5 Steps to A Great Rental Car Experience

Author: John Pawlett

There are times in one's life when the use of rental cars cannot be avoided. When someone plows into you at an intersection, when you are taking a 2-day trip and your compact car just does not have enough room to stretch out, these are times when you are happy that there are rental cars at your disposal. Before you rent that car, though, you should know some things about the process.

1- The first step involved in obtaining a rental car is to do research on the companies in your local area. There are a number of nation wide companies and more than likely local companies to choose from when conducting your research. Try to narrow them down to three or four companies that are closest to either your pick up location or your destination.

2- You will want to ask about procedures that may be required by the rental company. Many companies require that the car be fueled up before its return, if this is not done, they will charge you extra for it. It may also be in your best interest to ask what the fee would be if the car is needed for longer than expected as well as what the rate is for late drop off.

3- If you have personal auto insurance, call your agent to see if you are insured with a rental car as well. This will allow you to save money by turning down the insurance offered by the rental company at the time of vehicle pick up.

4- Finally, you have chosen the company and the car, its time to pick it up. Make sure that you have the paper work that you will need. Most companies will require you to show your drivers license, be sure to have it. Also, your proof of auto insurance, if you will be turning their insurance down. A major credit card is necessary; if you are not using cash to rent your car, do not count on them taking a check.

5- Be sure to read the contract and ask questions about anything that you do not understand. It's better to take sometime at the counter or on the phone to pin down the details, than to think you got it and have to deal with the company in the event of an accident. Ask questions!

6- Make sure you know all the rules and regulations on the car as for when you bring the car back to the company when you have finished it they cannot demand money of you for a reason you are not aware off. and incase you crash or are in a accident you need to know what to do.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/classics-articles/5-steps-to-a-great-rental-car-experience-89124.html

About the Author:

Autos for hire runs an informative car rental site that looks into all aspects of car hire from the rules and regulations to the cost efficiency. To find out more visit Car hire/rental

How to Protect your Ferrari From Theft

Author: Jonathan Blocker

As a Ferrari owner, you know that after you have added this prized vehicle to your investment portfolio, it pays to take care of it properly. Routine Ferrari maintenance, appropriate insurance, careful driving and care all play a part in how well your Ferrari drives into the future. However, one important aspect of Ferrari care that you will not want to forget is protecting your automotive treasure from theft.

Much will depend on how you use the Ferrari. If it is a show piece that stays indoors, then protection is much simplified. If you drive the vehicle outdoors, then some steps are in order to ensure that your vehicle remains safe from harm.

Simple precautions can help prevent big crimes, such as auto theft. When you leave the vehicle, always secure it, and make sure to park in well-lit areas where there are a lot of people walking around. When you park the vehicle, turn the wheels sharply toward the curb, to make it harder for car thieves to tow away the car. Ferrari Dealers will tell you, don't leave Ferrari accessories in open view inside the vehicle. Also do not leave the registration or title inside the car.

Other steps that can help prevent theft include adding visible and audible anti-theft devices to the car. Brake locks can help. Steering wheel locks that keep the wheels stationary make your car more theft-proof. Tire locks and deflators can deter a thief, because they take too much time to deal with, thus making your car less attractive to a would-be thief. VIN etching, when the VIN number is etched onto the glass of the windshield and windows can be one option you might consider in protecting your vehicle. Loud alarms also let a thief know your car is safeguarded against theft.

Computer chips can help deter a thief from stealing your Ferrari. Some ignition keys come equipped with chips that do not let someone bypass the vehicle's ignition. Preventive devices such as cut offs to the fuse; kill switches; disablers that deactivate the fuel pump, ignition and starter; and wireless ignition authentication all help to prevent theft. Tracking devices are very useful in assisting police in finding stolen vehicles. Some of these combine wireless capabilities with GPS systems, so that if the car is moved, it can be tracked on the computer. Many Ferraris also come equipped with peripheral interior monitoring anti-lift anti-theft protection, which is a camera system that is used within the car to detect movement inside the vehicle. Even when you are not with your new Ferrari, your vehicle's computer system is working round the clock to protect your car. Employing several or all of these ideas can keep your car safe.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/classics-articles/how-to-protect-your-ferrari-from-theft-195793.html

About the Author:

Jonathon Blocker is a Ferrari aficionado who is intimate with the history and variety of Ferraris and has developed an expertise on the family of Ferrari Cars, both new and collectible.

