Preparing for a Long Distance Road Trip in a Hire Car
If you are planning to hire a vehicle and hit the road and take a long distance trip across Australia, it is important that you make sure that you and your car are fully prepared. While hiring a car can be really convenient, it is also a little bit different from driving your own. You have no idea how a hire car has been treated by previous customers, which increases the risks of a roadside breakdown. Below are three tips which will help you to stay safe on your cross-country road trip.
Choosing the right car
You may already have an idea of the make and model of car you wish to hire for your trip. However, there is much more to choosing the right vehicle than just going with a particular brand of automobile. Ideally, you should choose a car which you have some experience of driving, as this will make the whole road trip experience much easier. If they do not have any models which you have driven before, you should choose a type of car which is a similar size and has a similar sized engine to the cars you have driven previously. For example, if you are used to driving a small smart car, you should avoid renting a large van for your trip as you may find it difficult to handle. Once you have selected a car, you should take it out for a test drive before signing any paperwork.
Inspecting the car
While driving the car, you should make a note of how the engine sounds, how the car responds when you press the accelerator and how well the brakes operate. If you hear any strange noises or the car is slow to accelerate or stop; you should report this to the hire company and ask for another vehicle. You should also check the tread on the tyres to ensure it is not worn away or damaged.
Sign up for roadside recovery
No matter how well you prepare by selecting the right hire car, you may still not be able to avoid a roadside breakdown. If you do have any problems, it is important that you can call for help. Once you have hired your car, you should register with a 24 hour towing and roadside recovery service. In the event of an emergency, the crew of the tow truck will assist you at any time of the day. For further information contact a tow truck company today.