Car rentals are a great way to get around when vacationing or working in a different city, or when your personal vehicle is in the shop. With that being said, sliding behind the wheel of an unfamiliar vehicle can be a dangerous undertaking. Stay safe during your car rental travels with these tips.
Book Early and Review Safety Features
Book early. One benefit of booking your car rental early is selection. Leave it to the last minute and you could end up with a manual transmission when all you've ever driven is an automatic. Review safety features. Before you speed off, take time to familiarize yourself with the vehicle's layout. Make sure you know:
- Where the windshield wiper controls are located
- How to operate the internal defrost
- Where the hazard lights switch is located
- How to trigger your high beams and fog lights
- Where the gas hatch release is and which side it's on
Test Brakes and Steering
Test your brakes. Every vehicle has a slightly different braking response. Leave more space between your rental and the vehicle ahead, brake early for stop signs and traffic lights, and contact the rental company for a replacement if something feels wrong. Test steering and acceleration. Take a test drive in a secluded parking lot to familiarize yourself with acceleration, deceleration, and turning response. The suspension might be slightly off and the alignment out of balance.
Know the Local Laws
This is particularly important when driving an unfamiliar vehicle in an unfamiliar place. Always stick to posted speed limits. If traveling on highways that pass through towns, slow down near residential areas even if the speed limit stays consistent. Keep a safe following distance, always signal before lane changes or turns, avoid unnecessary distractions, and always wear your seatbelt. Review more rental car safety tips before heading out.
Familiarizing yourself with a new rental car doesn't take long, but it can make a huge difference in your safety on the road.
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