Tips When Renting a Car

You might need to rent a car when going out on trips. Here are some tips when renting a car.

There are many cases when we need to rent a car. If we go abroad, we can’t bring our own cars with us. If we want to drive on our own in our destination, we might opt to rent a car there instead of taking public rides.

Renting a car may be the best option when traveling but it can also lead to some complications like sorting out the insurance options that you may need or finding the best deals. There are many rent-a-car companies anywhere we go. The huge number, although convenient to some, may lead us to a lot of trouble just by finding the best car rental offer, without endangering your security and safety.

Thus, there are various ways on how to save money, simply by understanding the rental agreement as well as avoiding any possible problems with the rent-a-car company.

When choosing the right car to rent, carefully think about the type of car you’ll need for your trip. If you want to save on gas and rental rates, look for the smallest and most practical model. If you are traveling with your children, consider an SUV or a big Sedan. Always remember that the size of the car is not the only thing to consider when renting a car. Furthermore, there are now environment-friendly cars that are available for rentals.

If you prefer a car with an automatic transmission, be sure to inform the car rental company about it because some countries have more manual cars as compared to the automatic ones. Moreover, check if the company offers extra things that you may want or need such as a car seat, GPS system or ski racks.

When booking your rental, always consider the length of time you will need the car. If you need a car for less than a week, it is best to deal with a major car rental company such as Avis, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, National, Thrifty, Hertz or Dollar. If you’ll travel for more than a week, the best rates are in local rental companies especially car dealers. However, be extra careful when dealing with local companies for they may lack services or insurances in times of accidents unlike major companies.

In terms of discounts, you can ask about it with major national associations, regular flier programs as well as credit card offers. If the company you are employed with regularly rents cars, you may get a negotiated discount.

If you are trying to book online, be sure to check for coupon codes or promotion codes to put into the company’s booking engine. All you have to do is put in the companies name followed by the promotion or coupon code into the search field. Doing so will help you save from 5 to 20 percent of the regular rental rate.

Car rental companies always have their own terms and conditions. When making a booking or reservation, especially online, read them carefully before you confirm anything. Be sure that you fully understand everything before signing. Check also if there are incurred penalties for not showing up on the said day as well as if there are additional fees if you want a driver.

Getting Your Bike Ready For a Road Trip

Any successful and safe trip demands proper planning. Similarly, the success of your plan to go touring with your bike would depend on how well you have planned such a trip. This is because motorbikes are machines. At any point, without enough preparation, everything about it can go wrong. You need to gear it up for a long trip to minimize road hassles and its risk to cause accidents due to failure. So whether or not you are planning for a short weekend ride or a long touring period, you need to make sure that everything about your ride is in order. Also, you need to pack some 'emergency' kits so you will be ready to handle all possible problems along the way.

The opportunity to hit the open road is surely a thrilling experience. The spontaneity of such a trip could convince you to play everything by the ear. However, do not get easily convinced to take everything to chance. Take charge of the important details of your trip to make sure that you get to your destination, happy and fulfilled, rather than worn and frustrated by road hassles due to road and engine problems.

Prior to leaving for your trip, consider having your bike checked by a qualified technician. This way, all torn and worn belts and other components will be replaced ahead of time, before failure. Submit your bike for a tune-up, have all of its fluids checked to ensure smooth performance. Have the brakes, clutch and throttle cables checked, adjusted, and lubricated if necessary. Vital fluids such as oil, brake fluid and coolant needs to be kept at its normal level to make sure that no untimely engine failure or overheating will ruin your trip.

Now, we come to the part of listing the things that you need to bring on your trip. Bringing tools for basic repairs is important so you can easily manage basic maintenance and roadside repairs. Also, you need to constantly bring drinking water, not only for you but also for your motorbike. Long trips make your bike's engine demand at least a bottle of water in every stretch of miles. Also, bring with you your cell phone so you can call for help or inform your family if something comes up. If it happened that you are planning to cross state or national borders, make sure that you are familiar with the rules and laws observed in your destination, such as helmet law or lane splitting, to avoid problems.

You have to remember that your motorbike is not as flexible as your car because of the limitations posed by your bike. Aside from having limited space for storage, it leaves you consistently exposed to elements throughout the trip. Make sure that you pack everything that you need. Make sure that you have enough protection against weather elements such as rain or wind. Pack some warm clothes. Pack enough food for you to get to your target pit stops. Aside from getting your bike checked, you also have to prepare your body and your mind to fully enjoy such an adventure.

Top 5 Reasons You Should Ride Instead of Drive

Choosing to ride a motorcycle over driving a car is one way to making a relevant statement. To those who are more driven by looks, anyone can look great on a motorcycle, with the right jacket and helmet. To those who are driven more on the economical side of it, a motorbike is chosen for it is less expensive to maintain. In so many ways, it spices up your daily commutes with a sense of adventure and a whole lot more.

