Car Rental Charges Explained By Industry Insider…

Prevent additional credit card charges on car rental.

First of all, you must understand how the total price you pay is calculated. Everything starts with the daily base rate this is the rate you pay for the daily use of the car excluding all other charges. It doesnt mean that this is the price you pay!

Instead, you may find your total bill is double of that of the base rate. Extra mandatory charges like GST, airport location surcharges, administration fees, vehicle registration fees are all part of the total bill given to you at the rental counter. I cant stress enough the importance of getting a bill at the end of your rental, but this is another story. So, by the time all the extra charges are added onto your bill, you may find yourself paying almost double that seductive base rate.

To give you an example, a friend of mine rented a car in Australia with a base rate around $177 for four days. The final total? Including a vehicle registration fee, admin fee, airport location surcharge, a surcharge for not filling the gas tank, and a GST on top of all those other charges, my friend paid about $358 – more than a 100 percent increase over the base rate.

So how can you avoid nasty surprises? Below you can find a list of standard surcharges you’re most likely to find at most car rental locations in Australia, as well as some tips for your next trip to the car rental counter.

Airport and GST Surcharges

The majority of car rental transactions happen at the airports around the country. Airport surcharge is something that car rental supplier has no control over and it varies considerably from one airport to another. Therefore, when you pick the car up from the airport you should expect to pay between 3 and 18 percent extra on top of other charges. Unfortunately, you can’t avoid paying GST, which can will add 10 percent. However, if your car rental bill amounts to over $300 and you leave the country within 30 days after returning the car, you may claim GST component of your car rental at the airport.

However, you can avoid the airport charges – such as airport location surcharge fees by picking up and dropping off your car at an off-airport location. Be sure to weigh the possible inconvenience and the price of any additional transportation against the concession fees charged by the airport location – which can be between 3 and 18 percent of your total price.

The bottom line? If you don’t want to pay the airport location surcharge, check out your rental options downtown.

Insurance

Your rental car comes with a standard insurance liability of between $2900 and $3300 depending on a car rental supplier. This liability can be further reduced by paying an extra daily charge of between $25 and $27. However, since the price of insurance is almost half of what you pay for you car, I recommend that you check your credit card/travel/car insurance to make sure it doesnt cover you in a rental car.

Gasoline Charges

For your convenience most car rental companies provide cars with a full tank of fuel, however, be assured that if you dont return the car with a full tank you will pay a higher price for petrol used to fill up the empty tank. However, most car rental companies now offer the option of purchasing a full tank of gas when you first take the car, enabling you to return the car with as much or as little fuel as you wish.

Please note that there is no refund for unused fuel, so its likely youll be paying a little extra for the convenience of skipping the trip to the gas station.

Drop-Off Charges

An extra fee is usually charged if a car is returned to a different location than where it was picked up. This fee varies by location; in some instances there is no charge, while you could pay $300 or more for cross-country drop-offs. However, some companies do not require a charge when dropping off in-state at many Queensland and New South Wales locations.

The 24-Hour Clock

Car rental industry operates on a 24-hour clock rate. However, there is also a 59-minute grace period before hourly charges apply. To give you an example, if you rent a car at 12:00pm on Tuesday and return it by 12:59pm on Wednesday, you will be charged for one day only. However, if you return the car after 27 hours (in this case after 15:00) you’ll then be charged for the full extra day. Hourly charges apply between 25-27 hours.

Early Returns

When you rent a car for a particular number of days, you sign a sale contract for that period. So, just like with any other contracts out there, if you break your contract you must pay cancellation fees. Since, car rental companies set their rates based on the rental period, the longer you keep the car the cheaper the daily base rate. If you managed to reserve a car for 7 days using one of these hot weekly specials and then decide to bring the car two days earlier, you might get charged at a default daily rate and your total car rental charge for 5 days might end up costing you more than if you kept the car for 7 days. Therefore, please dont forget to ask a car rental agent if you pay different daily rate for earlier returns.

Mileage

Most car rental companies offer unlimited mileage in metropolitan areas, including all major capital cities (with an exception of Northern Territory) and some tourist destinations. I would suggest checking your contract prior to signing it as it clearly displays whether you get unlimited kilometres or not. Keep in mind though that smaller car rental companies usually charge mileage if you exceed a given daily km quota. In addition some “hot” special rates may not include unlimited mileage, so be sure to check before you sign a rental agreement.

