Driving a rental or loaner vehicle can be a fun break from
your usual vehicle, even if you have been forced to do it by factors outside
your control. If you are driving a car of this sort, however, you should not
assume that it is simply a case of taking the keys and cruising away. It’s very
important to understand what your obligations and responsibilities are. Here
are some tips from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville to
remember when driving a rental or loaner vehicle.
Fuel
It is vital that you check your liabilities for gas. In some
cases you will be supplied a vehicle with a full tank of gas, and you must
return it on that basis. In other cases, the tank will be close to empty, and
you will simply have to put in the gas that you need to use. In the case of the
former, make sure that you fill the tank up completely or you may be charged a
nasty re-fueling fee. In the case of the latter, ensure that you do not put
more fuel in the tank than you need or you may be funding the next user’s
driving.
Damage report
Make sure that you have checked the car over for damage
BEFORE you drive it away. In most cases, you will be issued with a damage
report. Check this carefully, and do not be frightened to be too picky. In many
cases, you can be held liable for all damage to the vehicle and if it is not on
the report when you take the car away, you will be unable to prove that you did
not cause the damage.
Emergency cover
Your rental or loaner vehicle will normally be supplied with
inclusive emergency breakdown coverage. Ensure that you have all the details to
hand that you may need in the event that you need to call for assistance. Check
this before you drive off, but if you forget, give the rental company a call
from home to clarify the contact details and level of cover that you have. Make
sure that you are aware of any additional responsibilities that you may have.
You may be asked to give the rental company a call as well as the assistance
number, for example.
Mileage limits
You cannot assume that you are able to drive the car for
unlimited mileage while it is on loan to you. In some cases, you may be limited
to a reasonable mileage limit, after which you will be charged a hefty fee on a
mile-by-mile basis. If you are on a mileage-restricted contract, ensure that
you confirm the car’s mileage before you leave and that you reset the counter
to zero so that you can easily keep tabs on your usage.
Documentation
Keep all the documentation related to your rental or loan
vehicle. Do not leave it in the glove box or on the seat in the car. If the car
is stolen, you will not have any paperwork related to the car. Make sure that
you do not blindly sign every piece of paper put in front of you either. Like
any other type of contract, make sure you know what you are signing before you
sign it.
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