All About Winches

Author: Jim Brown

Got a car suitable for traveling over rough terrain? Then water sport is a true adventure for you. The sport is a wonderful opportunity for you to show off your driving and winching skills to a whole bunch of people. But are you ready to winch or be winched out of those bog holes in the playground? You'd better read all the things you need to know about different winches which could be very useful for you and your friends.

Electrical Winches

Powered by a double-battery system, this will be very advantageous for you. Although it gets its power from the battery of the vehicle, it also gets power from a deep-cycle type of battery that operates on its own. Thus, this kind of winch will never affect your engine's function, radio, lights, etc.

Mechanical Winches

There are two types of mechanical winches. It can be either drum or capstan. The drum type's power is drawn from the car's engine carried to the winch through a shaft. This type tends to have greater power than electrical winches because it works well if and only if the car engine is working well. Meanwhile, capstan's power relies on the vehicle's engine still but is carried directly using a dog clutch locked in the crankshaft pulley. Just like the drum type, a capstan works while the engine is working. But to effectively put the capstan into use, you must have the necessary skills in using it. You must also choose the right rope with the right diameter so that the slip will be minimized and the rope won't get caught by itself for it will lead to a very dangerous consequence.

Hydraulic Drum Winch

From the name itself, this winch gets its power from a hydraulic pump with the help of the car's engine. The winch is driven using a hydro motor. Aside from its high power, the advantage of the hydraulic type includes not being affected even if it's submerged into water.

Motorized, Portable, Mechanical Drum Winch

This kind of winch is uncommon; however it has a very fascinating system to boot. Unlike the usual winch where the vehicle's engine is used, the engine powers of a chain saw are utilized supplying power to a little drum winch. However, this type can be very noisy.

Hand-operated, Mechanical Wire Rope Winch

This type won't need your car's engine. However, it needs users to exert physical strength when dealing with it. It's definitely not made for fragile hands.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/classics-articles/all-about-winches-171914.html

About the Author:

James Brown writes about StreetBeatCustoms.com promotion code, Motorcycle-Superstore.com coupon code and tirerack.com coupon code

Here Are The Factors You Need To Consider When Choosing Wheels For Your SUV

Author: Gregg Hall

Having the right tires and wheels is important on any vehicle but perhaps even more so on an SUV because they can drastically affect the comfort of the ride as well as handling and safety. Aside from the safety and performance issues most SUV owners choose custom wheels that will give their vehicle a personalized look that suits them. Some people just choose to stay conservative and just choose a plain chrome or aluminum wheel with normal tires. Other SUV owners may opt for the oversize look that is so in now with 26 inch rims or bigger and low profile tires.

Probably the first thing that anyone should do before setting out to invest in new custom wheels is decide on a set budget to spend. Custom wheels can be very pricey and you can find yourself spending several thousand dollars if you aren't careful. If you don't set a budget you will have a tough time not divesting yourself of a huge sum of money just because you fall in love with a certain set of wheels. When you set a budget and stick to it you will only allow yourself to look at products that are in your budget and nothing else.

As with other vehicles, the custom wheels for SUVs come in a wide variety of metals such as stainless steel, chrome, and aluminum and custom color matched wheels as well. There is no right or wrong choice here, it is all a matter of what you like and what kind of look you want for your vehicle. Just bear in mind that the wheels will need cleaning to keep them looking good so choose one that is easy to maintain if you tend to be the type that doesn't like to spend a lot of time on maintenance.

In addition to the different choices in metal you also have an enormous variety of styles to choose from. When I was growing up there were only a handful of choices, now there are probably hundreds. Again there are no right or wrong choices to make here, it is all a matter of what kind of look you are after. You can choose a really thick spoked wheel that comes across as very mean looking or something that conveys more of a luxurious look. I think that the type of wheel one chooses really says a lot about them as a person and shows a lot of their personality.

You can find just about any kind of custom wheel you want for your SUV on the internet. What I love about some of the websites is that they have a virtual feature that will allow you to view what the actual wheels would look like on your vehicle. These companies usually have large inventories in stock but they will also find anything for you and custom order it if necessary.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/suvs-articles/here-are-the-factors-you-need-to-consider-when-choosing-wheels-for-your-suv-173236.html

About the Author:

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about custom wheels as well as custom SUV wheels at http://www.vintagewheelsplus.com