A conversion van may not always be a practical choice for daily driving to and from work or the grocery store, but there are many instances when it is useful to have one available. If you are taking the family on a long road trip or need to transport many people at once, a conversion van often is the best option. Removing the back seats also makes the van ideal for transporting any type of small or large cargo you need to move. Renting is always an option if you find yourself in a situation where having a conversion van would be helpful, but do not know anyone from whom you can borrow one.
Finding a rental car company that rents conversion vans in your area may or may not be difficult. Some of the main rental companies are Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget and Dollar, and usually carry a few for conversion van rental. Visit their websites or call to see if the local office rents conversion vans.
It’s important to call each of the rental car companies in your area and ask each about the availability of conversion vans for rental. Unfortunately a conversion van rental is typically considered a special request item and may not be immediately available. It’s not uncommon to be required to give a week’s notice for one to be brought to the rental location closest to you, or for you to drive a small distance to where one has been located. Two very important questions to ask before you sign any rental contracts is:
- What is the rental rate each day you have the van.
- How many miles you are allowed to drive without accruing additional charges.
When you are happy with the deal offered by one of the rental car companies, make a reservation for the conversion van for the dates that you need it. Most car rental agents will require your driver’s license number, credit card information and anything else that they may require to complete your reservation. Once you arrive to pick up your conversion van rental, you will be required to show your driver’s license and credit card. At this time, you will have the option to accept or decline the optional car insurance. It’s important to find out if your insurance policy covers the rental vehicle. If not, you might want to pay for additional insurance from the rental company. Some credit cards also provide additional coverage for rental vehicles if you use them to pay for the rental.
Make sure you inspect the vehicle before you leave the lot! If there is any undocumented damages to the vehicle, you could be held responsible for them and charged extra to cover the cost of repairs. Also check to see if the amount of fuel is in the tank and the amount showing on your rental documents are the same. Make note of how much is there and remember to fill up before you return the vehicle so you don’t get extra charges for fuel (which are typically much higher than the cost of fuel at the gas station).
Happy driving!
