There are many benefits to hiring a car for a holiday in Uganda and this allows you to get about independently and see more of the country than you would if you relied solely on public transport and internal flights. While many companies offer low headline prices, certain add-ons can cause these seemingly competitive rates to soar. So, if you’re looking to hire a car this summer, careful planning is essential.
Book in advance
Booking in advance is one of the tips to help you save money on your holiday. It might seem obvious but an easy way to save some cash is to book – and pay for – your hire car in advance. Most car rental companies offer online and early booking discounts – generally, the further ahead you book, the bigger the saving. As simple as that.
Even if you opt to reserve your car ahead of time but choose to pay on collection, there’s a chance you will still lose out. Many car rental desks are franchises, and they are free to set prices locally – so the amount they charge on the day may not match the price originally quoted online. Unfair, yes, but that’s the way it is so don’t get caught out.
Know your insurance options
You must know your insurance option because all rental cars come with a basic level of insurance however, this will likely have a hefty excess and only cover major incidents. At the desk you’ll be offered another policy which extends the cover and reduces the excess.
Don’t be enticed by an unnecessary upgrade
In case the car you booked isn’t available, the rental company should offer you an alternative model in the same price bracket. If they offer an upgrade instead, make sure there isn’t an additional cost attached – and if you’re given a car in a lesser category, you should receive an appropriate refund.
Check for damage
When you pick up your rental car, please check for the damage. Give it a thorough once over and ensure that every last scratch, dent and defect is recorded on the rental agreement and also remember to look under the bumper and on the roof too. Similarly, when you return the vehicle, have a rental company employee check it and provide you with a signed receipt stating no new damage has occurred. You don’t want any nasty surprises later.
Weigh up your fuel options
When you pick up a rental car it will usually come with a full tank or half tank of petrol, and the company will likely want it back in the same way has you took it. You have two choices here, you either fill it up yourself before returning the vehicle, or prepay for a full tank. Go for the first option.
If you opt to prepay, the car rental company will almost certainly charge way above market rates. What’s more, if you’re only hiring the car for a few days, and planning to travel just a short distance, you may not even use all of the petrol it initially came with – so you’ll be paying twice for petrol you never used.
Check about additional driver costs and one-way fees
Adding an additional driver to a rental agreement is fairly simple but it can be costly, so figure out how much each of you is likely to drive over the duration of your trip and decide whether the additional cost is worth it.
Other ways that car rental companies try to make some extra money is to charge one-way fees or to impose mileage limitations. Be sure to look into these if you’re planning to drop your car off somewhere different to where you picked it up, or if you know you’re going to be driving a significant distance.