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eTyres care about our customers. The
following article may be of interest.
Hiring a car abroad - it's not just the car
insurance you need to worry about
by Paul Johnson
Whilst soaking up to sun on the Costa del Sol you're a
world away from the stress and troubles of normal
working life. No deadlines, no road rage and no commuter
traffic making you late for work.
However, if you decide to hire a car there's more than
just your driving license and car insurance to think
about, you could be putting yourself in more danger than
you would at home. In Spain there are twelve times as
many fatal accidents as the UK for the number of
vehicles on the road. And the figures aren't much
different in other holiday destinations such as Greece,
Turkey, Cyprus and Italy.
With these shocking statistics - you need to make sure
you hire a safe and reliable car. Following a survey by
'Holiday Which?', two out of every five hire cars
inspected in the Costa del Sol were unsafe. Problems
include:
•Under-inflated tyres - can seriously affect road
handling
•Bald tyres - can be lethal at any time
•Cut or bulge on tyre - increases the risk of a blow-out
•Faulty airbag - which fail to operate in an emergency
•No parcel shelves - a danger when luggage is in the
back of car
As a result of these dangers it's vital that before
signing the car hire contract you check a number of
things. duck2water Car Insurance
(www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk), who specialise in
car insurance for drivers with over 4 years no claim
history, offer ten useful tips:
1. Car insurance Make sure you have adequate car
insurance - does it include unlimited mileage? Does it
have sufficient CDW (collision damage waiver)? What is
the excess? Is the car covered whilst driving off-road
(e.g. to get to a remote beach or picnic spot)?
2. Emergency number Ensure you have a contact number for
the hire company in case the car breaks down or is
involved in an accident.
3. Tyres Are the tyres flat? Do they have bald patches?
Are there cuts or bulges in the side walls?
4. Brakes Drive the car around the car park and check
the brakes work properly.
5. Airbag Is the airbag warning light flashing?
6. Lights Ask the representative to stand outside the
car to confirm all lights work including the reverse
lights and indicators.
7. Bodywork Point out to the car hire representative if
there are any dents, scratches or other damage - to be
sure you are not charged for it when you return the car.
8. Seatbelts Tug sharply on all belts to check they lock
properly.
9. Controls Familiarise yourself with the controls and
ask the representative if you are unsure.
10. Windscreen wipers and washers Make sure all are in
good working order.
Rebecca Pearson, Customer Services Manager at duck2water
Car Insurance said:
'Car hire companies should valet and carry out a
maintenance check on all vehicles they hire out. Sadly
some car hire companies don't even bother emptying the
ashtrays before handing over the keys to a new customer.
Holidaymakers need to be cautious of all car hire
companies; whether they are a local firm or
multinational company.'
'If you have any concerns about the condition of a hire
car, ask for another one. You're the customer, it's you
paying the bill and you and your family that are at risk
if anything goes wrong. Above all make sure you have
adequate car insurance to cover you if you have an
accident.'
About the Author
Contact: Rebecca Pearson Customer Services Manager
duck2water Car Insurance
rebecca@duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk
www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk
duck2water Car Insurance was established in 2004. As an
online only insurance provider we are able to offer
premiums up to 60% cheaper than other companies. Plus
all our policies include free legal expenses insurance
worth up to ?50. |
