There are so many different makes and models available for anyone wanting to rent a car these days. From sporty coupes to family-friendly SUVs, crossovers that are at home on the open road or in the city, or zippy little city run-arounds that can park anywhere and go all day on a tank of gas. So how do you choose the right rental car for you?

What do you want from your rental car?

Bear in mind that specific models can’t always be guaranteed, so rather than looking at a particular make and model you need to think about the type of car you’re choosing. To end up with a car that meets your needs, you’ll have to consider what kind of driving you want to do. Are you going from business meeting to business meeting in the city? In which case a smart saloon or smaller, more practical compact vehicle is a better choice, especially if the city you’re driving in has low-emission zones and limited parking.

If you’re taking the family on a road-trip then you’ll need plenty of space, room for luggage, comfort, and those little extras such as in-car entertainment for the kids, and even child seats if your little ones are younger. So consider what size car will best suit your needs – a small, city run-around or a family-friendly crossover?

How much luggage do you have?

Don’t forget that it’s not just people that need to fit into your hire car – you’ll need to find space for your luggage too. If you’re travelling light then boot space isn’t quite so important, but if you’re heading off on an adventure tour into the mountains or along desert roads then you’ll need much more room for those camping essentials, spare equipment, and plenty of water bottles.

Check the paperwork and legalities of driving in a different country

If you’re driving a hire car in a different country then you’ll need to make sure you have all the rent-required documentation before you set off. Whereas some countries will only require a current driving licence and a passport, in others (and depending on where you’re travelling from) you may require an International Driving Permit (also known as an international driving licence) to legally drive on the road.

Talk to your rental company before you travel about the insurance and what is covered, including accident cover, breakdown recovery, and if there is a fuel full-to-full policy, which can make a huge difference to the cost of hiring a car. Make sure you’re aware of any late fees or potential penalty charges, and find out what is included in your rental agreement, such as in-car navigation systems, child seats, or cover for an additional driver.

If you’re crossing borders then there may be travel restrictions to consider, and in particular check if your rental car insurance (and any roadside recovery policy) is applicable in all of the destinations you’ll be driving through.

Eco-friendly or 4×4 offroader?

As we all try to embrace greener motoring, your car rental agency may be able to offer you more fuel-efficient types of car such as hybrids or even all-electric. Bear in mind that if you do hire an electric car you’ll need to know where the charging points are along your journey, and the range of your vehicle on a single full charge.

If you’re heading into rougher terrain then going for a car that has 4×4 capability is a must. Bear in mind, though, that nearly all rental agencies do not allow their vehicles to be used for off-road activities such as ‘dune bashing’, so in the majority of cases you’ll be driving on ordinary tarmac. That means an expensive-to-run SUV may not be the best choice – bigger isn’t always better!

The trick to making sure you’ve hired the right car is to do your homework before you travel. If you need more help then contact your Hertz Car Rental representative in the country you’re travelling to, and they’ll be happy to give you the benefit of their experience and local knowledge, and advise you on the best car to hire.

ABU DHABI MALL Dubai Head Office, Al Rashidiya Dubai Airport Terminal 1 Dubai Airport Terminal 3 Dubai Motor City Dubai Marina Dubai Festival City Abu Dhabi Airport Al Reem, Abu Dhabi Al Reef, Abu Dhabi Sharjah Airport Al Hamra Mall, RAK

ABU DHABI MALL

Address

AK07 Al Mayaani Street, Al Zahiyah, AUH Mall,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates

Phone

026315320

Opening Hours

Sunday to Thursday - 10:00 am to 10:00 pm Friday to Saturday - 10:00 am to 11:00 pm

Dubai Head Office, Al Rashidiya

Address

Um Ramool, Rashidiya,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 2060206

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 07:00-22:00

Dubai Airport Terminal 1

Address

Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall, Dubai International Airport,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 2245222

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 24 hours

Dubai Airport Terminal 3

Address

Terminal 3 Arrivals Hall, Dubai International Airport,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 2203013

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 24 hours

Dubai Motor City

Address

Shop 8, Ground Floor, Foxhill 8, Motor City,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 4273200

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 08:00-20:00 Saturday; Closed

Dubai Marina

Address

Hertz - Dubai Marina City Premiere Marina Deluxe Hotel Apartment ,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 4226775

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 08:00-20:00 Saturday Closed

Dubai Festival City

Address

InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 7011239

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 09:00 - 15:00 Saturday; Closed

Abu Dhabi Airport

Address

AUH Terminal A Rental Returns, short term park 2nd level,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 2805 8090 971 2805 8089

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 24 hours

Al Reem, Abu Dhabi

Address

Marina Square, Al Reem Island,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 2 6320494

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 09:00 - 15:00 Saturday; Closed

Al Reef, Abu Dhabi

Address

Al Reef Downtown, ,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 2 645 8488

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 09:00 - 15:00 Saturday; Closed

Sharjah Airport

Address

Inside Arrivals Terminal, Kiosk 2, Outside baggage claim area, Sharjah Airport,
Sharjah ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 6 5528290

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 08:00-20:00

Al Hamra Mall, RAK

Address

Unit 52, First Floor, Al Hamra Mall, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Salem Rd,
Ras Al Khaimah ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 7 2434386

Opening Hours

Monday - Sunday: 10:00 to 16:00, 19:00 to 22:00

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