Transfercar User Tips | Transfercar Blog

Top Tips For Hiring A Car Abroad

Not having your own car when abroad on holiday can be frustrating for many people, as they want freedom without having to rely on expensive taxi or bus services – you are on holiday, after all! As a result, hiring a car abroad has become a very popular option, but, it isn’t always cheap to do so. While ensuring you’re comfortable driving on the opposite side of the road and that you’ve applied for your US visa online are key considerations, there are many other factors you need to consider when hiring a car abroad.

What Documents Do You Need?

You might be relieved to hear that there aren’t many documents attached with hiring a car abroad, however the necessary documents are essential in order to successfully hire a vehicle overseas. As you’d expect, bringing your driving license is indisputable, and the paper counterparts will not be sufficient enough, so ensure you have your physical license on you at all times. Furthermore, it’s recommended that you supply a driving-license check code, which can be found on the DVLA website. This code will only last for 21 days though, so keep it safe and ensure it’s activated during your time abroad.

Moreover, you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP), which validates your UK driving license much easier when arranging car hire overseas.

Fuel-To-Empty Policy

Many countries will adopt a fuel-to-empty policy, which is a smart way to drain people of their money when hiring a car abroad. Essentially, this policy requires you to pay for a full tank of petrol in advance, and then return the car back to the depot as empty as possible. This method not only costs you more usually, but it also leaves you stressed out throughout the entirety of your holiday panicking that you’ll run out of petrol. When looking to hire a car abroad, look for a reputable hire company that offers a full-to-full option, as although it may increase the basic rental cost, you can rest assured that you will have enough fuel to last you the entire trip.

Stick To Airport Sites

You’ll want to save as much money as possible when on holiday, and this starts from the arrival at the airport. When investing in car rental, you’ll want to consider whether the car will be delivered from the airport terminal or whether it involves a shuttle or bus ride to the off-terminal site. The latter can often cause unnecessary confusion and hassle, so we’d always suggest opting for an on-airport site, so you can pick up your car as soon as you walk off the plane and get started with your adventure!

Other Factors To Consider

You wouldn’t purchase a car without giving it a thorough inspection first, so you should always analyse the car you plan on hiring and ensure that it’s fully functioning. For your own peace of mind, conduct a short survey to document any issues with the car, whether that be dents or broken/missing parts. Inspect the interior as well, and ensure that all necessary items and functionalities are in place before deciding on your car rental. Moreover, the hire-car company should have a record for every car that they offer, covering the car’s history and any conditions that you should know about before you drive it away – always ask for this. While a car might look pristine and perfect, it’s worth reassuring yourself that it’ll function properly throughout the duration of your time abroad.

Hiring a car overseas can become a stressful ordeal if you aren’t aware of factors to look out for, however these top tips will ensure that the car rental process is seamless and stress-free. Whether you’re looking to have your own freedom on holiday, or you need to hire a car to travel to an office abroad, these tips will become very useful.

What Makes a NZ Road Trip Truly Epic

New Zealand is world-renowned for the vast, raw, and untouched nature of its landscapes, but it is home to beautiful urban areas, as well, such as Wellington and Auckland, all the way down to Christchurch and Invercargill. There is something for everyone, even the most demanding travellers out there. With this in mind, here are some handy tips to help you have a memorable NZ road trip adventure.

Pick the Right Set of Wheels

Firstly, you want to make sure your transportation is in mint condition and that it’s optimized for the season. That means you do not want to find yourself driving a car with winter tyres on increasingly hot tarmac, rather you want your vehicle to be optimized for the oncoming spring.

That’s why I found it’s best to rely on a free transfer car or campervan to get the perfect set of wheels for an outdoor adventure rather than taking my old car out on the road and having to sleep indoors. After all, with the weather clearing up, you will want to spend as much time outside, imbuing your mind, body and soul with the breathtaking scenery of New Zealand.

Camp at all the Right Spots

While you could freedom camp in most of NZ, it’s best to stick to designated areas where proper facilities are provided for campers. This means that if you don’t have a proper toilet, and you are caught camping outside a designated camping zone, you will be looking at a substantial fine.

No need to risk getting caught by the poo police, so it’s best to avoid tying to freedom camp at Queenstown or Wanaka, and head out to one of the numerous holiday camping grounds scattered all over the northern and southern islands.

These holiday campsites are also equipped with shower facilities, kitchens and warm rooms should you need them during a cold night or after a long trip. Other than cooking a meal in a kitchen rather than the back of a van, you want to spend as much time as possible inhaling the peaceful aromas and sounds of nature, which leads us to the next step.