Vehicle Registration Fees

Varying Rates and Peak Season Surcharges

Here is a tip that will potentially can save you hundreds of dollars. Book in advance!
Rental car companies’ rates vary a great deal from city to city, and sometimes even within the same city. Make sure to shop around. Be aware that you may pay a specific surcharge for traveling at a “peak” time, e.g. School and Public Holidays, Major events in your city, etc.

Age Penalties

Due to the insurance limitations, if you’re under 25, you may have to pay an additional fee, usually about $25 per day. Those companies who will rent to drivers under 21 often charge much steeper surcharges. Internationally, you’ll not only see penalties for underage drivers but also for older ones — those over 70 may have to pay extra (if they’re able to rent at all).

Additional Drivers

Adding more than one driver to your rental agreement often carries a surcharge, anywhere between $7 and $25 per day. Note that some companies, like Avis and Budget, will allow the renter’s spouse or life partner to drive the vehicle for no extra charge — so if both partners are planning to take the wheel, consider renting from one of these providers.

Frequent Flier Fees

Car rental companies often charge a small fee when you request frequent flier miles for your rental. The fee varies by airline, and can range anywhere from a few cents to $2 a day.

Extras

There may also be additional charges for things you had not considered, like infant and child seat rentals, roof racks and other extras. These could run you anywhere from $5 to $25 or more per day, depending on where you rent.

Httpwww.car-games.pk Intro

Playing games is one of the most tempting passions of boys and girls, no matter of any age. It not only provides entertainment but also lightens up the mood. However, car games in any case take the lead in boys. Boys love to be the men of action and these games allow them to test their nerves and the control they have on them. Playing car games online is not only loaded with fun but also lets the player serve their temptations to the fullest. One big advantage of online car games is that they do not require any space on your computer and can be played any time of the day with minimal resources. You do not need heavy duty RAM or high speed internet to stream the games on your device. There are many car games that you can find on the internet, but if you are looking for one stop where all you racing temptations can come alive, this is the place for you. With hundred of free car games loaded available for you, and hundreds of more being made available to you, you will never be able to leave this site. The car games on this site have been categorized according to the type of their play. There are many car games for boys that require the player to race the time to the finish line before the time goes up and compete other car as well. Then there are car games that only require the player to complete the laps and see for themselves where they rank compared to thousands of other player on the internet. You will also love to play the car games that are based on some of the latest movies like the drifting ones. If you have seen the car drifting movies then you already know what you have to do in such games. These car games are absolutely free to play and you can play any number of games you want and play them unlimited number of times. The online car games available at this site will not only indulge you but also entertain you and satiate your thirst for car games.

Keep your Kids Busy in the Car Using 4G Internet

If you have teenage kids you know that they can get moody and bored easily, especially in car rides. With 4G internet on their cell phone they will have something to entertain them with on car rides, so you do not have to hear any more complaining or fighting.

Using WiMax technology, your kids’ cell phones can have 4G internet, which provides them with a constant and clear internet connection. As long as your city is covered, your phones and laptops will have an internet connection no matter where you go. Your cell phone will automatically pick up the connection. Your computer just needs your mobile air card, which you can easily plug in. Imagine how great this will be for your moody teenagers and car rides.

If your car rides with the family involve your kids fighting, complaining, or being moody, you probably do not look forward to going anywhere. They do not like to read, they are too cool to have a conversation with their parents, and they get impatient asking when you are going to arrive. With 4G internet on their cell phone, the car rides will fly by and you will not hear a bit of complaining or attitude from the back seats.

With a constant internet connection, there is so much to take advantage of. Whether it is on a cell phone or a laptop, there is a lot to do. Your kids can communicate with their friends, either through e-mail or through social websites such as Facebook and Twitter. They can play games either by themselves or against people from across the world. They can download and listen to their favorite songs, or download and watch movies. With headphones they do not have to worry about disrupting the rest of the car. They can do research and read articles on their various interests, and look at pictures.

Besides just having fun, they can also be productive. They can take advantage of their constant internet connection to do school work. With a laptop they can write papers and do the research that they need to, right from the car. They can search the web and type away. If they have questions, they can e-mail their teachers or classmates. This way they can have fun once they get out of the car and not worry about schoolwork getting in the way. Since you are in the car with them you can get involved by helping and supporting them with their work. Whichever parent or sibling is not driving can help them research, word their sentences, and can even read over the paper to correct any errors.

The possibilities are endless. You can take advantage of this technology anywhere, not just in the car. Imagine being connected in the park, in a restaurant, or at the doctor’s office. Your kids will always be entertained and will also be able to get work done from anywhere. No more excuses about not having time to do their homework!

