Before you can choose the best car rental company, you need to define “best”. What are you looking for in a car rental company? Here are some boxes you may want to tick.
Convenient location
When visiting a town or city we arrive by air, rail, sea or road. Airports are full of car rental firms, all the usual suspects, and railway stations and harbours tend to have a few too. If you’re getting off a coach or bus and you go all the way to the bus station, there may be a hire car firm there. At the very least there will be someone around to ask, and they may well direct you to a local firm: this is good.
Range of vehicles
Depending on the reason for your trip and the nature of your destination, you may want a certain type of car. For buzzing around a busy city, the popular choice is something small, but exactly how small is up to you. Some people feel safer in a family-size car rather than a really tiny one, because it is unfortunately true that bullies exist behind the wheel of cars and will try to steamroller their way through the traffic at the expense of the nippy little numbers. If you actually need an estate car or a pickup truck, they may be few and far between, so it pays to enquire well in advance and make sure there will be one available.
If practicality is not the sole criterion for your choice, hiring a car can be present the opportunity to try something a bit different, a bit special, so if you fancy going de luxe for a few days, it may not cost too much extra. Speaking of which…
Compare prices
Competition is fierce in the hire car business, but nobody is giving them away, so get a general idea, at least, and you can make sure you stay within your budget. If you’re looking for the best car hire Marlow has to offer in terms of pricing, be sure to check online and ask locally for some recommendations.
Are they efficient?
When someone takes the time to talk you through the insurance options and sends you email confirmation of your booking, it is an indication that they are efficient overall, and as the last thing you want is any mix-ups or delays when you arrive, efficiency is an admirable quality.
Local knowledge?
You know how it is: sometimes you come across a helpful person on the desk and sometimes you don’t. You can often get a feel of the company’s general attitude on the phone or via email, so feel free to ask a few questions and seek their advice. You may find that a local firm is better in this respect, rather than a household name that operates all over the country or even the world and has a set way of doing things no matter where you are. The local mindset can be much more friendly than the corporate one; think how the staff in a little country hotel can be so obliging while those in a big place don’t have the time or inclination to help. It’s not always the case, but the personal touch can be very welcome in a world where we are increasingly having to do it all ourselves.
