The reason for inquiring is to avoid paying an excess fee if the car is damaged or stolen. Remember, this charge can be costly and cost thousands of pounds. You are safer knowing how car hire insurance works to avoid getting a large holiday bill.

Does travel insurance cover car hire excess?

Car hire excess is not catered for by standard travel insurance. In most cases, when you hire a car, the rental company adds a car hire excess insurance policy. It gives you third-party coverage and pays for any damage your car rental causes to another vehicle or property.

The deal sometimes covers damage waiver, saving you the cost of settling the damage when involved in an accident. It’s a way car rentals tell the customer that they are shouldering most of the repair cost.

The bad news is that the waivers come with excess, which is equivalent to the money the rental company uses to shoulder repair costs. Extras can be expensive, and you can mint out thousands of pounds.

How travel insurance covers car rental excess

Once you hire a car, you are liable to orb repair costs for anything happening to the vehicle. If you are involved in an accident, the cost can be at least or close to 2,000 pounds.

The rental company hits you with an excess fee even if your car rental has minor damage. Taking a car rental excess insurance policy makes sense as it saves you the stress of paying hefty charges.

Getting excess insurance via your travel insurance in the UK gives you the best deal. More information here.

Are there exclusions?

Any insurance covering car hire comes with terms and conditions. If you break any of these terms and conditions, they decline to pay. Below are some reasons that can make the insurer deny a claim;
• Accident due to reckless behavior like ignoring traffic signs or speeding
• The incident is due to drunk driving
• The accident happened when someone else not in the rental agreement was driving.
• The car rental needs repairs from electrical or mechanical failures due to wear and tear.
• The car is at least 10 years old

Car hire insurance policy

Car hire excess insurance protects from high excess charges in the event of damage, or the car is stolen in the UK or abroad. You can buy the cover for one trip or annually.

Depending on your travel destination, the premiums are flexible and can be as cheap as 43 pounds a week.

The coverage saves you from hefty excess fees that await you if something happens to the car rental. It’s easy to buy car rental excess insurance. Besides, it insures against any damage to the car roof, tires, and bodywork. You get peace of mind while on your trip.

Is car hire excess insurance worthwhile?

It’s a good decision if you want to avoid thousands of pounds on your holiday budget. Paying car hire excess can inconvenience your travels and plans. You are safer having insurance coverage that settles the bill and gives you peace of mind to enjoy your holiday.

Do I need excess protection car hire?

It’s safer to have this protection if you are on a tight budget. Otherwise, you may find yourself cutting back on your expenses and even rationing food. The protection ensures you enjoy a relaxing and eventful holiday without distraction and hefty charges you didn’t prepare for in advance.

Is it worth buying car hire excess insurance?

The protection covers up to 6,000 pounds which is more than enough to settle any damages to the car. You can never be too careful abroad and even if you are the car can still be stolen.

Having a car hire excess insurance protects you from the costs. Without this insurance, you pay out of your pocket for all car hire which is a steep price.

Car sharing in privates is extensive due to excellent customer care services, excessive movement freedom, and insured comfort cars by Allianz that will keep you moving. Going for private car rental in the UK is the best way to enjoy movements within the city, touring different parts of it with cosy cars. Your progress is made easy and exciting by extending your reaches to the most elegant peer to peer car rental UK. However, uk.getaround.com is a sharing car corporation with superior car contracts. Besides, you don’t need to do any subscription for you to access the services since it’s a peer to peer built podium with many cars of different varieties where selection is by your pockets.

For you to experience exclusive deals in private car rental UK, there are some steps you ought to follow.

Booking Your Car Rental

Before you book your car, firstly, explore different car offers on their feature and hiring cost since some are expensive while others are cheap with varying elements of quality. Secondly, consider the insurance cover, whether its inclusive since some will cover the car, excluding tires and the driver; you need to choose which please you. You also check on fuel policy since each drivy UK car has its plan. Some vehicles, you will hire with a full tank and expect to return it fully while others you will fuel on yourself and replace it halfway or even full depending on the policy. You also need to consider the car return policy, where to return it, and if any fee inquests if, you drop it in a different location. However, some heavy vehicle has age limits hence need to check on it and finally check on the car mileage and book your car indicating your travel date.

