Ah, car rental insurance; some say it’s a waste of money- a gimmick, if you will; while others think it’s a great and safe way to protect yourself. Regardless of whatever the case may be, most people tend to shy away from buying car rental insurance because it can be confusing, time consuming, not to mention expensive. After all, what are the chances that you’re going wreck the rental car? You’re only renting it for a day or two! Then again, you could be wrong…

What You Should Know

Most, if not all, car rental agencies offer various sales pitches for collision damage waivers (CDW), which they will usually wait to throw at you once you get to the car rental counter to pay for your vehicle. Many renters know that they don’t need to pay for CDW; however, there are some for whom it makes sense for and others who simply fall into it because of that pitch out of left field that threw them off to begin with.

If you’re not sure whether or not you should get CDW, feel free to contact your own auto insurance agency. It is always a good idea to do this WELL IN ADVANCE before you even make your rental reservations (if possible). If you are the type that travels a lot and rents a car more often than you drive your own personal vehicle, or if you don’t own a vehicle at all, you should consider asking an auto insurance agent about purchasing non-owner liability insurance (which can sometimes save you money over a CDW).

If you do decide to get car rental insurance, there are a variety of options that can be thrown at you in the following four ways:

1. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): This type of coverage usually costs anywhere between $9-20/day and relieves you of financial responsibility if your rental car is damaged in an accident, vandalism or theft.
2. Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI): This type of coverage usually costs anywhere between $7-9/day and provides excess liability coverage.
3. Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): This type of coverage usually costs anywhere between $3-5/day and covers you and all of your passengers in your vehicle for any medical expenses. However, it should be noted that most renters already have personal health insurance, therefore, it’s not necessary to have PAI coverage.
4. Personal Effects Coverage (PEC): This type of coverage usually costs between $2-5/day and provides coverage for theft or damage to personal items inside the rental car. However, most renters already have this type of coverage through their own rental agencies.

The key to car rental insurance is understanding what your options are, what the polices of the car rental agency are and how those policies affect you. If you can do this in advance, it will save you a lot of grief at the car rental counter. If you have a horror story to tell about your car rental experience, leave a comment telling us all about it!

For more information on car, truck and van rental in the Southeast United States, visit Triangle Rent A Car today!

Also make sure that you visit the following new pages:

Van Rental

Truck Rental

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Tags: auto rental by Janelle - No Comments »

Remember the days of physically going down to the car dealership to look at cars that you were maybe thinking about buying? Well, people still do that, but have you ever thought of buying your car from a car rental company? That’s right. Now Triangle Rent A Car offers its customers the option of purchasing gently used vehicles for affordable prices with the added incentive of receiving a complimentary one year AAA membership with each vehicle you purchase!

Why Would I Buy A Car From A Rental Car Office?

If you’ve just started a new job and are trying to save money, chances are that you’re going to be looking at getting a used car for your first vehicle. If you are looking for a used car, you usually have a couple of options: you can look through the classified ads for individual sellers who are selling cars, you can go to most dealerships who sometimes sell used cars OR you can go to a car rental agency like Triangle Rent A Car, where you can buy used cars that are sure to be in good condition. People are opting to purchase vehicles from Triangle Rent A Car because of the security that goes along with the sale.

If you are planning on buying a vehicle from Triangle Rent A Car, make sure you visit their web site. They have made it incredibly easy for you to look through all of the vehicles that they currently have for sale. Each vehicle is listed with a picture, price, mileage and year. If you click on the thumbnail of the vehicle, you can pull up the vehicle information on the car.

For more information on rental car truck and van sales, visit Triangle Rent A Car today!

Also make sure that you check out the following new pages:

The Truth About Rental Taxes

SUV Rentals 

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Tags: auto rental by Janelle - 2 Comments »

Everyone has that one horror story from renting a car. Once, when I rented a car, I was informed by the gentleman of the car rental agency (whose name I will not reveal) who was completing my paperwork, that I “didn’t have to worry about filling the gas tank back up upon returning the vehicle.” Supposedly, it was part of some special deal/incentive thing that they were having at the time (which I didn’t even know about). Now, when a car rental agency rents you a vehicle, a representative is supposed to verbally go over your contract with you to highlight certain key points because, let’s face it, who wants to sit there and spend an hour reading through the 10 page contract while there are other customers standing in line behind you? In any case, I returned the car with a half tank of gas. Of course, when I returned the vehicle, there was a different sales representative there who had no idea that this other representative had given me a “deal” and he tried to charge me for the gas tank not being filled up. When we examined the contract, it turned out that the rental car agency did have a policy about returning the vehicle with a full tank. However, due to the mix up, the sales representative (who by this time, got his manager involved) let it go.

