4x4 Car Hire: How To Select The Right Car

Just because you are coming to South Africa, it does not mean that you need to hire a 4x4. Most tourists hire standard vehicles and are perfectly fine with this, because we do have well maintained roads and easy access to cities and most towns. That said, if you are specifically going off-road, or require a 4x4 for some reason, these are fantastic to hire.

At a 4x4 car hire service you’ll find the "usual suspects" for hire. The variety can range from simple off-road vehicles to vehicles with fully equipped extreme off-road gear and camping outfits. If you know what you are looking for, the selection process is simple.

Lots of choice

The first order of business to find the type of 4x4 car hire service that can offer you a comprehensive amount of choice. The more choice there is the better your chances of ending up with a 4x4 that you’ll be happy with. Ask for a 4x4 that you are used to. If you love Toyota, this may not be the time to try Land Rover. If you like Land Rover… well, you probably know all the jokes already.

Comfort Of The Ride

Typically people select a 4x4 because they’ll be driving off-road (people often hire a 4x4 as they think it is safer on the roads as well). This type of driving can get quite rough – we would suggest asking the rental company if the vehicle is able to do the route that you are planning, as they will generally know most of the routes. Getting stuck is part of the 4x4 landscape, but you also want to pay attention to the comfort and getting to your destination. While on vacation, stress and discomfort should be at a minimum so that you can enjoy your time enjoying the view.

Durability

The best type of 4x4’s are those who can withstand a lot of punishment. It would be a nightmare scenario if you are out on some country roads, and the 4x4 you have hired breaks down. Typically a more reliable model will cost more money; however, it’s not just the quality of the model that should be considered, but also how well the 4x4 car hire service maintains their fleet of vehicles. Maintenance tasks such as oil change, cleaning, and parts repair need to be completed on a regular basis to ensure that even the most technologically advanced vehicles are roadworthy.

Price Must Be Right

Those with a limited budget will need to hire at a price point that makes sense for them. This would involve searching out a 4x4 car hire service that charges competitive rates. The rule of thumb is that the more searching around that you do the better the price will be – but make sure that the vehicle you hire has all the features that you require. This is a more important point when hiring a 4x4 than any other vehicle.

4x4’s are generally fuel thirsty vehicles and therefore some are more expensive to drive. However, by selecting the right model you can potentially save a lot of money. To do this you’ll need to select the type of model that is fuel efficient. For more information on how to find such a 4x4 a helpful customer service representative should be able to help you. Check carefully if you are hiring a diesel or petrol vehicle – depending on your trip, you may find diesel an easier option.

You can try to negotiate on the price. With some good negotiating skills you might be able to save a lot of money, but know that you are taking a more expensive class of vehicle. Not all 4x4 car hire services will want to negotiate. Have fun in your 4x4, responsibly.

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