Don’t follow the Yellow Brick Road

New Zealand does have an excellently organized public transportation system, but no great adventure story started with anyone getting on a bus. All the more reasons to get a car or a van, and getting off the beaten track, following the dirt roads and finding your own piece of heaven amidst all the wonders that NZ has to offer.

If you dare to venture off the paved roads, you are bound to end up on a secluded beach somewhere completely devoid of human existence. Don’t worry though, there’s bound to be a camping site further down the road, lest you fall into the mercy of the beautiful outdoors for too long.

Bring the Necessary Accessories

Because a true NZ road trip cannot be completed with a single battery life, or withstood on a single chicken sandwich, you want to pack all the necessary gadgets and portable appliances you might need on your adventure.

You are probably going to spend a considerable amount of time away from an electrical outlet, and while that is a wonderful experience, make sure you have solar-powered chargers with you to keep you gadgets at full capacity in case of an emergency.

Give People a Lift

Finally, there is no need to be afraid of hitchhikers. While the rest of the world is dreading the mere thought of picking up someone in the middle of the road, New Zealander’s have nothing to worry about, as it’s pretty much the safest country on the planet. So be a good lad (or lass) and help someone out – the universe will return the favour.

Going on a NZ road trip truly can easily be one the greatest journeys you’ll have in a lifetime. Knowing the dos and don’ts on and off the road can mean the difference between a life-changing adventure and just another weekend away from home. Make sure you follow these guidelines and find yourself a unique spot in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Image:

Capturing the Beauty of NZ’s Landscapes: A Photographer’s Guide

A photographer never stops searching for inspiration in every corner of the world – this is something I’ve been telling myself ever since I’ve picked up my first camera more than a decade ago. I was a city kid, too used to the concrete jungle, and I’ve never had that much of a deep connection with nature.

Until one day my friends and I decided to do our damned best to make some different and exciting memories. I’ve never stopped exploring the beauties of our landscapes since then. I fell in love, determined to capture every piece of breathtaking scenery that New Zealand had to offer. Armed with my trusted and all-to-powerful hand-held Nikon D800 DSLR, with Nikkor 24-85 f/3.5-4.5 VR and 16-35 f/4 VR lenses, I set off on this spectacular eye feast. Here’s what I saw.

Cathedral Cove (Te Whanganui-A-Hei)

One of the first and dearest destinations to my heart that I’ve discovered early on, and the one I’m still coming back to, is the Cathedral cove. I’ve actually asked the love of my life to marry me on the beach right next to the cove itself. So I might be a bit biased here, but the fact is that this place stands as a true testament to the power of nature. The view is breathtaking and you can even go inside the cove.

Glenorchy

Wanting to explore the southern region of the country, I decided on Queenstown as the starting point. Nothing could have prepared me for the charm and beauty of the small town of Glenorchy, where I stayed at the Glenorchy Lake House. The valleys and mountain peaks surrounding a town that seems to be stuck in some other time and place in this world will make you want to stay in its fairytale forever.

Lake Tekapo

You’ve probably heard of the famous Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo that has become popular among tourists in the past few years, and although it’s constantly surrounded by curious travelers, you shouldn’t miss your chance to experience the beauty of the church and its surrounding nature. Pro tip: make sure you get there at sunrise, when people are few and unforgettable moments are many.

Nugget Point

Want to feel like you’re standing on the edge of the Earth itself? No problem, just go to the Nugget Point at the Catlins. The truly breathtaking scenery will leave you standing there for hours, watching the waves hit the shore and listening to the cry of local seals and the song of the birds coming from every direction. You will be able to enjoy a beautiful sunrise in relative isolation, as crowds aren’t common here.

Milford Sound

If enchanting forests, various wildlife, waterfalls and mountains that rise from the sea are your cup of tea, then this must be the place that will steals your heart. It’s best to go there by car, as the drive itself is breathtaking and also make sure to catch the magnificent view at sunset.

Purakaunui and Mclean Falls

Back to the Catlins again, the lush and remote forests seem to be secluded from the rest of the world, as if they were created by some powerful and generous force, just for your, in that very moment. I stayed two days at the Kaka Point Camping Ground from where I was able to explore the beautiful Purakaunui and Mclean waterfalls.

New Zealand has so many wonders to offer that I don’t think I’ll be able to experience them all in this lifetime, but I am going to try. If you are ready to capture the mesmerising beauty of this spectacular country, you’d be best advised to rent a free car to get around quickly and safely.

Image credits:

Australian Road Trip Adventures: East or West?

