Having the ability to rent a car is a great advantage if you’re staying in town for a day or two or your primary car is in the shop. However, with these great opportunities comes great risks. After all, they have your credit card on file. One of the most common things people ask is what would happen in the event that they wreck their rental. The following discussion goes over the best way to approach this type of situation.
Contact Authorities
One of the first things you must do after making sure that everyone is safe and uninjured is to call the authorities. The other driver might want to simply pay you off, but accepting this would be a huge mistake. Not only can you find yourself in deep legal problems, but you could also end up having to pay for the rental. Always make sure that the authorities are called in order to gather the appropriate documents for your insurance company as well as the rental company.
Stay Calm
When you get into an auto accident, it is natural to begin to feel a mixture of negative emotions. Anger, frustration and fear may all start bubbling up inside you, but this is not the best way to handle the situation. For everyone’s safety, make sure that you don’t get upset. Anger won’t help your cause, and it may make things even worse. Before you start interacting with the other driver or the authorities, make sure to take a few deep breaths and remain calm.
Call Your Rental Company
Every rental vehicle will have an emergency number that you can call to gather further information. This can be found in your rental documents. Depending on the rental company, it may even be on a windshield sticker. Make sure to request a list of things they want you to do. This is very important because it shows on record that you were attempting to follow the rules. Ask questions that include what you should do with the car. If you can drive it, where should you take it? Lastly, always get your customer representative’s name and number as well as the time of day you spoke to them.
Getting into a wreck can be frustrating and scary. The level of stress is further heightened when you’re driving a rental car. If you ever find yourself in a situation such as this, remember the practical suggestions outlined here.
Here’s another article you might like: 3 Safety Tips for Your Next Road Trip
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