There are many reasons that make us consider whether to rent a car or not, such as a business commitment, a wedding in another city, or a vacation with a partner or family.

Especially if you choose an island like Sardinia, where the costs for transporting your vehicle are very high and additional expenses like highway tolls to reach boarding points, fuel costs, and days spent on the sea crossing subtract precious time from our vacation, renting a car becomes the most advantageous solution for various reasons.

If you are currently considering renting a car, here are some tips that will help you make the right choice:

• Start with a quick online consultation to understand the world of car rentals. On the web, you will find many portals with rates that may initially seem attractive, but you will soon realize that the offers you are examining are from brokerage websites, comparison sites, and various coupon services: by purchasing their product, you could face unpleasant surprises upon arrival. Our advice is to book and buy the rental directly from the company with which you will sign the contract at the pick-up location. Having a physical contact on-site is essential to answer questions or resolve any issues that arise with the product you rented, as well as to resolve doubts that might remain unanswered by a call center agent from abroad (Romania, Hungary, etc.).

• The best way to choose a rental company is to pay attention to the reviews left by customers who have rented a vehicle. After reviewing the rates offered by various rental companies, take some time to read through the experiences of people who have used the service: you will understand that often a very low price is not comparable to a good service, and it could lead to unpleasant surprises upon pick-up for products that have already been paid for and are non-refundable. Whether you choose a big brand or small local companies, make sure you are well-informed about the booking and payment methods. Opt for options that allow changes and cancellations without penalties or guaranteed bookings with payment upon arrival: this flexibility is essential to ensure flexibility in case of cancellations, modifications, or additions.

• Once you have chosen your rental company, make sure they have an office and deliver the vehicle at your arrival location, such as the airport. Many companies are unclear and often force the customer to use bus or taxi services to pick up the vehicle at other locations far from the arrival point, causing entire families to waste valuable time on the delivery and return of the car. The convenience of picking up and returning the car at the arrival-departure point justifies a slightly higher cost when compared to the inconvenience and loss of precious hours, whether for work or vacation.

• For payment options, choose flexibility. A company that only accepts credit card payments, without specifying which one, could surprise you upon arrival. Credit card limits are variable and are often not specified by issuing banks. It could happen that after paying for plane tickets, hotels, or online purchases, the available credit limit (the monthly credit allowance granted by the issuing bank) is not sufficient for the guarantees required by the rental company and for the payment of the rental. Choosing a company that accepts, in addition to the credit card option, payments and guarantees via cash, debit cards, prepaid cards, and, for companies dealing with employee mobility, bank transfers and deferred payments, ensures that customers can quickly resolve any issues that arise at the time of rental.

• Choosing the right car is important. Whether traveling for work, a romantic weekend, or with the whole family, the category should be chosen carefully. Having an automatic transmission, an integrated GPS, and a powerful engine is essential if you have several business appointments. A car that is too small, when traveling with children and a lot of luggage, forces you to travel uncomfortably and not safely. For these reasons, we recommend carefully evaluating the category choice by closely analyzing the fleet’s category features.

• Carefully consider which additional services to add to your rental. Additional driver, child seats, roadside assistance, pick-up and drop-off at a hotel, additional insurance coverage that partially or fully exempts you in case of damages: these are paid options but allow you to travel safely and with peace of mind, relieving you from worries or additional costs in case of unexpected events.