Australia has vast empty spaces, beautiful landscapes and modern highways which represent a genuine treat to every road adventurer. There’s so much to discover, so where to start? In this article we tell you what you can expect if you make a trip along the West or East Coast.

The West Quest

Since most tourist itineraries dedicate more time and space to the East Coast, we are going to start on the other side of Australia. Although not as star-studded as the eastern part when it comes to famous sights, the West Coast is famous for its beautiful landscapes, vineyards with gentles slopes and incredible coral areas.

From Perth to Exmouth

The first of two trips along the West Coast we are going to present here starts in Perth. The final goal of this trip is Exmouth. The distance between these two towns is about 2,200 miles. It will take you about 10 days to get from Perth to Exmouth. Since you will be driving along the Indian Ocean, you can stop at many places to enjoy some breath-taking views of the ocean. The strip from Perth to Exmouth is also called the Australia’s Coral Coast and it is lined with wonderful beaches, rich with atolls and azure sea.

You should also visit Coral Bay, a village which is the best starting point to get to Ningaloo Reef. If you come to this attraction in the period between March and late June, you might get a chance to see whale sharks and even swim with those unique animals.

On the other hand, travellers who are not keen on sea adventures should pay a visit to the Kalbarri National Park. Here you can make a two-day stop and go trekking through this wild park. When you finally get to Exmouth, you can get back to Perth or maybe fly to the East Coast.

From Perth to the South

The other exciting road trip along the West Coast that we recommend is the route from Perth to Albany. This trip is perfect for wine lovers and surfers. As you leave Perth, the first attraction to visit is Bunbury. This vivid town with a large port offers a great number of beautiful restaurants with fresh seafood. Here you can see some wild dolphins, as well. Now that you have had some shrimps or calamari, you will be ready for some surfing when you get to Margaret River. This is probably the finest region in Australia for surfing enthusiasts. With about 90 miles of coastline, it gives enough options to every type of surfers.

After an exciting day on the waves, it is time for a wine night. The Margaret River Region is so famous for its wine that even the Guardian has made a special wine guide about this area. Of course, tasting wines demands a night stay in this region. Once you reach Albany, you can go back to Perth along the Albany Highway in less than four hours or choose to fly to another part of Australia.

Feast in the East

Although the Australian East Coast has more famous sights, it is less exciting in terms of road trips. Nevertheless, every road adventurer should try the route from Sydney to Brisbane.

From Sydney to Brisbane

The distance between Sydney and Brisbane is about 700 miles. The road that takes you there is the Pacific Highway, which should take about 10 hours’ drive. However, there will be some off-highway turns, so the whole trip could last longer. The first such turn should be made near Newcastle, where you should leave the highway and turn to the Hunter Valley. Since you will be leaving the main route for a couple of times, it would be wise to get a reliable GPS navigation. Since this is arguably the most attractive wine region in Australia, you should book a hotel room in advance and spend a couple of days tasting wines and enjoying the region.

Before you get back to the highway and continue your trip to Brisbane, make a stop in Newcastle. This is one of the most attractive artistic and cultural hubs of Australia. Brimming with modern boutiques, art galleries and artistic vibrations, Newcastle is a sort of Australian San Francisco and it is worth a visit.

As you keep heading northward, you could make a break in dreamy Port Stephens, where you can watch a dolphin and whale ocean show. As you keep getting closer to your goal, pay attention to Byron Bay, one of the most idyllic places in Australia, with its golden beaches and some great surf breaks. When you finally reach Brisbane, have a look around the town, visit these attractions and visit the divine Gold Coast on your way back to Sydney.

Australia is ready to offer you some great roads and places to visit for your road trip. Pack your things, buckle up and have a fantastic road trip Down Under.

AUTHOR: Lillian Connors is an avid traveler, often just letting her insatiable wanderlust take her to the places she never thought she visit. As a seasoned blogger within this niche, she regularly shares her insights with those infested with a travel bug. This aside, she enjoys losing herself in a good book and knocking back a couple of pints of quality pale ale.

Carpooling: a smart way to share the cost of your relocation

Getting a free rental car is great, isn’t it? However you’ll often have to pay for all or part of the fuel used to relocate the car, and on long journeys you may spend over $100… The smartest way to keep costs down is to share the trip with friendly passengers and split the fuel bill. A trip from Christchurch to Auckland could end up costing you only $25 if you take a free rental car and share the cost of fuel with fellow travellers. Carpooling is not very popular in New Zealand yet, however it is huge in Europe, and it can only grow here too…

Chariot is a brand new app that matches users, drivers and passengers, along the same route. Fares are calculated based on trip distance, mileage rate and fare zone. Trip distance is measured by Google Maps. The contribution is cashless, via the secure app. Users agree to a cost-sharing agreement upfront using the app.