Hard Lessons Learned

For most of us, it only takes one bad experience to leave a sour taste in our mouth. When you’re dealing with rental car agencies, make sure that you fully understand all of their policies, procedures and rental car guidelines. At Triangle Rent A Car, their rental car policies are extremely straightforward and easy to follow. Simply go to their web site to find a clear listing of each of their policies. Some of the policies that they list include:

• No Show: Triangle Rent A Car gives you two hours within which you can pick up your vehicle on the scheduled date before they consider it a “no show”.
• Credit/Debit Cards: At the time you rent the vehicle, you are required to present the customer representative with a credit card or debit card that has your name on it. For this reason, you will also need to have handy your driver’s license. The reason that credit cards are required is to place the financial responsibility of the rented car on the actual person who is renting it. For this reason, you cannot use a credit or debit card that has someone else’s name on it.
• Fuel: All vehicles that are rented have a minimum of1/4 tank of fuel in them. The policy requires you to return the vehicles with at least 1/4 tank of fuel; otherwise, you will be charged $4-5 per gallon for refueling.

Wherever you choose to rent from, make sure that the rental company has its policies and procedures clearly stated somewhere where you can understand them. Too many mistakes occur from simple misunderstanding, so make sure you ask the appropriate questions if you have to.

For more information on car rental guidelines, policies and procedures for car, truck and van rental, visit Triangle Rent A Car today!

Also make sure that you visit the following new pages:

Luxury Car Rental

Car Rental Travel Tips 

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Tags: auto rental by Janelle - 2 Comments »

When you are planning on renting a car, what is usually the first thing that you think about? You want a car rental office that is located near where you live. After all, if you’re planning a trip, the last thing you want to have to worry about is “how far away is the rental car place?” Some rental car companies have several different locations to make it easier and more convenient for people to rent a car. At Triangle Rent A Car, you are offered the option of at least 30 different rental car office locations throughout the southeast United States to include the states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. How’s that for convenience?

Convenience and Care

Renting a car shouldn’t have to be a huge chore for you, but at the same time, you don’t just want to take it too lightly either. It should take you some time to consider your options when you are preparing to rent a vehicle. This is where location plays a huge role. For example, is the car rental company or office near my home or job? How is the office kept? If are looking up various car rental offices in the area for where you live, you can simply start with an Internet search. If the company has a web site, great. However, if you are still unsure as to whether or not the car rental company has an office near you, feel free to call them (since sometimes the web sites may not be updated as often as you’d like).

For more information about renting a car in Charlotte, NC or anywhere in the southeast, visit Triangle Rent A Car today to view all of their rental car locations!

Also make sure that you check out the following new pages:

Car Rental Collision Insurance

10 Myths About Rental Cars 

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Tags: General Auto, auto rental by Janelle - 2 Comments »

When it comes to renting a car in the southeast or anywhere for that matter, we’ve all had our share of horror stories. One of the most common problems that car rental companies have is the ability to keep their promises to their customers. For example, how many times have you seen commercials on television advertising all of these great and lofty “deals” if you rent from one car rental company over another? It sounds awesome at the outset, but then it’s a different story once you actually get to the dealership and find out that the deal wasn’t really a deal so much as it was an incentive to get you down there so that you could be harassed about renting a car from them.

Beware of the Small Print!

When you rent a car from any car rental place, you need to be wary of the “small print” so to speak. If you are unsure of what any of the terms mean, then refer to a car rental glossary.  If the car rental company advertises on television, then you should actually be able to see the small print. If they have a radio announcement, usually the small print will come in the form of some person talking extremely fast towards the end of the ad. If they have a web site, read through it thoroughly for any problems. The last thing you want to be is misinformed and/or surprised when you find out that you’re not really getting the deal you wanted.

Discounts & Incentives

Most car rental companies, such as Triangle Rent A Car, offer special car rental discounts and incentives. These discounts and incentives can range from various car rental discount programs to special coupons that offer money off rentals or whatever the case may be. Depending on how large the car rental company is, its discount programs may offer special corporate, governmental or military, and/or long term rental rates which may put it one step ahead of its competitors. Whatever you do, make sure that you always be weary of the small print and ask questions if you need to. It will make you a happier consumer in the end.

