At some point, you might need to use a loaner vehicle as you wait for your car to be fixed. While helpful, not many understand how this loaning process works. Below you’ll discover more about rental vehicles and how to care for them.
Why Do I Need a Loaner Vehicle?
A loaner vehicle is given to those who need a car while theirs is being repaired. Many times, loaner vehicles will only be provided if you already have rental car coverage with your insurance. This way, the bill will be sent to your insurance company rather than you having to pay out of pocket.
However, sometimes a loaner vehicle can be provided if you don’t have rental insurance. At Downtown Autobody in Rohnet Park, we may provide you with a loaner vehicle at no extra cost.
What Type of Vehicle Will I Receive?
If you use a rental company, it will depend on their stock. They usually have modern models with the latest technology.
For those who won’t use this route, you’ll receive late models. These might not be the most modern, but they’re reliable and will get you to where you need to be.
How to Care For a Loaner Vehicle
There are a few things you’ll want to make sure you do when using a rental vehicle.
Keep it Clean: One of the most important tasks you’ll need to do is keep your loaner vehicle clean. If there’s debris in the interior or dirt around its exterior, you might end up being charged for it to be removed. While you don’t need to do a deep clean, make sure to return it in good condition.
Go Slow: The loaner vehicle might not be yours but you need to treat it as if it was. Driving too fast could wear out its transmission. It could also cause rocks and other particles to fly up and crack the windshield, something you will be responsible for. Because of this, drive slowly and carefully.
Don’t Allow Multiple Drivers: It’s a good idea to not allow multiple drivers to use your loaner car. While they might be safe drivers, they put you at risk should something go wrong since the car will be rented out in your name. To stay safe, make sure you’re the only one who drives. Otherwise, you might be charged a “loss of use” fee.
Loaner vehicles are a helpful way to ensure you can get around while your car is being repaired.
If you need one, stop by Downtown Autobody. We can walk you through the process and offer you one from our inventory.
