July 31, 2011
Rent a Car
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Pleasure or Necessity, events or curiosity, the truth is that you have time to start thinking about renting a car. We may never have done before, can you do it too often, the important thing is to never lose sight of some tips to consider and take into account before deciding to finally rent it.
Getting Started:
As simple as it seems, the first step you must-take is to choose the car rental company. Choose a company Successful When renting a car will save you a lot of trouble and misunderstandings. Remember, for obvious enough, that renting a car is always so much to responsibility as an investment, which is why you should take your time choosing when to which the company you do business with, because, although not enough, you will therefore uncertain rights and certain obligations.
When you decide, you have to look in the first place you think that the company has made available select the car you want. Then, you should some do research and find out if the company you work for has some sort of agreement with a car rental company. Agreements, for certain, but does not very common seem so. Finally, do not forget to check the discounts offered by each car rental company, and seek to capitalize on those suits you. Now do not be shy, are to take advantage discounts, right?
The Requirements Review when Renting a Car:
Finished your approach to the issues of car Rentals Company, and even you already have one or the other in sight, you must meet certain requirements and prerequisites to be able to drive your dream. The known in advance will save you time and make you forget for a while that you are a beginner.
Remember it’s not your Car, Friend:
So, the main consider it necessary to know that the minimum age for drivers is 25 years, although this requirement may vary, down, in some cases up to 21 or 18 events. You see, different companies, different policies domestic.
Then you should know before renting a car you must-have a clean driving record. The car rental agencies are allowed to collate this information, the purpose of ensuring that the driver will bring not unnecessary problems.
Also learn about the issue of the return rental car, because returning some companies allow only at the site where you have caught, while others have different points of return, both in the same city and, even other countries.
Another important aspect is to consider the issue of gasoline, i.e., how much you will pay and how. Some companies allow you to withdraw the car with a full tank, while you have to return with a full tank.
July 31, 2011
Rent a Car
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In the era of low cost has made it easier and more frequent trips there is still lovers plan their holidays with the following car. It will be for the sake of stopping when you want it, you have more freedom to bring a little home, the Italians moving car are not so few. We therefore review the rules for travel in Europe without thinking, not only by car.
First, I remind you that a driver’s license issued in an EU country is valid throughout the EU. In some countries you must also bring with it the book of registration of their vehicle.
In any EU country travel, your car insurance policy will automatically provide the minimum cover required by law civil liability: The Green Paper is an international certificate of insurance that allows a vehicle to enter and travel in a foreign country being in compliance with the obligation to have RCA -liability insurance required in the country visited.
However, if you are covered against all risks you will need to make sure that the coverage extends to traveling in other countries. The form of an accident report of an incident CAI has value instead of all EU countries and Switzerland. The same rules regarding the use of safety belts that both the front and back of the vehicle, as it is banned in all EU countries to use the phone at the wheel.
The payment of tolls in operation in other countries such as Austria, France, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Hungary. As for the nearby Austria you will need to purchase and display a clearly visible mark on the vehicle toll purchased at all border crossings with Austria or at service stations and similar system for the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. If you decide to reach an EU country by air and then rent a car you remember that there are no age limits, which are not fixed at EU level, which can vary between 20 and 23 years.
Turn Europe is today much more simple: the single currency has simplified payments abroad and especially with the Treaty of Schengen borders have been abolished so that no control of documents and free movement for citizens of member states. The countries, who participate fully, are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, plus Iceland and Norway are not EU members.
The 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004 do not yet participate fully in Schengen: then you will need a passport or identity card valid for travel to those countries, including Ireland and the United Kingdom do so despite EU since 1973.
Of course it is always advisable and prudent as well as necessary if you travel with a non-type your boat, train or plane, have with them the identity card or passport, that if you go non-EU countries has the obligation of the stamp.
As for the money you remember that, although part of the EU Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia (until December 31, 2009), Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom, have its own currency.
Traveling can happen to need a doctor or a check in the hospital: as an EU citizen you are entitled to free health care or as the case by paying a ticket, mind you if you’re in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
Across Europe, the supply voltage of electrical equipment is 230 volts, with a frequency of 50Hz. In Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom have square three-pin sockets, while the other EU countries have taken the classic two-point round.
Finally, in any EU country to contact the emergency services there the same number: 112. Europe proves to be one united country even in times of need.
July 31, 2011
Rent a Car
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Rent a car to travel with his family during the holidays is an excellent option that offers the optimum cost-effectiveness, either in France or move abroad. In addition there are numerous offers available for the summer, especially to France and major European destinations.
Rule number one to get the best rate for car rental is to compare prices. Do your own market research on the web looking for prices to have a concrete idea of how much you should expect to spend for renting a car from a particular category and a specific destination. While doing your research, be sure to compare products and services with similar characteristics. If a car rental company offers you an all-inclusive rate, check what products and services that are actually included in the price and make sure you compare any rates include all these items.
