Improving Your Automobile

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Rental Car for Your Holiday

11 January 2017

Addison Morris

One of the most convenient ways to explore a new town or city during a holiday is by car. If you have decided to hire a vehicle for this reason, here are a few factors you should consider before you begin looking for a car to rent in your chosen travel destination.  

Size

It's crucial to choose a vehicle that is the right size for your particular needs. You'll need a car that not only comfortably accommodates the number of people you intend to travel with but also is appropriate for the amount of luggage you intend to bring along.

If, for example, you'll be travelling with your partner and your child, you may need only a compact, two-door vehicle. However, if you have plans to meet up with friends who live near the area you'll be exploring during your holiday, you may want to opt for a bigger car that can accommodate them too. 

Think about the car's luggage capacity as well; if you're going on a two-week skiing holiday, for instance, and therefore need to bring along a lot of warm clothes as well as all of your bulky ski equipment, you'll probably need a larger-than-average vehicle that has a spacious boot and plenty of extra storage compartments.

The amount of time you intend to spend in your car should also be a determining factor in what size vehicle you select. For example, if, during your break, you'll be taking a lot of long day trips in the car, you may want a bigger one with plenty of leg room so that you and your passengers can feel comfortable throughout the journey. Conversely, if you're taking a city break and need the car only for short trips, you can probably make do with a more compact vehicle. Smaller rental cars also have the added advantage of being much easier to manoeuvre, and that will come in handy when you are trying to navigate narrow city streets and fit into tiny parking spaces.

Budget Versus Creature Comforts

It's important to strike a balance between choosing a car with those added extras that will make your holiday more enjoyable and choosing one that you can afford. Most car-hire companies will offer extra features, such as a GPS system, a child seat, air conditioning and in-built DVD players, all of which could potentially enhance your travel experience.

Think about the needs of yourself and your travel companions; if you're going on holiday with your young children, for example, then the presence of a DVD player and a television screen in the backseat could make all the difference to your stress levels during your car journeys, helping to keep your little ones occupied so that you can concentrate on your driving. In such cases, this feature would almost certainly be a worthwhile investment.

It's worth noting that you could offset the added expense of these extra features by packing lightly so that you don't need to hire a big car with a large luggage capacity. Compact vehicles also tend to be more fuel efficient and will, therefore, cost you less to run too.  

Share

Search