If you’re the kind of person who is not overly impressed by slick advertising campaigns or prone to want gimmicky features in your New Zealand car rental agency, then read on.
Once you get past the creative commercials and the odd services that you will probably never need, you can get down to the real nuts and bolts of choosing the right car rental agency. One early decision that you will have to make is if you want to go big or small in terms of agency.
Your first thought, which is sometimes correct, might lead you to think that the local, small renter in the town to which you are headed will offer a much lower price because his operating costs are far lower than the big boys. You would be correct to a degree, however there are a couple of other matters to keep in mind before you bypass the large companies:
1) Smaller companies often do not have the support system that the large companies do in case something goes wrong with your rental. This could be crucial if you have a flat tire or mechanical problem.
2) Smaller operations do not necessarily have lower costs because they are not spreading out their costs over a nationwide operation. The larger companies are usually able to offer competitive pricing because they have a higher volume of vehicles and rentals and are able to disperse their higher costs over a broader base.
3) The actual vehicles available at the smaller rental company might not be up to your standards. You could get into a car that is relatively well used, not very clean and offers a stop-and-go ride to your destination.
4) Often the bigger companies will have depots in multiple locations in a larger city, normally the city center and the airport, for example in Christchurch, larger rental firms might have car rental Christchurch and car rental Christchurch Airport.
5) Even with these disadvantages, small companies can be a good choice, especially for longer-term rentals. They also can be easier to deal with in certain cases. Dealing with the local agent who has lived in town for a long time can be a refreshing change from the toll-free number that reaches a recording announcing “all of our agents are busy.”
As for the heavyweights, many advantages point to the wisdom of renting from them:
1) These agencies, of course, offer a much broader range of vehicles that can meet your varying needs. They will have more than five cars on the lot at any given time, in most cases.
2) Because of their experience and nationwide network, they can help you in a time of crisis much more quickly than local Joe. No one wants to break down, get lost or be late, but a national agency often is better equipped to help with such issues.
3) Large agencies usually beat local agencies for short-term pricing.
4) The big agencies offer loyalty plans that can save you money and time as you check in without waiting or paperwork and gain access to special discounts. Many frequent renters swear by such programs.
Big or small? It depends on where you are going and what your needs are. I’ve done both, and traveled to places where the small company is all that is available. Conversely, in other locations the large companies are the only ones around. That makes the choice easy! |