Always rinse each of the points of your insurance contract prior to travel, even before the reservation. You should know exactly what type of coverage you receive and what the franchise to be paid in case of accident. If you think the amount is too high, ask if you can purchase additional insurance to cover franchising.
When hiring your car rental online, be sure to include extras such as satellite navigators or child seat at the time of booking, and not at the point of collection car rental. Many people forget to include the necessary extras, and often cannot get the same discount for purchasing online if requested at the vehicle collection point.
Always return the car in time and, ideally, with an hour and a half in advance to resolve any unforeseen. Since many rental rates are calculated on a daily basis, if you turn the car will be coming late in the time slot the following day and therefore will be charged an additional day. However, if you want to use the car for a longer period than indicated on your contract, promptly contact your car rental company to offer you provide a budget for the additional days.
Another smart way to reduce the cost of your car rental is to pay online in advance rather than at the point of collection, since many car rental companies offer significant discounts for customers who pay in advance.
Finally, one of the easiest ways to increase the cost of any rental car is pick up the vehicle with a full gas tank and empty handed. Many companies will deliver the car with a full gas tank and expect it back in the same conditions. Otherwise, you will have to fill up the fuel at high prices, so be sure to fill the gas tank before handing over the keys, or is ready to receive a large bill!
The rich French architecture can be seen when driving through the streets of France. The mixture of ancient architecture with modern times has done on the spot.
July 31, 2011
Car
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Auto Repair Insurance: Extended Warranties — Myths And Facts
by: Theodore Olson
How much insurance does one need? You have the big four: home, health, life, and car insurance. Then there’s a second category, which starts getting a little hazy with credit card insurance, purchase protection plans, fraud insurance and more. Extended warranties, also called extended service contracts, or extended service policies fall into the mist of this second category.
Extended warranties are supposed to pay (in full or in part) for specified repairs for a specific period of time after the expiration of the factory warranty. They can be a great value. They can also be a significant waste of money. It gets quite foggy in the details. What exactly is covered? How long? How much? Are there hidden charges?
There are numerous extended warranty companies and an even wider variety of warranty packages available: silver, gold, platinum, platinum-plus, and a host of other confidence-building words. What’s the best plan, and are extended service contracts worth the money? Extended warranties, like life insurance policies, are a numbers game. They’re a gamble. You pay $2500-$4500 for a 2 year, 100,000-mile protection plan and hope that you get at least that back in warranty repairs. The provider on the other hand, hopes to pay out less than it insured.
There are three major types of plan providers: The manufacturer, the dealership/third party, and third party providers. Each one has its assets and liabilities (discussed ahead).
What exactly is covered in an extended service plan? As mentioned above, what’s covered depends on the package purchased. Some plans only cover the power train: the mechanical components of the engine, transmission, and rear-end. Others cover the power train plus some electrical components. Still others cover electrical, advanced electrical, and computer components. Some only cover what’s listed in the contract. This is called a “Stated” or “Named” contract. This means that if it’s not stated, it’s not covered. Some cover bumper-to-bumper, similar to a manufacturer warranty, except trim pieces, upholstery, exterior components, cosmetic items, and a number of other exclusions.
Never before has the adage, “The devil’s in the details,” been so applicable.
Manufacturer Extended Plans:
Extended service plans from the manufacturer are the best in terms of coverage, convenience, and quality. Coverage is similar to the warranty while the vehicle was under its original factory warranty—with similar exclusions stated above. The billing is direct, meaning you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket, except for a deductible, if applicable. Quality is great too, as an extended warranty from the manufacturer will only use factory parts. They also have money, so there’s less risk of bankruptcy.
The down side of manufacturer extended service plans is that they are not cheap. These plans are generally the most expensive, require low mileage standards, and necessitate servicing your vehicle at a dealer for coverage.
Dealership/Third Party Plans:
Extended warranties from a dealership are actually from a third party insurer. These providers are “generally” reputable, but not always. However, if there is an issue (such as the warranty provider filing chapter 11, which is quite frequent in the extended service contract business), the dealer “may” step in to cover any repairs that would have been covered under the defunct plan. Also, claims are easier: billing is direct because the dealership has a working relationship with the provider, and there is usually agreement on price.
Some dealers set up their own “internal extended warranty,” which is honored by the selling dealer. This is rare, and should not be confused with a manufacturer warranty. Important: extended warranties are often passed off as “manufacturer” warranties. They’re not. This is a sales trick. Also be aware that there is a significant mark up, as the dealership is merely acting as the middle man. Lastly, extended warranty companies often go bankrupt without warning.
