 | Completely familiarize yourself with the car
Learn the location of every knob, control, and switch. There is nothing
worse than searching for the windshield wipers in the pouring rain. |
| Is the car you've rented suited to you and your vacation?
Are you trying to fit a family of four plus luggage in a convertible
with a very small backseat and virtually no trunk? Do you know how to handle
that flashy sports car? Have you ever driven a SUV before? Can you safely
secure your child's car seat? |
| Do the seat belts work properly?
Are they easy to latch and unlatch? Is there one for every passenger?
Are they clean? Torn? Worn? Do they make you feel safe? Do they restrict
your movements too much? |
| Write down the make, model, color, and tag number of your vehicle
Even though this information is on the key chain, you may become
separated from your keys and will need this information when contacting the
rental agency. |
| Check the gas tank
Which side of the car is it on? Is it full? Is the gas cap there? |
| Do the headlights work and how do you turn on the brights (high beams)?
Are all the lights working? Do you really want to meet the local police
for having a tail light out? Can you afford not to see where you are going
on a strange road? |
| Where are you going and how do you get there?
 Be
sure to get detailed driving directions to your first stop. Also be sure to
get instructions to the main road. Sometimes just getting out of the agency
lot can be an adventure unto itself. |
