This is my car rental experience and this is what I should not do. My accident happened in the late 1980's. I wanted to visit a few hundred friends from afar. At the time, I lived in a small rural town. I had no car and no direct bus or train service to where my friends lived. I decided to take the bus, and I rented a car, at a nearby location.
I went to the city where renting a car or renting a car park was there. By the time I got to their business and rented a car, the sun was setting and it was getting dark. I went into business, inquiring about renting a car. The owner had one ready to go. It was a blue station wagon. As it was dark outside I could not see the car very well, but it looked good, so we went back to the office to do some paperwork. The car rental form had details about the car, how long I had been waiting to rent a car, and insurance options, so the business owner filled in all that. I was convinced that I had chosen to own a car and that I was fully paid for my insurance. I thought the insurance box was checked, as it was covered. He took an imprint of my credit card to pay for a car rental and that was it. He gave me the car keys, and I left.
I had a long way to drive in the dark. My trek led me through the rugged countryside, where I came to a large lake, where there was a ferry crossing.
At night when driving in a mountainous countryside, stay alert for deer, moose, and other animals roaming the roadside. You want to see their glittering eyes, so slow down and be ready to turn around to avoid hitting them. Sometimes the deer are startled by the noise and headlights of an oncoming car and want to cross the highway in front of you. You want to be ready to hit during the break, so as not to damage the rental car you are traveling in.
Another good idea, especially if you are driving at night, is to take a road map of your destination. Then you can mark where you are and the places you should turn forward, so that you do not turn in the wrong way, as I did.
I made some mistake along the way. Instead of taking the wrong path, I ended up taking the wrong path. It was dark and snowy, and I could see that the road and the side of the countryside were not exactly where I should have been. I kept driving and there was a sign with the next city ahead and how far I had to walk to get there. Then I realized that, it was a slight deviation or a side trip for me. I felt so much better when I got to the next town, and I knew which way to go. My remaining journey went well and I arrived safely at my destination.
I had a wonderful weekend with my friends, got together, went out for dinner.
The return trip was very interesting because it was the time of day. I would enjoy the good side of the world. Everything went well at first. I arrived at the last town before the boat in the lake and saw that it would be a good idea to refuel the car, at that time, as it was a long way to the next town with the gas station.
I checked the time, and it seemed that there was enough time to get to the boat by speeding. That was a mistake. Give yourself enough time to use the car you rent. So I drive in a mountainous area at the edge of a lake and rush to catch a boat. I look at the place and my watch, make calculations of where I should be, and how much time I have left to drive to catch a boat. It seems like I need to go fast, so I go. I step on it. I hope to reduce my travel time to get there before the boat leaves.
This is not something that should be done if you are driving a rented car, especially in a rural area where there are birds. As I hurried down the mountain, a large black bird ran toward the front of the car. This is a big bird, about the size of a chicken. At high speed I hit a bird. A loud bang was heard as a car collided with a bird. Feathers and birds flew up and down the side of the car. I continue and get to the boat on time. I drive to the boat and park. I go out to check the car grill, I get nervous. There was a big hole in the heat of the plastic car. Pieces of plastic and broken feathers showed what had happened. So now I'm sick of the damage.
I continued on my way to getting the car back to the rental company. When I get to the car rental I have to tell the owner about the bird collision. He is not very impressed. We look at a rental form where part of the insurance is not tested as cover. The owner wants several hundred dollars and that payment also goes into my credit card. So don't do what I did.
Go to a big car rental company. Be absolutely sure of your insurance details. See that you are covered for all the damage. Find out what the insurance premium is. That is the amount you will have to pay, before the insurer pays the balance of any damages. Read this form carefully a few times before you sign it. Be a careful driver, and take your time. Have a nice trip to the car you rented.
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