There are a number of reasons why people rent cars: you may need a hire car while you are on holiday, or your car is being repaired so you rent a car. You may just want to rent a car for the weekend or special occasion to arrive in style at a special event. Here are the top 10 most important things you must know before renting a car:

• When looking to rent a car you are usually seeking the best price on a similar size or class of rental car. Always find at least three rental car companies to compare; although, even more will be better. There are a number of online rental car companies that facilitate comparisons of numerous agencies at once, such as Renta-Car.com.


• Be sure to compare the size or class of the car as well as the rental car policies, most importantly the mileage policy; is it unlimited mileage per day or is it a maximum daily mileage limit and then an additional cost per km (or mile). If you dont check the mileage policy you could find yourself paying significantly more than what you bargained for at the rental car return point.


• You will generally need to be between the age of 25 and 75 to rent a car at most agencies worldwide. If you are above or below this relatively "standard" age rental range you must contact the rent car companies' customer service number by phone to get the most accurate answer to any special needs and their policy on age to rent and drive the vehicle.


• When you call a car hire company be sure to ask about vehicle class (size), price, rental vehicle availability, as well as any specials that the agency or even ther location you intent to rent from has to offer. It is worth noting here, that many of these companies will have special arrangements with hotels, airlines, and group purchasing programs, such as AAA, AARP, and others, that may offer additional discounts.


• You will want to ask about any special instructions that are required of you while renting the car, for example, filling up the gas tank prior to return or pick up and drop off times. Not adhering to these policies can result in additional fees.


• Many companies that will rent a car to you will also be willing to either deliver the car to you or pick you up and take you to your rental. This service may require a fee, but can be worth asking about if you are flying to your destination.


• The rental company may offer you insurance to purchase; however, your personal auto insurance may be all you need in the event of an accident with a rental car. Call your current car insurance agent and ask if you will be covered adequately before paying for additional insurance at the rental desk. Its worth noting that the additional insurance purchased at the rental car compnay will often come with no deductible and in the event of an accident and its use, because its privately obtained it wont effect your personal auto insurance rates as may a claim on your personal auto insurance policy.


• There are a number of choices that are open to you when renting a car. Each class of hire car will vary in price and gas mileage; consider this when making your decision. While many companies may be willing to upgrade you, this is not always the case. It is wise to choose the car you want and aspire for a free upgrade at the rental counter rather than to reserve the next lower class smaller car and be disappointed when an upgrade is not offered.


• Have a credit or debit card handy to reserve the rental car. Most companies will only guarantee a hire car with this assurance. While you can reserve the rent car with a debit card, a credit card will be required to actually obtain the car once you reach the rental pickup location. Be careful here, there are virtually no rental car companies that will release a rental car with a debit card as the form of payment.


• And finally, when you arrive at the assigned vehicle that you are to rent, take a walk around it. Make note of any pre-existing damage to the vehicle by photographing the damage (scratches, dents, door dings, wheel abrasion, chipped glass, etc.) Its a good idea to also take a photo of the vehicle in its numbered space or location and include the cars parked next to it for a point of reference of the time of pick up. If the damage is considerable (more than just a small cosmetic blemish), find a representative onsite to have them document the pre-existing damage on your contract before you leave their rental lot. You don't want to get a chargeback for pre-existing damage to the vehicle that you did not cause.