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Tips on choosing a reliable car rental company for your safari trip in Uganda
We live in an era where we actually don’t know what is real and what is not. It is even worse because of the Internet. There are so many scammers online and so many people have lost large sums of money or even their lives in the long run.
Car rental scammers are increasingly flocking the market making it hard to tell which car rental agency is legit and which one is not. This makes the process of choosing a car rental company to hire a car from very hard.
Planning for a trip to Uganda is a very long and tiring process that involves a lot of planning, patience, saving and sacrifices.
Imagine you save up money for a year or two to spend your summer in Uganda enjoying the diverse wildlife and cultures only to get scammed because you’re trying to find a car to enable you move around easily! Very heart-breaking right?
This is why you need to be on the look out for illegitimate and unreliable car rentals online. The big question here is; “How do you find a reliable car rental company for your safari trip?” Well, let us explore some of tips to help you out.
Research
Nowadays, everything is available online! Be it shopping, food delivery, flight bookings, hotel reservations, and car rental reservations; we are able to do everything in the comfort of our homes.
This convenience however comes with risks of dealing with illegitimate or fake companies. In Uganda right now, there are so many illegal car rental companies operating online and chances of dealing with one are high. Getting a reliable one is hard!
Before you choose any car rental company, take time to research and compare various agencies by visiting their websites and social media platforms.
Also check online reviews on platforms like Google, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, and Yelp to get an idea of the company’s reputation.
Ratings and reviews
Every legitimate company should have a reputable online presence. Look for ratings and testimonials from previous customers to gauge the company’s reliability and quality of service.
You may check travel platforms like TripAdvisor, Booking.com or Yelp. Also visit the company websites and social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram or tiktok because previous customers leave their reviews here about their experiences with the rental agency.
Licenses and Registration
Verify the company’s licenses and registrations. The first proof that the car rental company is legitimate is if their cars have the blue sticker that is fixed on the windshield of the vehicle. This indicates that the vehicles are registered with Uganda Revenue Authority and pay their taxes.
The company should also be registered and licensed to operate by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau.
Also check the company’s affiliation with authorities or organisations like the Association of Uganda Tour Operators(AUTO) or Uganda Tourism board (UTB). Though not compulsory, certifications like the ISO 9001 indicates the company’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
Do not be afraid to ask for proof of registration and licence from these companies. Should the company hesitate to provide you with that information, let it go and look for another one.
Physical Presence
Any reliable car rental company should have a physical (office) address which can provide a sense of security and accountability. Also make sure that you verify that these locations actually exist.
Check if the company has a showroom or a fleet of vehicles that can be inspected. At GoFurther 4×4 Car Rental, we have a fleet of vehicles to choose from and clients are at liberty to inspect and test drive them before signing the rental agreement.
Clear Policies and Procedures
All legit companies have clear Policies which include terms and conditions, fuel policies, insurance, return policies, cancellation fees among others, which are incorporated in the rental agreement.
Carefully review the rental agreements before signing them to make sure that the company’s policies make sense, bearing in mind that these agreements are legally binding and violation of any terms may result into legal problems.
Customer service and clear communication
Ensure the company has responsive customer support, including a phone number and email. Check if the company offers 24/7 customer support in case of emergencies or issues.
For communication purposes, make sure the company has clear communication channels, including a phone number, email, and physical address.
Insurance and Liability
Anything can happen on your trip for example car breakdown, accidents, fir e or car theft. Before you go ahead a make a reservation, read and understand the company’s insurance policies and check if the company offers insurance options, such as collision damage waiver (CDW) or third-party liability insurance.
Fleet and Vehicle Condition
As earlier mentioned, make sure that the company you choose has a variety of vehicle fleets to choose from and that the vehicles are in good condition.
All vehicles at GoFurther 4×4 are well maintained and in good condition to hit the road. All our cars are 4×4 meaning they can navigate through any road conditions with ease.
Secure payment options
Ensure the company offers secure payment options, such as credit card payments or online banking. In Uganda, there is an option of paying via Mobile money using the MTN and Airtel mobile networks. Using mobile money is one of the safest payment modes in Uganda and you can do that by getting a local sim card from any of the service centres. The local sim card also enables you to buy data plans for communication since roaming may not work well in certain parts of the country.
Cash is also acceptable by most car rental companies but not highly recommended.
Recommendations
This is one of the best ways to choose a reliable company. Before deciding which car rental agency to go with, ask around!
Talk to friends, family or colleagues who have rented cars in Uganda before, and listen to their experiences.
As the saying goes, “A happy client tells a friend, and an unhappy client tells the world,” happy clients are most likely to recommended other people to a company, whereas unhappy clients will tell a wider audience.
Clear refund policy
Plans change every now and again. Ensure the company you intend to deal with has a clear refund policy in case of cancellations or changes to bookings.
Too-good-to-be true prices
Look out for companies that advertise abnormally low prices for their rental cars. In most cases, they just want to attract the attention of potential clients and later charge them more.
When you come across such prices, it is red flag and you should avoid that company. Also check out other companies and compare prices. There’s always a standard price range for specific cars among most car rental companies.
Trust Your Instincts
Be cautious of companies that have unclear policies and procedures as these tend to be scammers. If something feels off or you’re not comfortable with the company, trust your instincts and look for alternative options. By choosing GoFurther 4×4 Car Rental, be assured to enjoy a stress free trip in this beautiful country.
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