Things Not to Do with a Rental Car in Kenya
Renting a car is such a common part of the travel experience that you’d think the process would be straightforward and transparent yet somehow it is anything but. Many travelers aren’t sure how to rent a car without making a few common mistakes.
Do I need to buy additional insurance? What about paying to refuel the car? I hear horror stories about phony damage claims; should I be worried? No one is around to inspect the car with me; is that OK? Can I drive into another country? Do I need all the extras they offer me at the rental counter? These questions come up pretty much every time someone rents a car. Again, anything but straightforward.
Among all your options, there are some things you don’t need to do, or even should not do, when renting a car in Kenya;
Read carefully the car rental agreement
Before you sign a contract, read it thoroughly. If you don’t understand something, just ask for explanation. This is a hackneyed advice, but still useful.
The advertised price is not always the final one
It is a favourite trick of many rental companies to advertise a car rental just for less money. The price usually includes the renting only and forgets about taxes, fees or insurance. What seemed to be a very advantageous price at first becomes eventually an extremely disadvantageous one.
Mileage may be limited
Some car rental companies limit the distance that can be driven. You’ll have to pay a lot more for exceeding the limit.
Where you can drive the borrowed car?
Rental conditions at some car rental companies clearly indicate where you can drive the car. Usually, it is forbidden to cross borders to other countries (Sudan, Congo). Offered cars usually have a built-in GPS locator hidden inside and you’ll be most certainly fined for infringement of this condition.
Buy fuel at the gas station
Refuel the car somewhere close to the renting company before you return it. You can still arrive with an empty tank but buying gas from the renting company is much more expensive.
You’ll pay a penalty for returning the car late
If you don’t manage to return the car on time, you’ll pay an extra fee for the next day.
Second and third driver at extra cost
If you’re planning a long trip with more than one driver, be sure to mention him/her in the contract. The fee for an extra driver per day. I recommend paying the fee since problems caused by the unveiling of this fraud are not worth the price.
Are you travelling with a baby?
If a child of less than two years of age travels with you, don’t forget about the child seat. In most of the states there is a law according to which children under the age of 12 have to sit on the back seat
Not inspecting the car upon departure
Another potentially huge mistake that you can make at the car rental company is not to inspect the rented car before hitting the road. You should always check the vehicle for any signs of internal or external damages before leaving the car rental company. Look for any signs of potential problems busted headlights, loose bumpers, visible scratches, strange noises, etc.
You can even take some photos or a video inspection of the vehicle so you can easily make a “before-after” comparison upon returning the rented car. Otherwise, you might end up responsible for all the damages found upon returning the car (including damages you didn’t necessarily make) and the car rental company will charge you for that.
Ignoring Potential Offers for Upgrades
In the past, I’ve recommended reserving a low-priced car and then inquiring about upgrades at the rental desk. This works best at busy times when the garage is running low on its cheapest vehicles, and may offer you free or very affordable upgrades to a larger car class due to inventory management issues.
In most cases, the desk agent has considerable discretion in setting upgrade rates, so if he or she asks if you are interested in a larger car, respond that it depends on the price; you might find yourself in a bigger and better car at minimal additional cost.
Your Credit Card Covers the Rest
Anything your own car insurance does not cover, it is likely that your credit card will. In some cases the credit card coverage is as good as or better than your auto insurance; in others it is intended to be secondary insurance to help cover anything your auto insurance does not.
Of course, you will need to pay for your car rental using that card; just having a qualifying credit card does not give you any protection.
Conclusion
And then there’s the thing you do not want to do at all, ever. To save you some time, money (and trouble), we’ve made a list of things not to do when renting a car. Contact Kenya car rental to avoid all the above mistakes.
