If you’re about to make your first ever booking for a rental car, you may be unsure about what is required. The rental company – especially if you’re dealing with Highway Bakkie Hire – will be sure to make the process easy for you.

4 Things You Should Know About Renting a Car

Because it pays to be prepared, we thought we would put together a shortlist of the essential things you need to know before renting a car for the first time.

1. You Need a Driver’s Licence & a Credit Card (although this is changing)

The driver’s licence is obvious and non-negotiable – it is needed both as proof of your identity and of you being a licensed driver. What may be less obvious is that few rental companies will rent out a car without the customers presenting a credit card. Among other things, a valid credit card with a positive, available balance is proof of the user’s credit history. Debit cards and cash don’t present the same kind of security to the renters.
This is changing lately with many rental agencies, such as Highway Bakkie Hire, easing the process by accepting cash or debit cards. So if you don’t have a credit card, we can still accommodate you.

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2. You Will be Asked to Pay the Insurance Excess in the Event of an Accident

Renting out a car is a risky venture for the rental agency. We do business by handing our valuable property over to complete strangers and trusting that they will take care of it. To offset this risk, we have extensive and specialised insurance policies on our cars but we stipulate in our rental contract that renters will have to pay the excess on any damages to the car. This amounts to a maximum of R5000, which will be refunded to you only if it can be recovered from the third party.

3. It’s Always Best to Book in Advance

The more notice you can give, the better. There is never any guarantee that the car you need will be available when you want it if you just turn up on the day. Making a booking in advance enables us to reserve and prepare a vehicle for you.

4. Check the Car Before You Leave the Lot & Take Pictures

It’s always best to ensure that the car is returned in the condition in which you received it. Double-check the car before you drive away, report any notable scratches, dents, etc immediately and take photographs of the car. That way, you’re prepared if there are any discrepancies and disagreements.

HBH Takes the Hassle out of Car & Bakkie Hire

Contact us for everything you need to know about car rental – or to make a booking.

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