How to Choose the Right Rental Car in 5 Steps

Hiring a rental car isn't quite buying one, yet it is vital that your vehicle meets up to your needs. How does one do this? Easy! Follow our 5 steps on choosing the perfect rental car.

1. Type of Transmission

The transmission type—manual or automatic—is one of the first things that have to be taken into account. In some countries, like the US, all the cars are only automatic, but in Spain, most vehicles are manual. For this reason, a car with an automatic transmission has to be booked in advance and confirmed.

2. Winter or All-Season Tires

Now you need to decide if you need winter or all-season tires based on the duration of the rental and the country. Winter tires must be requested specifically at the rental counter. In countries with a legal requirement for snow tires or chains, you don't have to pre-order them; you will obtain them at the rental station with extra costs to pay locally if it is not in the rate.

Contrarily, most US vehicles are equipped with all-season tires, and there is no provision to ask for snow chains or dedicated tires.

3. 2WD, AWD, or 4WD

In case you are going to travel around Iceland, Australia, or most US National Parks—particularly if you may need to drive off the asphalt—an SUV will most likely be your best bet. It will provide you with greater traction on roads and surfaces of all kinds in varying weather conditions. However, there are various types of SUVs that differ technically, which one might not be aware of.

4. Fuel Type: Gasoline, Diesel, or Electricity

Another important aspect would be the fuel grade of the vehicle. Most rental cars run with petrol, and diesel is becoming rare in rental fleets. It doesn't necessarily increase fuel consumption and higher refueling costs. Actually, more modern petrol engines are designed to pollute less and be more efficient as compared to typical diesel engines. (crete car rental)

5. Trunk Space

Last but not least: baggage compartment—a tricky question while traveling! So, make sure to select a car that has enough space in the trunk to fit all your equipment. Please note that the number of bags mentioned in the car description is considered to be of standard size and can differ depending on the car model indicated on the website, which cannot always be guaranteed during the time of booking.