Cargo Van Rental: How to Make the Right Choice?

[Iness Greener]

Whether it's a vacation with a lot of cargo, a business trip, or you just need a car to transport something, cargo van rental will be a great solution for your exclusive needs. The main purpose of the cargo van is the movement of material values, personal belongings and other capacious items. 

If your transportation is not systematic, there’s no point in buying a cargo van – it’s much easier to rent a car of the corresponding category. Of course, you need to know a few important points for a successful rental. 

What are the requirements for such a rental car? How to rent a cargo van? What should you pay attention to? Check the following questions to make your cargo van rental experience easy and hassle-free…

What are the requirements for a cargo rental car? 

The following requirements apply to the cargo van: 

• maintenance and disinfection; 
• technical serviceability; 
• suitable tires for the season; 
• clean salon. 

Maintenance and disinfection means changing oil, air filters, and ionization from bacteria. In some cases, a special protective film is attached to the steering wheel. Serviceability requirements include a guarantee that the cargo van will in a good driving condition for the entire rental period. The interior must be clean and the tires must be appropriate for the season.

 

How to rent a cargo van? 

Car rental companies often strive to please customers in everything, as they count on long-term partnerships. This business model implies various advantages for the renter. You can book the required cargo van in several ways: 

• online through the provider's website;
• online through the search aggregator website;
• via a special cargo van rental app. 

The first method is suitable if you are used to enjoying the services of a certain company you trust, or you have additional discounts. However, the second and third methods are more preferable, because they provide an opportunity to see all available deals from all companies at once, and also have better prices in a certain location. 

This will allow you to compare all the offers and choose the really best rental car. If you don’t understand something, contact a representative and specify the details you are interested in.

What to pay attention to when looking for a cargo van? 

If necessary, in the booking process find out about the availability of a car delivery service to the specified address. If there’s such an opportunity, it immediately gives you several advantages: 

• It is easier for you to plan the work related to cargo transportation; 
• You save time; 
• You save money. 

From the aesthetic point of view, it’s pleasant to understand that you will be traveling in clean, well-maintained and nice-looking vehicle. If you need a cargo van more than once, then it’s better to take it from the same company. Regular customers can count on discounts, promotions and other financially interesting offers. 

In order to rent a cargo van, it's not enough just to point your finger at the first brand you like. Vehicles differ in terms of carrying capacity and other technical characteristics. Therefore, the renter needs to know exactly the purpose for which he picks up the rental car. 

If you are not sure what kind of car you need, then consult with the staff of the car rental provider: you just need to explain how much you need to transport the cargo and how far. After that, you will be assisted in choosing the optimal vehicle.

 Technical support is another advantage that they can offer you when renting a cargo van. If during the period of using the vehicle an unforeseen situation arises, the company's specialists will provide informational or technical assistance.

 

What requirements should you meet as a cargo van renter?

Most often, you don't need something special to rent a cargo van in the USA. The provider will ask you for the following documents: 

• home or international passport to verify identity;
• standard driver's license with at least 1 year driving experience if the vehicle weight doesn’t exceed 26,001 pounds. Otherwise, you need a CDL license; 
• credit/debit card; 
• booking confirmation voucher. 

In terms of age, you must be at least 21 years old to rent a car in the United States. However, some companies have stricter age requirements, not allowing under 25 drivers to drive a cargo van. This is because inexperienced drivers have an increased risk of getting into a road accident. All underage drivers are subject to an additional young driver's fee of $10-30 paid on a daily basis.

While some companies do work with debit card holders, most major international providers require a credit card with a sufficient limit to block the deposit. What is a deposit? This is a certain amount of money that is frozen on the card while the car is being used. It’s necessary to compensate for the company's potential losses associated with damage to the car, but not included in the insurance coverage. 

If everything is OK, the company will fully unblock the deposit within 1-5 days after the return of the car. In order to avoid possible misunderstandings, it’s recommended to consider the choice of a car rental company not by price, but also from the point of view of the other guarantees. They include customer reviews, certificates, and the technical condition of cars.

 

Which insurance to choose? 

The car you rent is always insured, but there are several types of insurance:

• Collision damage Insurance (CDW) – the initial insurance. It usually covers damage to the car and is always included in the rental price. 
• Liability insurance (SLI) - it protects you from liability in the event of claims of third parties affected by the accident. 

These are mandatory insurances, but there are also optional ones. These are medical insurance (Personal Assistant Insurance) and insurance of personal belongings (Personal Effects Coverage). Each insurance plan has an excess amount - this is the degree of your responsibility in monetary terms. Money above this amount is paid by the insurance company. If you want to fully protect yourself from possible insurance claims, it makes sense to purchase full insurance or super-cover.