Name: Rentigoo
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Hire cars: avoid spontaneous decisions

The decision to hire car is often spontaneous. While a car buyer usually spends months poring over catalogues and comparing models before deciding on the new car, many hire car drivers rent their car in a matter of minutes.

And the price is often the only decisive factor. Yet it is well worth putting some thought into the right hire car to save a lot of hassle and often even money.

We have put together a few tips for you here.

Consider the occasion

Just like the tuxedo at the ball and the Bermuda pants at the beach, the hire car should also match the occasion. For a business trip, a different model is usually the most appropriate than for a holiday trip to the mountains.

The right business car

Serious it should be first and foremost, the ideal business car. After all, people often keep a close eye on which car the conferee or the representative drives into the company car park.

And if a Porsche or a Ferrari then turns the corner, that does not necessarily testify to respectable business conduct. Unless, of course, the driver is in the yacht business or sells high-end real estate in Mallorca.

But the hire car should also not look too cheap. Because so you suggest not only thriftiness but could also give the impression that business is not so good.

Middle class first choice

A mid-size car, such as a Passat or a 3-series BMW, is the right choice for most occasions. At a meeting at executive level, it may sometimes be the Mercedes E-Class or an Audi A6. And only when the board members meet, you can also move to the meeting with the luxury sedan.

The right holiday car

On vacation, you don’t have to follow social conventions. Nevertheless, a few considerations before booking a hire car can also contribute to a successful trip.

Which country should it go to?

You should take a trip through Iceland in a different car to the short trip to the Côte d’Azur. While the often untamed Icelandic nature literally screams for a robust off-road vehicle, it may be a Bentley Continental GT Convertible in the glamorous south of France.

With the top down, it’s easy to cruise along the Croisette in Cannes. But if the rented luxury villa is located in the mountainous hinterland, the Bentley would already be the wrong choice. In that case a Mini might be much more suitable to conquer the narrow serpentines.

What kind of trip is planned?

Before starting your trip, you should think carefully about what kind of trip you are planning. If it is to go with the partner for a weekend in a wellness hotel, probably already suffice a stylish Mini or a chic Fiat500. After all, the back seat can also serve as an additional luggage rack in case of need.

Golf bag on board?

If a trip to the golf course is also planned, the car will have to be a little bigger. Because two golf bags quickly make a Mini seem small.

With the family in the station wagon

But if it’s going to be a long drive with the kid and the kids, it’s certainly better to opt for a sedan or a station wagon with a large trunk, even if it’s going to be a bit more expensive.

A vacation like this is no fun in a small car.

The dear habits

What kind of car you use in your daily life also plays a role in choosing the right hire car. Drivers of large SUVs will certainly not enjoy a small car.

And if you mostly drive a VW Up at home, the Porsche Cayenne that your friendly rental company might let you have will seem quite bulky and unwieldy.

The fellow travelers

When choosing the right hire car, also think about the fellow passengers. If one of the passengers in the back measures about 2 meters in height, don’t torture them with a small car. And if there are elderly passengers travelling with you, an SUV that allows everyone to get in and out comfortably may be the best choice.

What is the climate like in the destination country?

The climate in the destination country is often decisive for the choice of the right hire car. On a winter ski trip to Austria, for example, a car with auxiliary heating can increase holiday enjoyment. Then the car is already toasty warm in the morning. And when it’s time to return to the hotel after a day on the slopes, the passengers don’t have to freeze either.

In summer in southern Spain, a convertible promises unadulterated holiday fun. However, with temperatures above 40° Celsius and a stinging sun, you will quickly long for an enclosed vehicle with well-functioning air conditioning.

Warned about car thieves

In countries with high crime rates, it is good if the rental vehicle does not necessarily immediately arouse the desires of car thieves. Those traveling through Bulgaria in a luxury sedan should somewhat always make sure to park the car at night in a guarded and locked parking lot.

More peaceful sleeps the holidaymaker who is traveling, for example, with an inconspicuous Skoda.

Travel distance and fuel consumption

The fuel consumption of the car can also be important for the hire car decision. Holidaymakers who primarily want to lie on the beach in Ibiza and only occasionally explore the surroundings can also rent a Mercedes SL Roadster for such joyful jaunts.

When driving normally, 18 litres per 100 kilometres will flow through the tank. But if the return of the hire car only 200 kilometers more than at the handover on the speedometer, it hardly matters.

If you want to explore the vastness of New Zealand with the car, an economical Golf with diesel engine might be the right choice.

Travel comfort

On the other hand, the New Zealand traveller should also not focus exclusively on fuel consumption. Even well-suspended sedans are often no gas guzzlers, but increase the driving comfort considerably. And if you want to go off the beaten track, the off-road vehicle comes into play again.