Eminently Eve
Hiring a vehicle can be quite intimidating especially because it’s not something that has always been common to us. Partnering with one local car rental really helped me to have insight into what happens behind the scenes – which I can now share with you. One thing I know is that a knowledgeable person is a confident person. Just having the knowledge on how something works or what to expect encourages you to do some things that you were always dreading to do. So below is a list of all the things that I believe you need to be aware of when deciding to hire a vehicle:
1. Reputation of the car rental company
Beyond just seeing adverts from that car rental, it is important to dig deeper and see what others are saying about the company. Twenty first century has really made that easy for us due to social media platforms. These platforms and google now allow clients to write down their opinions of any company. Of course some companies do not display their reviews. Usually, that is a red flag, so if you choose a company like that, proceed with caution.
2. Insurance cover of the vehicle you’re hiring
It is strongly advisable that you hire a vehicle with full insurance coverage. No one plans to get involved in an accident. It happens. It is therefore important that you know that you are covered in times like those. You also need to be aware that some car rental companies will tell you that they have “full vehicle coverage insurance” but when you are now signing the vehicle hire contract, if you read it carefully, you will see that there are certain types of accidents that they do not cover. For example, if a tree falls on the vehicle while you’re not even in the car, or if you get involved in an accident without a third party.
These types of accidents are not covered by many companies so double check, and triple check on that one. Once you have signed a contract, you will be held liable for whatever you would have signed for. Ignorance has no defense in the courts of law. Of course even those on the proper full coverage insurance will require you to pay 10% of the costs – this is just the standard requirement with most insurance companies in the country (if not all). To find more about the different insurances that a full coverage one covers, check out this link.
3. Rates
Rates are actually not as straight forward as just going for the company which is the cheapest. It is important to understand fully what the full offers are. There are certain things that you should never compromise on, for example, the insurance. As they say, “cheap things are expensive“. However, you should not just go for the most expensive assuming that their offers are also the best. You might find out that, even though their rates are high, their services actually miss some crucial aspects. So you need to find a balance between affordable and safe.
4. Condition of the vehicle
A company may be registered with an appealing social media profile, however, this does not mean that they have everything in order. It simply means that they have their marketing on point. So you need to be highly alert and ask for things like the service history of the vehicle that you are wanting to get, i.e. when was it last serviced, when is it due for its next service? A company with its house in order, should be only happy to share this information with you. It is your life at stake here.
5. Checklist
Do not brush aside the checklist if you are offered one and most certainly ask for one if it is not offered. If there is anything on the checklist that you do not understand, ask! Never make the mistake of leaving with a vehicle or without going through a checklist or signing a checklist that you actually haven’t gone through. There are “con-companies” out there, waiting to blame you for a fault on a vehicle which they know fully well that it was there before you took the car, but because you signed the documents that stated that the vehicle was in order when you took it, you will then become liable. This is mostly common with companies that do not have full insurance coverage though. So make sure to check that first.
Do also check that radio license and ZINARA road tax are valid and displayed.
6. Other safety precautions
A company rental with GPS Trackers will come in really handy for you. If you get into any trouble, they will know exactly where you are and be able to send help. Also check that the vehicle has a functioning fire extinguisher (the dial must register in the Green), triangles, reflective vests etc.
The process of hiring a vehicle at most car rental companies in Zimbabwe
1. Required documents
a) Driver’s license – The person hiring the vehicle must have a recognized and valid driver’s license in Zimbabwe. Only the person(s) who was registered when hiring the vehicle will be responsible for the vehicle. No persons without the required documents should be given the vehicle to drive.
b) National Identity Card/ Valid passport – you will need to bring your national ID or valid passport to support the information on your driver’s license.
2. Making your booking
For most companies bookings are made either via a phone call, email, online or WhatsApp. There are 3 types of fees you pay which include the rate of the vehicle per day (24hours), the mileage fee and a refundable deposit (which will be given back to you if you return the vehicle in good condition.
3. Collecting the vehicle
When you go to collect the vehicle, you should ask to be shown will all its licenses which are up to date i.e. radio license and ZINARA. Try to hire a vehicle which is on full coverage insurance (a combination of the three insurances namely liability, collision and comprehensive. You can read more on the meaning of these insurances on this link. You should also be provided with a checklist to make sure that everything is in order. Feel free to check any part of the vehicle that you wish to check with them before leaving with the vehicle.
4. Extra safety
To ensure that you have peace of mind while on your trip, try to hire a vehicle that is equipped with GPS trackers, which allow you to be found quicker in case of an accidents or other similar situations.
