When renting a motor vehicle, it is vital that you take out car insurance. Most car hire companies include the insurance in the fixed fee, thus giving you no choice but to insure the vehicle. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because should the vehicle be insured it is protected may anything go wrong whilst you are using it.
If you are renting a car, it usually means that you are in an unfamiliar environment, driving on unfamiliar roads. When trying to navigate, and find your way around, it is safe to say that you are not focusing 100% of your attention on your driving skills. This puts you at a greater risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Unfortunately car accidents are expensive, and so are holidays. It would be horrible to have to pay out of your own pocket for a car accident whilst on holiday because you did not take out insurance on your rental car. There are also other factors to take into consideration, such as the fact that you may not be completely aware of the dangers crime in a certain area poses to your hired vehicle. Because you are not completely knowledgeable of the area, you may not know just how dangerous the place you are parking your hired car in really is. Many cities also have hi-jack hot spots and other places where car theft is more likely to occur.
Most car hire companies include an insurance fee in their fixed price. This may make their fee more expensive, but it is not a risk they are willing to take. Some people may be angered at having to pay an insurance cost without their consent, but this is not something most car hire companies are willing to budge on. Once you have accustomed yourself to the notion that you will be paying an insurance fee included in your car hire fee, it is wise to familiarize yourself with the kind of cover you will be receiving.
When the insurance fee is included in the car hire cost, it will usually be standard cover, which means that should you be involved in a motor vehicle accident, the rental car and the other car will be covered. If you are not comfortable with such a simple cover on your hired car, you can look into paying more for more comprehensive cover. Comprehensive cover options, in addition to protecting your vehicle against damage, can include cover against theft, hijacking, fire and injuries to parties involved, including yourself. There is a range of different cover options for you to look into, even insurance that will pay out for trauma counseling and hospital fees should anyone be injured.
When going on holiday, insurance is almost certainly the last thing you would think about when wondering how to best enjoy yourself. Unfortunately, accidents and problems can happen at anytime, and anyplace. It is best to ensure that you are protected should anything go wrong, because a nagging worry will do no good for your peace of mind, and that is the main reason we go on holiday - for peace.
Andries Malan is the owner of http://www.quantisure.co.za, a website that offers comparative quotes for the cost conscious car insurance quotes shopper in South Africa. |
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