Getting To Grips With Essential Car Maintenance
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Getting To Grips With Essential Car Maintenance

When I got my first car twenty years ago, I was clueless when it came to maintaining it and keeping it in a roadworthy condition. As a result, I had to pay for costly repairs that could have been avoided if the car had been looked after better. I learned my lesson and started reading everything I could about basic car maintenance. I started this blog to share what I've learned in the hopes it will save other new drivers making costly mistakes. I blog about a variety of topics, such as troubleshooting uneven tyre wear, the benefits of regular servicing and maintaining your car during the winter months. I hope you find my blog useful.

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Getting To Grips With Essential Car Maintenance

How to Negotiate Your Rental Rates for Corporate Travel

Reginald Fox

If you are in charge of handling car rental bookings in your organisation it pays to negotiate carefully with the rental companies, in order to get the best overall deal. A comprehensive survey conducted in the United States, for example, found that companies that were proactive in this fashion saved an average of over 30%, compared to typically published car rental rates.

To help you as you talk with the rental company to see what is on offer, here are some elements that may be introduced into the conversation.

Be Clear Before You Negotiate

Prepare your organisation's "set in stone" car rental requirements and policies. When talking with the supplier it is best to have a clear understanding of what is acceptable and what is not. The rental company will do its level best to secure your business in a competitive market and when the client lays out precise guidelines at the beginning, there is less confusion and more of a focus on specific deal making.

Establish True Volume

Through any given year, companies will have a need for car rentals for a variety of different reasons. As a client, you should look back over the last two years to determine you exact requirements. This historical data will help to establish true numbers and give you a lot more clout in the negotiations.

Reveal the Small Print

Talk through all the small print with the car rental company. These individual costs can significantly affect a daily rate and your overall budget. For example, don't forget about vehicle licensing fees, refuelling costs and energy recovery fees. Certain locations have their own fees, not common across the country. Identify your primary destinations, so that the applicable fees can be brought into the conversation at the negotiation table.

Consider Possible Concessions

In the Car Rental Negotiations survey published by Runzheimer International, a list of the more popular concessions given by car rental companies to their clients was posted. Use these to your advantage when settling future car rental deals.

  • Unlimited mileage
  • Premium club membership
  • Premium upgrades
  • Insurance concessions
  • Waiving of drop-off charges, or add-on charges for rentals that are one way
  • Vehicle delivery to the corporate location
  • Premium location surcharge waivers

Offer Full Exclusivity for the Best Rates

If you are able to guarantee the car rental company an annual dollar volume or exclusivity, then the company may be far more willing to discuss concessions in order to cement as big a deal as possible across the board.


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