For more information on auto rental discount programs and long term car rentals in North Carolina, visit Triangle Rent A Car today!

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Tags: General Auto, auto rental by Janelle - 2 Comments »

So, now you’ve obtained your North Carolina driver’s license and you’ve gotten everything squared away with your registration. Once you get your vehicle registered, you will receive one license plate, which in North Carolina, must be displayed on the rear of your vehicle. Once you receive your brand new license plate, you will then have ten days to get your vehicle inspected. It doesn’t matter if you just had your vehicle inspected prior to you moving to North Carolina, it will still need to be inspected according to North Carolina standards so that you can get that inspection sticker placed on your windshield.

Additional Fees You May Not Know About

When I bought my very first car (which was in North Carolina), I was ecstatic…until I received a vehicle tax bill in the mail in addition to my regular monthly car payment. That’s right; in the state of North Carolina, vehicle owners are charged a vehicle tax. This tax is broken down into the Regional Transportation Authority Registration Tax (RTAR) as well as highway use tax.

If you live in certain areas of North Carolina, specifically Wake, Durham, or Orange County, there is an additional $5 RTAR Tax that is applied to any of the following vehicles (*information quoted from NC DMV web site):

• private passenger vehicles
• private motorcycles
• U-drive it passenger vehicles
• Limousine vehicles
• common carriers, contract carriers
• exempt for-hire passenger carrier vehicles
• farm vehicles
• manufacturer and motor vehicle dealers

Additionally, North Carolina collects highway use tax instead of state sales tax every time a title is transferred. For regular passenger vehicles, the fee is 3% of the vehicle’s value. If you purchased your vehicle from a licensed dealership, then it is 3% of the purchase price, less any trade-in credit, and if you purchased your car from a private seller, it is 3% of what the DMV assesses it to be based on a value table.

So, as you can see, buying a car can be a great experience. However, it can also be a stressful one if you are uninformed. Make sure you are aware of the kind of responsibility that owning a vehicle entails; and remember, driving is a privilege-not a right.

For more information on renting a car in Virginia, visit Triangle Rent A Car today!

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Tags: Uncategorized by Janelle - 2 Comments »

So, now that you’ve finally gone and gotten your North Carolina driver’s license, you’re going to need to work on working out the kinks with the title and registration. Look on the Internet to find out where there is a nearby vehicle registration office. If you bought your car from a dealership, then the dealer should furnish you with a title (which you’ll need to bring with you when registering your car. If you purchased your car from a private seller, you will need to have that person transfer the title into your name and then bring the title with you. If you already have an NC driver’s license and you buy a car from a licensed dealership after the fact, you don’t have to worry about doing anything. They’ll take care of it all.

Some other items that you will need in order to successfully register your vehicle include:

• Odometer Statement- You will need to provide an odometer statement signed by the seller and the buyer (including dealerships) if your vehicle is less than 10 years old.
• Damage Disclosure Statement-This applies if you bought your vehicle from a dealership.
• Bill of Sale- The bill of sale is the piece of paper that you received when you bought your car from the dealership. It includes the original purchase price of your car.
• Emissions and Safety Certificates-These documents should have already been supplied to you from the dealership where you purchased your car. If you bought your car from a private seller, you may need to have your car tested before it can be registered.

For more information on renting a car in South Carolina, visit Triangle Rent A Car today!

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Tags: Uncategorized by Janelle - 2 Comments »

Buying a car is an exciting time in a person’s life. It is a great feeling to know that you have worked hard and saved up your own money to purchase a vehicle that will going in your name. If you live in North Carolina, and you’re about to purchase a vehicle for the first time, there are a few things you should probably know.

If You’ve Moved Here

If you’ve just moved to North Carolina from another state and you are bringing your vehicle with you, you have 30 days from the time you secure employment in the state of North Carolina (as well as whatever agreement your former state has with NC) in which to register your vehicle. In order to register your car, you have to have a North Carolina driver’s license first. This means that as soon as you move here, one of the first things you should do is go to the department of motor vehicles (DMV) and obtain a driver’s license (which requires you to take a written test).

Get a License!

