understand your rental policy before signing the contract. If you’re booking online, you should carefully read the terms and conditions before you confirm your reservation. And if you are booking over the phone, ask the agent about restrictions & limitations.

Check List: Not to Do

1. Try to avoid renting a car from the airport as most cars rented from an airport comes with the airport tax. If you are not aware of the fact you will find yourself paying extra cost which you think you are not obliged to pay. However, to remove this hidden and unexpected charge, take advantage of free shuttle service with fixed routes and have your car dropped off at a location away from the airport at a minimum charge. Provide your flight number and arrival time to the customer service agent for airport rentals. This will essentially protect your reservation even after the flight makes delay.

2. Do not rely on the last moment reservation as many companies do not operate 24/7. Try to reserve the car at least a week before your pickup time. Also always try to avoid booking a car model only from hearsay. Rather rely on your online-research, experience and knowledge to book a moderate car. After all you know what you expect from the car.

3. Never leave any personal belongings when you return the car and always check the trunk to make sure nothing is left there.

4. Avoid renting a car just by mentioning the month. Specifically mention 28/29/30/31 days otherwise you might be paying a significant amount of money for those extra days you unintentionally forgot to mention.

5. Avoid reserving the car rental at the 11th hour as car rental pricing is similar to airline pricing – if you travel at off-peak period or make a reservation a week in advance, you often can get a better deal. Avoid last minute rentals as well as peak-hour travelling to minimize your cost.

Not all junkyards in the United States sell used car parts. This is unfortunate, as these pick and pull yards have shown us that even the oldest cars and those in the worst shape still have salvageable parts. If you do not have access to one of these auto establishments, it is best to visit Craigslist.org. To get started, select your state and then the nearest city. Browse or search the website to find car, truck, van, RV, or jeep parts.

One of the many benefits to using Craigslist to find cheap car accessories is the search function. You don’t have to spend hours sifting through a junkyard to find what you need. Instead, you sit at home on your computer and perform a search. To find the best deals and what you need, search with targeted phrases. Search with the make, model, or part you need. For example, Honda Civic fenders, Mercedes hubcaps, Geo Tracker door, Dodge Ram tailgate, and so forth.

At most pick and pull auto yards, you are charged a set price for each part. This is good if you only need one or two items. However, many buyers want to have an entire junk car on hand for parts in the future. At an established auto yard, this can cost you thousands of dollars or more. On Craigslist.org you are likely to find better prices. You may get a junk car for as little as $100! These cars don’t run and the seller doesn’t want to bother with needed repairs, so they sell the vehicle as a junk car and sell it for next to nothing. The only downside is you may need to rent or borrow a car trailer to tow it home.

As you can see, both car part yards and Craigslist.org have their benefits. If you want to find car, van, truck, motor home, or jeep parts on Craigslist, download the Craigslist Reader at MotionT.com to try free. You can search all of Craigslist, entire states, or multiple cities at once.

There was a time when shopping for aftermarket auto equipments was considered to be quite challenging task. It was very tiring, as one has to make rounds and move from stores to different shops just to look for the best car and truck parts along with the most competitive prices. But, in recent times with the emergence of online stores things have changed dramatically.

Buying aftermarket auto parts online can offer you some of best benefits, such as-

1 – You Get Factual Information About Supplier- Reliable suppliers are not those who talk impressively. The background of the sellers and the experience they have are few important concerns that you generally face while purchasing any product. Now in case of aftermarket auto parts there are several online buying platforms that are equipped with systems to allow you make informed assessment regarding the qualifications and experience of the online vendor. With online stores you have options to surf through like customer testimonials, feedback or some kind of a certification program that can help you get the right info about online supplier.

2 – You Have Numerous Options- At an online aftermarket auto parts store there are different suppliers who offer diverse automobile accessories. As a result, automotive parts for vehicles of almost every brand, model and make is made available for you online and this in turn increase the probability of finding right part an as per your requirement or specification.

3 – You Have 24 X 7 Hours Access- The best part of buying auto parts through online process is that you don’t exactly require to figure out the working hours of online store or wait till they open. It doesn’t matter whichever part of the world you are, all you require is just an online connection and just place right order.

Apart from all this, purchasing aftermarket car / truck parts online also help you greatly in accessing free information and advice. They at times provide news and updates regarding upgrades in automotive parts and accessories. As there is no need for a middleman, these online stores also offer great discounts.