With Clearwire internet in the car your kids will not complain. Click Here for 4g wireless internet deals and more information.

Some Car Stereo Improvement Ideas

A car stereo is a very important factor for the enjoyment of driving a car. You can enjoy your drive that much more if you have a good stereo in your car. Most car stereos have come a long way in terms of improvement in design and quality. The car stereos of today have the best of basic facilities apart from high-end technologies that give the listener an added advantage. In this article you will learn about some car stereo improvement ideas.

In the past, when car stereos were new to the market, not much was available in terms of technology nor design nor additional facilities. They were mostly big in size, making them bulky and difficult to use. Besides they also lacked some of the important features, which are generally available today. With the passing of time, more and more new companies have started manufacturing sleeker and better quality car stereos.

A good car stereo essentially needs to have a good sound quality. When we say ‘good sound quality’ we mean a system which has a good balance of bass and treble. Sub woofers are also very important for a car speaker. Subwoofers are the gadgets that actually deliver the right sound.

The first step in any attempt to improve your car stereo is to improve the sound quality of your car stereo. For doing this you primarily need to get yourself some good quality speakers.

Finding a good quality speaker is a tough job. You need to do a bit of research, so that you don’t buy the wrong type. There are of course lots of companies these days, which sell good car speakers. It would of course be better for you if you go for a reputed brand. A reputed brand will help you in many ways in making the right choice. As these big brands have a reputation to maintain, they will not let you down by selling you a doubtful material. These brands will provide you speakers which have good features.

It is always important to have some extra features in your car audio system. It enhances the quality of music and gives more features and facilities. The more advanced features you have the less the need to change your system every now and then.

While buying the speakers, check them properly. Check how the speaker is delivering the treble and bass portion of music. It is very important to notice whether there is any feedback happening or not. If you find even a little bit of feedback in the sound, immediately reject it. Always remember, good sound means a clear and proper sound. A good sound system is one in which you can distinctly follow all the tunes, even the musical notes. The sound must not seem to be jumbled up.

Subwoofers are also very important. Always use good quality subwoofers. Do not take this instrument very lightly. It is very important for the sound. Usually we think that car stereo improvement is restricted to the improvement of the sound system. This is not true though; ideas car stereo improvement should include the improving of every bit of your stereo system.

One must also try and improve the looks of your car stereo. Do not forget that a good quality car stereo can enhance the looks of your car also. Always buy sleek and trendy looking car stereos. It will give a lovely feel and smart look to the interior of your car.

Lastly, when you are scouting for car stereos improvement ideas; always look for ideas that will help you in taking good care of your stereo. This is a very important part of improving your car audio system. The reason is simple. If you take good care of the system, the good sound will be maintained for a long time. This also means that you will not have to repair the stereo for a long time.

Impound Cars For Sale In Michigan – How To Find One

You must have read the advertisement impound cars for sale in Michigan. Indeed, if you are looking for second hand cars, Michigan is one place you can find the best deals.

In Michigan, impounded cars for sale are taken either by the bank or the police usually because their owners have failed to settle their mortgage dues or they may have failed to pay their taxes with the government. Third party groups then hold auctions in Michigan to sell impounded cars.

Such being the case, impounded cars for sale in Michigan are offered at big discounts not because they are no longer road worthy. In fact, you will find that most of these impounded cars are actually luxury cars. So, really, if you have always been dreaming of buying a luxury car, going to car auctions in Michigan can make your dream come true.

Remember, though, that car auctions like these are usually packed with people having the same big dreams as you. In order to get an edge over them, you must know the schedules of car auctions in Michigan. You can check your local newspaper from time to time for announcements of car auctions, but the best source of information is found online. Although coming in early to these auctions does not guarantee your winning, it nonetheless gives you the opportunity to keep the ball rolling, so to speak.

There are key points to remember when going to car auctions of impounded cars for sale in Michigan. One is that the bid price can go way up high, so dont get all too excited thinking that you will eventually drive the car home because you may only get frustrated when somebody else will outbid you.

Do not bid more than you can actually afford. Sure, going to car auctions can save you a lot of money, but you must set a ceiling as to how much you are willing to spend for your dream car because you can end up spending a lot more than what you are prepared to spend.

It may also be necessary to attend pre-bid events. These are usually conducted prior to the actual bidding to give interested bidders a chance to inspect the car thoroughly. If you do not have a keen eye for this kind of thing, you can always bring a mechanic with you or someone else who can be able to tell you if the car is worth the price you are willing to bid for.

My site will show you more tips on how to own your dream car from impounded cars for sale in Michigan.