Additionally, when you go to the DMV to get your driver’s license, first make sure that you have studied the DMV handbook prior to the exam and then have the following items with you:

• proof of age and identity (2 forms of ID showing your full name and date of birth)
• proof of residency
• proof of liability insurance- NC is very strict about this! If you own a vehicle, you must bring proof of insurance with you; if you do not own a vehicle but drive one (ex: you are listed as a driver on your parent’s insurance), bring a copy of that; if you do not own a car and don’t drive, you need to fill out a form saying so (Form DL-123A) and your license will be restricted.
• social security card (or proof of your SS #)

Your license will then be good from 4-8 years (depending on your age) and you will have to pay a small fee (check DMV web site).

For more information about renting a car in North Carolina, contact Triangle Rent A Car today!

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Tags: General Auto by Janelle - 2 Comments »

When you get up in the morning and are getting into your car to go to work, how often do you check your tires prior to driving off? Most people don’t bother to check their tires at all. How about when you are preparing to rent a car? For example, if you are renting a car in North Carolina, most rental car companies will strongly advise you, if not encourage you to check the car out for any defects before they will even allow you to drive the vehicle off of their premises. This is not only a liability issue for them, but it is a safety issue for you as well.

Slipping Up

Most, if not all of us, have driven our vehicles outside when it was raining; but have you ever noticed other vehicles occasionally slipping and sliding around on the pavement? The first thing you need to remember whenever there is inclement weather is to ALWAYS maintain a safe stopping distance. This distance is usually two car lengths between the front bumper of your vehicle and the rear bumper of the person in front of you. The other thing to consider if your car is sliding more than it should when you stop short (and especially if you are slowly coming to a stop) is your tires. When was the last time you took your vehicle in to be serviced? Was anything mentioned about having your tires rotated and balanced? Did you do it?

Safety First!

If you think about it, your tires are one of the most important parts of your vehicle. After all, if you didn’t have tires, you wouldn’t be able to operate your vehicle! Make sure that you check your tires every day. There are numerous people who get in their car and start driving only to realize a few miles down the road that they had a flat tire from the time they left their home! Checking your tires takes only a few seconds of your time and can save you from a possible injury or fatality as well as save you a ton of money in the long run. All you have to do is walk around the perimeter of your vehicle and simply look at your tires. Do they look low? Does the tread look worn? These are some key things to keep in mind before you get in your car.

Contact Triangle Rent A Car for more information on renting a car in the Southeast!

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Tags: General Auto, events by Janelle - 2 Comments »

Have you ever wondered what your vehicle says about you? If you’re like most other people driving around, you tend to look at the other cars on the roadway and form your own opinions as to “why in the world anybody would be caught dead driving a car like that?!” Truth be told, however, the type of vehicle you choose can say a lot about who you are and what you represent in terms of moral and even political beliefs.

The Decision

When most of us think back to our first car that we ever drove, there’s a good chance that it was a hand-me-down from one of our parents or family members. But when you finally had the opportunity and financial wherewithal, what type of vehicle did you actually end up choosing and what went through your mind throughout the process? As human beings, we tend to make snap judgments about other people (sometimes without even realizing it). When you see someone else driving a brand new Hummer, knowing that there’s a bit of a gas crisis at the moment, you probably think that whoever it is is: a) rich (because of all the money they’re probably spending in gas), b) doesn’t care about the environment (because we tend to see or assume that there’s only one person driving by him/herself in this huge vehicle) and c) that they’re selfish (because we associate rich with being spoiled.

If you think about it, the same type of logic can be applied to any vehicle. Whenever we see a red sports car, like a corvette, we automatically make assumptions: young or middle aged Caucasian male by himself or with some woman in the passenger seat. We also tend to assume that a person driving a sports car will more than likely be driving fast and without due regard for the safety of other people around him. If you see a black Cadillac Escalade with huge rims that spin and rap music blaring, what is the first thing that comes to mind about the driver? Most people would probably assume that the driver is a young to middle aged African American male by himself or with friends. What about if you saw a yellow VW Bug? You would probably assume that the driver is a young, Caucasian female (preferably with some sort of cooky prescription glasses) by herself or with friends; and you’d probably take a step even further to assume that her political views are somewhat liberal and she probably works as a writer or some sort of computer nerd.

Are Car Companies Appealing to Certain People?

We could go on forever about what cars say about people and their personalities, but all of this begs the question: “Are car companies appealing to certain people on purpose?” The next time you see a car commercial on television or watch a music video, pay attention to the types of cars around as well as what kinds of people are behind the wheel. You might find the results surprising!

For more information on car rental in North Carolina, visit Triangle Rent A Car today!

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Tags: General Auto, auto rental by Janelle - 2 Comments »