Third Party Plans:
These plans are called third party plans because they are outside the responsibility of the manufacturer and the service center performing the repairs (unless there’s a working relationship with a repair shop as stated above).
There are hundreds of extended service contract companies. Some have good reputations, some don’t. Third party plans are frequently sold by used car dealers. You may also receive an official looking notification in the mail stating that your warranty is expiring, and directing you to call an 800 number ASAP. This is a marketing tactic by an independent warranty provider. Despite the “official” appearance of the postcard or envelope, it’s not from the manufacturer. Manufacturers do not send out reminders about warranty expirations.
Given the wide-variety of third party plans there are numerous red flags.
1) Claims: Extended warranty companies will be quick to tell you that filing claims is easy, and that the service center gets paid immediately via a credit card. Thus, there’s no out-of-pocket expense for you. However, the warranty company can’t dictate a service center’s policies. Some service centers will only accept payment from the repair customer. Thus the burden is on the repair customer to fill out the forms, contact their warranty company, and await reimbursement via check, which can take 2-8 weeks.
It is the service center’s responsibility to contact the extended warranty company to let them know what’s wrong with the vehicle and to check coverage. This process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 20 days, sometimes more, depending on the degree of repairs and especially the amount. (See $1000 and Adjusters ahead)
Service centers and extended warranty companies frequently battle over the “fair” price of repairs. Many repair shops no longer negotiate, and just state the price, leaving the contract holder (i.e., the service customer) responsible for the difference.
2) Rentals: Rental coverage is a great benefit. However, there are fixed rates and time limits. In other words, the warranty company is not going to pay to have you drive a Mercedes-Benz, even if you drive a Benz. Rental allowances range from $25 to $35 per day. Also, rental coverage is based on the number of hours it takes to repair the vehicle, NOT how long your car has been at the shop.
3) $1000 and Adjusters: Repairs that approach $1000, or that require a significant amount of work, will be cause for the warranty company to call in an adjuster to confirm the diagnosis. This will delay the repairs by a minimum of 24-48 hours. It may cost you additional money when an adjuster is involved. You may be charged to have your vehicle pulled back into the shop for inspection, as well as for the time spent with the adjuster.
4) Tear-down Charges: In many cases, an extended warranty company will require that a particular component be taken apart for inspection to determine if the repair is indeed needed and covered. This puts the service customer in a very awkward position. The customer will have to authorize potentially hundreds of dollars of tear-down expense in the hopes that the repair is covered. If it’s not, the customer is out the hundreds in tear-down PLUS the actual repair. This does happen!
Common Myths:
1) “Extended warranties cover maintenance services and brake work.”
No. Extended warranty plans do not cover maintenance or wearable items. Brake pads and rotors are wearable parts. Maintenance such as coolant, brake and transmission flushes, tune-ups, services, oil changes, bulbs, wipers, and more are not covered.
2) “They told me it’s bumper-to-bumper, so it covers everything right?”
Wrong. Not even a factory warranty covers everything. When pitching the sale for the extended warranty, one is very often lead to believe that he or she will have nothing to worry about. This is just not true on so many levels. For example, if your bumper falls off it’s not covered.
3) “I don’t have to pay anything, right?”
Wrong. Despite the claims of 100% coverage, there are many factors involved. The labor rates, labor hours, diagnostic times, parts prices, and machine work are just a few items that often conflict with a service center’s policies. Some extended contracts only pay a maximum of $55 per hour, and only allow one half hour for diagnostic time. This is generally unacceptable to the service center, as labor rates have skyrocketed to over $100 per hour at many dealerships, and average $75 at local shops. Moreover, with the complexity of today’s vehicles, diagnostic time is at a premium. The customer pays the difference.
4) “If I have an expensive problem, I can just purchase an extended service contract.”
It’s unethical, but it’s an option many attempt. However, most service contracts have a minimum time requirement before the first claim can be filed: usually three months. Also, many contracts require that your vehicle be inspected by a service center to check for pre-existing conditions—just like life insurance.
5) “My contract lasts up to 100,000 miles.”
Only if the time limit doesn’t run out first. All extended warranty plans have a time limit. For example, a typical contract will state that the vehicle is covered for two years or 100,000 miles, which ever comes first. During the sales pitch, however, the emphasis will be on the 100,000 miles, not the time.
6) “If my car breaks, it gets fixed like new.”
Actually, depending on the contract, an extended warranty company can insist on installing remanufactured or even used parts.
