10 Most Asked Rental Questions

Renting a car can be an exciting experience, and you no doubt have a lot of questions!  We at Advantage Car and Truck Rentals have answered some of the most frequently asked questions we receive when people want to rent a car so you can be confident you are getting the most out of your rental.

What is a Rental Mileage Plan?

A Rental Mileage Plan dictates the numbers of kilometres or miles a rental car can be driven over the length of your rental. Depending on the car you rent and the length of time you have the car for your mileage plan will change.

Does the vehicle need to be returned with a full tank of gas?

The short answer is yes, filling up the tank before returning your rental is always a good idea, it saves the company from having to go out and fill up the car themselves. A lot of companies charge a premium per litre if they have to fill up the car themselves, which means it could end up costing you more than if you had filled the car yourself.

Can I use a rental car on a toll road?

The allure of using a toll road can sometimes be too good to pass up, especially here in the GTA where the fastest way to get anywhere is the 407 ETR. Using a toll road where you pay when you get on the road is perfectly fine because you are the one paying as you use it. Toll roads like the 407 ETR, where they charge using a transponder or alternatively by taking a picture of the licence plate and sending a bill to the owner of the car, are different because the rental company will not receive the bill until a few weeks later. At Advantage, we will charge the renter for the amount of the bill as well as a $25 administrative charge.

Click here to read our blog on Using The 407 ETR In A Rental

What happens if I return the car late?

When renting a car, the rental agent will make it very clear what time the car has to be returned by. Failure to return the car by the given time will result in being charged a late fee just like a library charges for late books. If you know you are going to be late returning the car we urge you to call ahead and let the rental office know, that way we can make arrangements for another car for the person renting after you.

What are my insurance options?

Optional Insurance is not required to rent a vehicle. Details are available at the rental counter. Personal Accident Coverage (PPC): Personal property coverage protects against damage to personal effects owned by the renter, as well as immediate family members of the renter, who permanently reside in the renter’s household and are travelling with the renter. Personal accident coverage provides accidental death and accidental medical expense benefit to the renter and their passenger (s). The death and medical expense benefit will both pay in addition to any other coverage that might be applicable to the renter or passenger (s).

Loss Damage Waiver (This is not insurance): This is a waiver for damage to the rental vehicle only. When accepted at the time of rental, Advantage will waive the right to collect for damages to the rental vehicle when the vehicle involved in an accident with a set amount of deductible.

What do I do in case of mechanical problems?

Our rental cars are very new so they are not likely to have many problems, unfortunately, nothing is perfect and even new cars sometimes break down or get flat tires. If that happens to drive the car to a safe place and contact the rental location at the phone number provided on the rental agreement.

Can I leave the Province with the rental car?

Yes absolutely, while there are some geographical restrictions to renting a car, at Advantage we do not allow customers to take the cars into the United States, going between provinces is fine as long as you let the rental office know ahead of time and be sure that you will have the car back by the agreed upon time.

Are multiple drivers allowed to drive the rental car?

Yes but only if they are covered under the insurance and the rental office knows there will be multiple drivers. At Advantage, we charge a small multiple drivers fee to cover any other incurred costs.

What is the minimum age requirement for renting a car?

The minimum age for renters and drivers is 21.

Renters under 25 are subject to additional rental rules and surcharges.

Drivers between the ages of 21-24 will not be permitted to rent luxury cars, mini vans, 8- passenger vans, speciality vehicles, full-size SUVs or premium SUVs.

If an underage renter wishes to add an additional driver to the rental policy, the second driver must be 25 or older and present their valid driver’s license and credit card at the time of rental pick up.

Will a background check be performed on my licence?

Once a customer opens a rental agreement, but before the transaction is completed, some Advantage locations might contact the issuing ministry of transportation to perform a driver’s license verification for primary and additional drivers. Advantage reserves the right to deny rental if the driving history reveals any of the following:

• invalid, suspended or revoked license
• one or more convictions for reckless driving within 48 months
• one DUI, DWI or DWAI conviction within 48 months
• failure to report an accident/leaving the scene of the accident within 36 months
• possession of the stolen vehicle or use of a vehicle in a crime
• expired license
• three or more convictions for moving violations within 24 months (excluding seatbelt violations)
• two or more accidents within 36 months
• other activities that suggest an unsatisfactory driving record.

If you have any more questions feel free to check out our FAQ Page and be sure to ask your rental agent any question we may have missed!