Less gas. When it comes to today's modes of transportation, fuel efficiency is the name of the game. A hybrid can clock a maximum of 63 miles per gallon of fuel. However, on the average, a motorcycle can give you of a 50-mile ride to a maximum of 80-mile per gallon of fuel. This explains the increasing demand for fuel-efficient motorbikes. Surely, there are also motorcycle models that are much less fuel efficient, but they aren't selling well. Fuel-efficient motorbikes generally require minimal maintenance. Each component is bound to last longer since the engine produces less of the noxious gases, which are actually by-products of inefficient combustion.

Affordable. A motorbike is more affordable in overall terms of value. Compared to cars, motorbikes operate way cleaner than any other hybrid car engines, which results to minimal maintenance requirements. This means that each motorcycle part enjoys longer service life and less frequent replacement than car parts. In keeping all variables constant, motorcycle insurance is also much cheaper than car insurance. One great thing about riding is that it that they are lighter than cars, which means that they have no humungous loads to carry forward on its two wheels. So for those who are BIG about speeding, a motorcycle can give you a riding experience like no other. Also, motorcycles offer more affordable options for a family vehicle; that is if you have a small family.

Thrill. Nothing compares to the excitement of riding a motorbike. The incredible thrill of riding through the open air makes the travel worthwhile. It makes you feel like flying. Compared to driving cars, it riding gives keeps you more in control with your stance in the road. Adrenalin junkie or not, such an experience is worth taking. To many riders, it is agreed that riding a motorcycle makes you experience a ride like no other and feel alive unlike ever before.

Attraction. Admit it. A man needs to feel dominant at times. Whenever he rides a motorcycle, that's when he feels most masculine. Regardless of how you look, the rugged appeal of a man in riding jacket and helmet cannot be denied. Anyone who suits up in a tasteful riding gear looks and feels ten times more handsome than he actually is. Perhaps it has something to do with the confidence that riding gives. Perhaps it has to do with the masculine impression that motorbike riders have displayed for years. Watch how the ladies swoon as you pick up your girl right from work? Compare that to the bland and empty glances that people give to men driving cars.

Effective traffic-beater. Time never stops even when you unfortunately get stuck in the traffic on your way to a big office meeting. Riding is sure a practical solution to getting to places on time. Given that they occupy less of the space occupied by cars, it easily fits and sneaks through narrow streets and shortcuts. This seems to prove that riding is the most practical way to go to and from work daily.

3 Things to Check When Your Car Won't Start

When you turn your key in the ignition and your car won't start, a feeling of dread shoots through your mind. After all, there are dozens of things that might prevent your engine from turning over. Identifying the problem can easily become a frustrating mystery. In order to effectively troubleshoot the issue, you'll need to have a basic understanding with regard to what happens between your ignition and the motor. There are a lot of parts along the line and any one of them can cause a glitch.

In this article, I'll provide a short list of three things you should check when your engine fails to roar to life.

#1 - Battery

Most non-starting problems are caused by the battery. Sometimes, the poles become corroded and the connection suffers. Other times, the battery drains to the point at which it doesn't carry a sufficient charge to turn the engine. In some cases, it dies completely.

If you notice corrosion on the poles, use a battery cleaner to remove it. If, after cleaning the poles, you're still unable to turn the motor, it's likely that your battery is drained or dead. Unless you have a tester with which to gauge the amperage, jump start your vehicle. You can be reasonably confident that if it starts immediately, you need a new battery.

#2 - Ignition Switch

Bad ignition switches don't happen nearly as often as dead batteries, but they do malfunction and they're easy to check. To be certain that your switch is working properly, turn your key so that your car is "on" (as opposed to the "starting" position). Then, look at your dashboard. If your ignition switch is working, you'll see warning indicators appear on the dash. This is normal. Now, turn the key further (to "start"). The warning indicators should disappear.

You can also test the switch by turning your headlights on prior to starting your vehicle. If, when you try to crank the engine, the lamps do not dim, your switch is bad.

#3 - Starter Connection

You won't be able to easily test whether your starter is working properly, but you can test the connection. In the same way that batteries can accumulate corrosion, so too, can your vehicle's starter. When this happens, it reduces the integrity of the connection and can prevent your motor from cranking. If there is no corrosion, but you still suspect that your starter is causing the issue, you can use a circuit tester to test the connection.

Cars, trucks, and SUVs continue to leave us stranded due to faulty connections or failing parts. The good news is that your vehicle isn't as mysterious as you might think. While there are many components under the hood that can prevent your engine from turning over, most problems are associated with the battery, ignition switch, and starter. Armed with a circuit tester, jumper cables, and a friend, you'll often be able to fix the problem without taking your car to a repair shop.

Димитар Стојанов

Димитар Стојанов, 08646