Items commonly not covered by extended warranties:
• Any component with a pre-existing condition
• Any component related to a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB)
• Many components that has been updated by the manufacturer
• Extra components necessary “due to manufacturer updates” to complete the repair
• Trim pieces: molding, cup holders, dashboard, console, body parts, glass
• Many accessories: radios, DVD players, TVs
• Many expensive electronics: climate control units, navigation assemblies
Service contract positives:
Some service contracts are transferable, and may thus increase the resale value of a vehicle. Many come with trip interruption reimbursement, towing and 24-hour road side. Some plans can also be financed, or have E-Z Pay Plans. Others offer a money-back guarantee.
What should you do?
You’ll get lots of advice about doing the research, comparing plans, and reading the fine print. This is all sound advice. But what about doing the math?
Let’s say a plan costs $2500 for 2 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. To break even you’ll need a minimum of $1250 per year in covered repairs, excluding regular maintenance. Remember covered is the vital word here.
Another way to break it down is to anticipate having to pay $104.17 per month over the next two years in “covered” repairs. Do you want to take that bet?
What could happen?
You could double your money or more in repair work. You could conceivably get a new engine and transmission (or used ones anyway). You could also easily spend $2500 for a service contract, and still have to pay another $2500 for repairs, which for a variety of reasons, were not covered under your plan. Now you’re out $5000.
Alternatively, you could keep the initial $2500. In many ways all an extended warranty does is prepay for repairs. You could stick the money in the bank and collect interest. Then you could withdraw the money for repairs as needed.
Another consideration that’s rarely discussed is the cause of the problems. Many car repairs problems are the result of wear and tear, neglected maintenance, physical damage, or acts of God—such as flood damage. None of this is covered. The gamble only covers failed components.
If the vehicle you’re driving does cost $2500 to $4500 in repairs due to outright failed components, is it a vehicle you even want to consider keeping? A vehicle that needs this kind of repair work due to mechanical, electrical, or computer failures may not be worth it. The $2500-$4500 would be better spent on an upgrade to a quality vehicle rather than insuring a lemon.
There’s no question that auto repair is expensive, and even quality cars break from time to time. But do they breakdown to the tune of $2500-$4500? That’s a hefty bet on a “possibility.”
Terence O’Hara from the Washington Post makes an excellent assessment about extended warranties in general. He writes:
…extended warranties play upon a basic human trait to avoid loss, even if it means sacrificing a possible future gain…the gain is all the other things of value that a consumer could buy with the money that was spent on a warranty
What’s the best plan?
Money in your bank account!
About The Author
Theodore P. Olson (Ted) holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry. RepairTrust Fair http://www.repairtrust.com/
July 31, 2011
Car
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What does Roadside Assistance Mean To Me?
By: Mark Flanighan
Well I know many have different names for roadside assistance such as breakdown cover, breakdown recovery services or even breakdown insurance, but roadside assistance to me is when a garage or national service provider calls out to my stricken car and tries to repair it by the roadside.
By the roadside means there and then, not taking it back to the garage to look under the car to charge me more money, but someone whose whole objective is to get the car safe enough to get me and my family back on the road again.Of course I do accept there are repairs that cannot be done on the roadside and that assistance in this instance would be to arranged a recovery vehicle or tow me to the nearest garage that can help me. This happened once in Wales many years ago, when having a roadside assistance policy with eth RAC, they attended but established that the issue was with the brakes, and they will not repair brakes at the roadside, it must be done with correct tools and under more professional circumstances.
I can remember back then being annoyed and wanting to drive myself a bit further to my destination so I could look at them myself and decide if I could save a few pounds, but I was told they would not let me as the car was unsafe and they had to consider other road users. I am a bit older and wiser now and now know this was the right decision, even if it cost me some more money at the time.
Of course roadside assistance is a breakdown insurance policy and does not give you full protection should you breakdown. Full protection would include recovery of vehicle and passengers to a location of your choice anywhere in mainland UK. Some extended policies will also give you cash for train fares or even accommodation id the breakdown did not coincide with recovery of your car.
However roadside assistance policies tend to be the ones advertised on TV, at the lowest price, to encourage you to take out a policy with them. You need to be careful to be sure that roadside assistance only will cover you for the driving you do in normal life and that a more expensive but correct option is not really what you need.
Knowing who will call out to you may also be important. In my case it was the local garage working a part of the network from the national company. In the end I did not feel I got good service as it took 3 days to repair a simple brake job. The RAC did refund me the money for parts, but not all. Had a RAC patrolman attended, I don’t think I would have had any bad service at all. So to choose a roadside assistance policy, consider if the breakdown insurance company will send dedicated employed professionals or a local garage. If it is a local garage, the service you get may be different in every case, so beware.
Mark is webmaster for Breakdown Insurance and Roadside Assistance
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Pleasure or Necessity, events or curiosity, the truth is that you have time to start thinking about renting a car. We may never have done before, can you do it too often, the important thing is to never lose sight of some tips to consider and take into account before deciding to finally rent it.
