CAR HIRE, CAR HIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 21, 2011 --

Car rental companies operate by purchasing or leasing a number of fleet vehicles and renting them to their customers for a fee. Rental fleets can be structured in several ways – they can be owned outright (these are known as ‘risk vehicles’ because the car rental operator is taking a risk on how much the vehicle will be sold for when it is removed from service), they can be leased, or they can be owned under a guaranteed buy-back program arranged directly through a manufacturer or manufacturer’s financial arm (these are known as ‘repurchase vehicles’ because the manufacturer outlines the exact price of original sale and of repurchase at the end of a defined term).[1]

At the end of a rental vehicle's useful life, rental companies will often sell them into the used car market to dealers across the country via several methods, including direct-to-dealer and via specialized wholesale auctions companies (such as . Dealers generally will go through an inspection of the vehicles to make sure they comply with the safety standards of that dealership and then sell the car to the public. Many of these are known as program vehicles in the representation by the selling dealer.[citation needed]
Types of vehicles

A typical car rental agency offers average-priced vehicles, however some facilities may offer higher-end models of a particular manufacturer, such as Lincoln Town Car or Cadillac DTS in the US. Some may also offer vehicles like Jaguar or Mustang to attract a specialty market. Most also offer SUVs in addition to passenger vans. At major airports or in larger cities, some independent car rental agencies offer ultra high-end vehicles for rent. These models can include Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Ferrari, and even Rolls Royce. This market is usually too cost prohibitive and unnecessary for the average car renter. Rent-a-Wreck got started by offering older vehicles at reduced prices.
Rental conditions

Car rentals are subject to many conditions which vary from one brand to another. The vehicle must be returned in a good condition and sometimes must not exceed a maximum driven distance, otherwise extra fees may be incurred. Additionally, some companies set a minimum age for the vehicle driver, which in some cases is as high as 25, even in countries where the minimum legal age to hold a driver's license is much lower. In all cases a valid, current driver's license is required in order to rent a vehicle.

Recent conditions have utilized GPS technology to limit maximum speeds [2] or driving to specific regions. Renewable fuel vehicles are available in certain areas.[3]

The vast majority of car rental companies require the use of a credit card to make it easier for them to trace a person should they attempt to steal a car, or to charge additional fees at will if a defect is later found with the car.
Insurance / Waivers

Although frequently not explicitly stated, US car rental companies are required by respective state law to provide minimal liability coverage. This covers costs to a third party in the event of an accident.[4] In most states it is illegal to drive a car without liability coverage. The rental car companies have liability with their vehicles, however some companies will charge for this should you not provide your own insurance. As an example, in Maryland the minimal level of liability coverage is $20,000 for bodily injury and $15,000 for property damage.[5]

It is typical, when renting a car, to be offered various forms of supplemental insurance and/or damage waivers as an optional extra at additional cost. There are several types of coverage:

* Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) – sometimes also referred to as Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) - covers the costs of damage to the rental vehicle in the event of an accident. In some countries the purchase of LDW covers all costs after an "excess" fee has been paid (e.g. all costs are covered after the first $500). Often a "Super" insurance product may be available which makes this excess amount zero. Note that LDW/CDW coverage is not insurance and does not offer the same coverage as a damage insurance policy.[6]
* Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) – coverage in the event of an accident causing bodily injury or property damage to someone other than the renter and passengers.
* Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) – covers medical costs and accidental death for the renter and passengers in the event of an accident during the rental.
* Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) – insures against risk of loss or damage to the personal belongings of the renter (and sometimes the members of the renter's family while traveling with the renter) during the period of the rental.

* Excess Insurance – When a car is hired in Europe, Africa, Australasia, and most of the Middle and Far East, CDW, Theft and Third Party Liability are generally included in the car rental price. There is almost always an Exc