5 Tips for Choosing a Van Rental

As you sit down to plan your trip from Jacksonville to Tampa, FL, your first question should what transportation you’ll use. While looking up flights might be your first thought, you should also consider booking a van rental. Yet, looking for the right rental company can take you down a rabbit hole, and you could spend hours looking for a rental. So, save yourself some time and use these search and booking tips from your friendly faces here at Carl’s Van Rentals.

1. Define Your Needs

Today’s van rental companies offer a wide variety of rentals that cover just about any of your needs. However, it can really help you narrow down your rental company options when you have a list of all your needs. Do you need extra legroom for taller passengers? Do you want more cargo space? Do you have little ones with car seats? These are all questions you should have answers to when looking for the right company. 

2. Set Your Budget

Not all rental companies have the same pricing, yet they’re probably pretty competitive. Still, you’ll want to go into the search and booking process with a budget in mind. If you want to really save yourself some money, book your rental as far in advance as you can. Furthermore, consider the gas mileage of each van to help make your decision even easier.

3. Take a Headcount

Having a set number of passengers for your vacation travels will help you narrow your search. Your entire party may not fit into a minivan or 8-passenger van, which means you’ll need to look for something larger. However, if you’re traveling with just a small family, a larger van could be too much. So, have a final headcount when looking for van rental, which will help you book the right van. 

4. Read Reviews

The best way to find a reliable and trustworthy rental company is to read reviews. Online word-of-mouth marketing is powerful, and you can get a good feel for a company based on others’ experiences. Additionally, you can look to social media platforms like Facebook to find out what others are saying, and then make a more informed decision based on what you find. 

5. Know What’s Covered

When renting any vehicle, you should know what’s covered. Some rental companies try to sell you additional insurance for things that are covered on your personal policy. Check with your personal car insurance company or even your credit card to see if you’re already covered for these situations. You could end up saving a lot of money on your rental van when you do this kind of research.

Book Your Van Online

At Carl’s Van Rentals, we’ve made it quick and easy for you to book your rental online. Not only do we have quick and easy locations in Jacksonville, FL, but we also have a large fleet of minivans, passenger vans, and minibusses. As a family-owned and -operated business, we understand the importance of working on a budget, so we don’t hide any additional charges or fees in our prices. Call us today at (904) 727-3848 or book your rental online.