“Our mission is to reduce the number of empty seats in cars, cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions by offering a platform for social ride sharing,” said Chariot’s CEO, Thomas Kiefer.

The app has literally just launched a few weeks ago so it can be a bit buggy and the number of rides offered is small for now, but this can only improve and grow in the near future.

CarpoolWorld is another good tool for New Zealand travellers with some long distance trips. You can find for instance drivers or passengers willing to go from Auckland to Queenstown, Christchurch to Wellington, etc. The website doesn’t look very sharp but the system works well.

Let’s Car Pool is a New Zealand government run website that allows those interested in carpooling to register and upload any trips they are taking, but this is mostly inter-city, in Auckland or Wellington for instance.

Let us know about your experience if you use any of these services with one of our free rental cars!

Transfercar for Dummies: Learn to Relocate like a Pro

Long gone are the days when being accepted for a car relocation was just pure luck. When Transfercar started its operations back in 2008, we only had a handful of vehicles that needed to be relocated each month. Now we’re talking thousands, so there is definitely an opportunity for you to find the right car or camper relocation, but it all starts with a bit of planning and an understanding of how Transfercar works. So we’ve decided, to start the year, to help you to make the most of our amazing system with some simple tips:

1. Understand the basics

There are no direct bookings on Transfercar; Drivers make requests to relocate a vehicle, the rental operators get alerted and then select a driver when they log in to our system. Rental operators can receive just one request or sometimes 5 or more for the same vehicle, as there is usually a few hours between the time they list their relocation and the moment when there are able to process those requests. This means that in many cases some drivers’ requests will be rejected as only one can be selected per car. Rental operators either choose the successful driver on a first-come, first-served basis, or can also choose to trust a driver that has previously relocated before, or who requests extra paid days. Therefore if your relocation request gets rejected or expires, it is nothing personal, and you should try again with another vehicle.

2. Request multiple vehicles for the same route

As explained above, you will not always be accepted for a relocation you have requested, therefore to maximize your chances of driving a free rental car or campervan, it’s best if you can request up to 3 vehicles for the same route and similar dates as this will increase your chances of getting a car. Once you get accepted for one relocation, our system will automatically cancel the other pending requests, so you should no worry about any cancellation fee.

3. Subscribe to email alerts

Look for this button on the left column of the page where search results are displayed, or go to ‘Settings’ in your Transfercar account, to set up email notifications regarding the listing of new vehicles on your preferred route.

and then:

This enables you to be the first informed about the availability of a relocation for the dates that interest you.

4. Plan ahead

You need to allow enough time to request vehicles, as it’s usually hard to get accepted for a same day request as rental operators need time to respond.That said, we usually don’t have availability for car relocations six months down the track, so the best time to start looking for a relocation is usually a few weeks to a few days before your desired pick-up date.

5. Trust your eyes…

Trust that what you can see on the website is true. The rule is, ”if it’s not on the website, we don’t have it”. Please don’t call customer support to ask for availability about a camper that you would like to relocate a few months down the track; If it is not listed on the website, then our answer will always be no…

Likewise, relocations are non-negotiable. If it’s written that a car is a manual, then it’s a waste of your time to try to ask for the car to be automatic instead. If it’s written that the ferry is not included, there is no point in trying to negotiate this either…

6…. but read carefully

Please read all the relocation details carefully and email support with any questions you may have, rather than requesting a car and then cancelling it you realised you made a mistake. You would not believe the number of people who cancelled a booking because they thought the ferry or fuel was included, when it was clearly stated the contrary….Remember that we may charge a fee for last-minute cancellations!

7. Understand the difference between 24 hours and calendar days.

Read this blog post to understand how rental operators use different methods of calculation for the number of days rented depending on if the vehicle is a car or a campervan: https://www.transfercar.co.nz/blog/transfercar-user-tips-nz/our-new-date-picker-explained

8. Allow enough time between drop-off and pick-up for back-to back bookings

You can for instance relocate a car from Queenstown to Christchurch and then pick-up another car from Christchurch to continue your journey on the same day. However to do this in our system, you will have to make sure that the drop-off time of your first relocation falls before the pick-up time of the second vehicle, otherwise it will be flagged as an error. You should always secure your first relocation first, and then select a second one once you have been accepted for the first relocation, rather than requesting both at the same time, to avoid having to cancel the second leg if you’re not accepted for the first leg.

Now search for your free rental car and happy travelling!