Rental Car Breaks Down

Rental Car Tips: What to Do If Your Rental Car Breaks Down

Hiring a rental car is a great way for you to get about when you’re on vacation. Pick up the vehicle when you arrive at your destination, use it to get around and see places, and drop it back when you’re finished with it. What could be simpler?

But, as with every vehicle, there’s a chance that you may break down. This could be something as simple as a flat tire, dead battery, or an empty gas tank. Or, it might be something that may require it to go into a garage. 

Whatever your roadside emergency, these rental car tips will help you with all manner of rental car problems. Read on to learn more about what to do when you have a rental car breakdown.

Before You Set Off

There is always going to be a very small chance that your luxury car rental will break down. It pays to be as prepared as possible. Firstly, find out whether you’re insurance has breakdown cover. 

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You may also have coverage through your bank, credit card company, or your own roadside recovery service. If you have none of these things, you may want to take out travel insurance with added roadside recovery

Once you’ve got your vehicle from the rental company, make sure you check the terms and conditions. You’ll need to find out whether your rental car repair will fall under the Collision Damage Waiver and which types of repairs will be exempt. 

You should also ask your rental company what they’d like you to do if you were to break down. 

What to Do When Your Rental Car Breaks Down

So, you’re happily driving along taking in the sights on your journey when all of a sudden you break down. What do you do?

You should try and pull over to the side of the road if you can. Put your hazards on to alert passing motorists to your presence. This will help ensure nobody crashes into your stationary vehicle. 

Once you’ve pulled over, you’ll be able to try and understand what the problem with the vehicle is. 

Regardless of the rental car issues, you’re facing, you should call for roadside assistance. 

For small problems such as a dead battery, a flat tire, or insufficient gas, you can always pay to have the vehicle repaired yourself, keep the receipt and claim the money back when you’re back at the rental shop. 

For larger problems that require the vehicle to go into the repair shop, you’ll need to contact the rental company and arrange a tow. You’ll also need to arrange a replacement vehicle to drive while the car is in the shop. 

Rental Car Tips

By following these simple rental car tips, you’ll be able to plan for the eventuality of your rental car breaking down. While it is uncommon for this to happen, it’s always worth checking out the fine print on your rental agreement to find out the best course of action. 

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