subject: Heathrow Airport Car Rental – What to Know [print this page] When flying into Heathrow airport, car rental is an option if you want to be in charge of your own transportation rather than rely on other people and other means to get where you're going.
There are several car rental companies within Heathrow Airport and it is important that you know how to choose the right company. Choosing the right company means saving money, having the car that you want, renting a car that will not break down, and ensuring that the right protections are in place while you are in the care of the car rental company.
Here are the things you need to know to choose the right Heathrow Airport car rental company and to ensure that your experience is the best one:
The first step to choosing the right Heathrow Airport car rental company is to know what kind of vehicle you want. This may narrow down your options. For instance, you may want a van and some companies may not have vans available. If you need child seats, roof racks, and other add-ons, you will need to specify this when booking your rental.
There are age limits in order to rent a car. There may be restrictions or additional charges for those under 25 and over 65 wishing to rent a car. If you are asked any questions about your driving record, be honest because dishonesty could lead to your insurance being invalid.
You will need to check the hours of your selected Heathrow Airport car rental company because not all are open 24/7. Those open 24/7 will allow you to pick up your rental car whenever you arrive, even if you arrive in the middle of the night. Those that are not open 24/7 will not be able to make your car available to you until they open. And when it's time to drop off the car, even those that close have a key drop box in case you can't get the car back before closing time.
Always look at the small print on your car rental application. There are many important areas to pay attention to here. This is mainly because there may be extra fees imposed due to extra activities. These extra activities can include extra mileage, cancellation charges, and various other details.
As soon as you pick up the car, inspect it for any damage before you leave the lot and inform the Heathrow Airport car rental company about it before you go. You want them to acknowledge the damage that you find so that you are not charged for it.
If the Heathrow Airport car rental company requires that you return the car with the same amount of fuel in it as there was when you left, you will need to mark this for your own personal records to ensure you take it back as it was.
When you follow these tips and steps, you will be able to find a Heathrow Airport car rental company that is right for you and have a pleasant rental experience.