Our checklist of car rental do's and don'ts will ensure your car hire experience with First Car Rental is always a good one.

What to do when hiring a car:

Choose the right vehicle for your needs

Are you heading off the beaten track or sticking to the city? Will you have lots of luggage and travel buddies or are you travelling alone? These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself when selecting the right car for your needs. 

Always read the car rental company’s terms & conditions before hiring a car

Yes, we know they’re wordy, but when you agree to a car rental it is on these T&C’s that the car hire contract is based. Reading the small print will ensure you’ll always know where you stand when hiring a car. 

Remember – you can’t ever challenge a clause because you didn’t know it was there. 

Inspect your hire car before getting in the driving seat

At First Car Rental we conduct a pre-hire car inspection with the customer before they set off on their journey. During these checks minor car faults such as a small scratch on the bodywork are noted in writing. 

But it’s always a wise move to take your own photos of the vehicle whilst the check is being conducted. Be scrupulous – take photos of the tyres, the windscreen, the bodywork and the interior. This will ensure that if any dispute is raised when you return the hire car you’ll have cold hard facts to fall back on.

What not to do when hiring a car: 

Don’t wait until the last minute to book your car

Booking as early as possible will mean you’ll have a much greater selection of vehicles to choose from. 

At First Car Rental we offer a wide range of options so finding the right car with us is easy – choose from budget-friendly, executive and passenger-carrying vehicles.  

Don’t fill up the hire car with fuel before returning it

At First Car Rental we fill your vehicle right to the brim before you drive off in it. But we don’t require you to do the same when you return it. When a vehicle is returned to us at any one of our locations, we automatically top up the tank, irrespective of what the fuel gauge reflects. Your final car hire invoice will reflect the actual fuel amount and we do not charge a refuelling fee. 

Don’t let someone who hasn’t been approved by the car rental company drive the hire car

In South Africa, when it comes to your own personal vehicle, it is insured regardless of who drives it (obviously they will still need to be legally able to drive otherwise the insurance will be invalid). But when hiring a car only the driver who has been approved by the car rental company must drive the vehicle.

Don’t worry though, if needing to add an additional driver during your trip you can always phone up First Car Rental and we’ll be happy to help. Read more about additional drivers here.  

Don’t panic if something goes wrong

If your hired car breaks down you must contact First Car Rental on the Emergency Roadside Assistance toll-free number 0860 888 911 (SA only). If outside of SA borders with a roaming cellphone, please dial +27 31 335 8400.This information is on your key tag.

If you are involved in an accident you must first seek medical assistance if needed and then contact First Car Rental immediately on 0861 178 227. 

Now that you know the Do's and Don'ts of car hire, book your car with First Car Rental. When you use First Car Rental as your preferred Car Hire South Africa service, rest assured that our mission is always customer satisfaction first. This means we’ll always go out of our way to help make your experience one to remember for all the right reasons.