Collecting Your Rental Car

It’s following your booking date for travel. However, some issues may arise where the car you chose isn’t available, and you have no other option; this should never worry you. Peer to peer car rental has many quality vehicles, and they will do a replacement with a similar feature car as per your selection. However, if they offer a poor-quality car, inquiry for a refund since the hiring fee follows the type of car. After this, you must oversee the vehicle if there is any damage and whether it is on its records since the return of a damaged car; you will pay for the repair. If you come across any damage on the vehicle, make sure the officials put it down for your cash safety.

Returning of the Car Hire

Remember, the car sharing UK allows you to spend with their car like yours, and therefore a return of the vehicle after delight ride is compulsory. You should check if the vehicle meets all the contract rules where they differ from one company to another. First, you need to watch over if you made any car damage with officials and record if there is any. Secondly, check on fuel policy if its met; besides a deprive of fuel level, you will incur more than it is in the refuelling place. Ensure the records fed in the peer to peer car rental UK system matches with your car. Finally, confirm the premium deduction on your credit card and any extra fee shown, request a support script for it. If a disparity arises, contact your card company.

A real link between the road and the vehicle, wheels are undoubtedly one of the most stressed elements when driving. They guarantee both the comfort and safety of the car’s occupants. It is therefore essential to maintain them properly in order to minimize the risk of accidents. Each driver must therefore be able to recognize the condition of his tyres. It will also be interesting to consider tips to optimize their lifespan.

How to identify wear and tear

To check the condition of the tyres, it is necessary to look at the tread side. It is then necessary to observe carefully between the grooves to identify the wear indicators or TWI for “Tread Wear Indicator”. The latter are in the form of a small rubber growth of 1.6mm thick. It should be noted that some recent tire models use another system that is much simpler and more practical. These are digital wear indicators directly integrated into the rubber. The displayed numbers change according to the depth of the groove. Whether for one or the other, the driver now has an element that allows him to make a better decision when to change his tires. If the limit is 1.6 mm, safety experts recommend that the change should be made as soon as the 2 mm, 4 mm limit is reached for winter tires.

Better understand the meaning of wear and tear

The TWI analysis is also used to detect other problems on the vehicle. Therefore, several of them are found throughout the entire tread area. The observation of wear on a specific side of the tire may therefore mean that the parallelism of the car will have to be reviewed. In the case of wear only on the central part, it may be too high a pressure during inflation. If irregular wear is found on one or all of its tires, a visit to the nearest garage is recommended in order to carry out a more thorough check.

Optimize the life of your tires

After installing new tyres, it is recommended to do a small running-in in order to improve performance in the long term. In this case, it is necessary to drive at a moderate speed over about 300 km.

Eco-driving is also an excellent way to maintain your tires. To do this, you must take a few precautions, such as not braking suddenly or accelerating. It will also be necessary to check the tyre pressure from time to time. The same applies to balancing and geometry. Finally, the wheels must be rotated every 5000 to 10000 km.

French tyre regulations are strict on the characteristics of tyres. It also concerns possible wear and tear as well as the structure. Drivers must therefore ensure that the obligations on tyres are respected. Thus, they will be protected from a fourth category contravention that could result in a fine.

Tire-related obligations

Tire-related obligations are defined by article R314 of the Highway Traffic Act. According to this law, both tyres must have the same dimensions and make. They must also have the same speed and load characteristics. In other words, they must have the same index. This is also the case for the structure.

For permanent 4 x 4 or 4-wheel drive cars, the tyres must have identical characteristics. The change must also be made at the same time. Note that different wear on each tire can lead to mechanical problems. The law also prohibits the use of chains, except in snowy periods.

What the Tire Characteristics Act says

The obligations impose the good condition of each tire. According to the decree of 30 September 1997, it must not have any tears or holes. It is therefore better to replace the tires of your car before they reach the legal threshold. These rules concern the tyres of cars in categories M 1, N1, O 1 and O 2. This French tire regulation requires that each of the tires on the road be equipped with main grooves with a minimum depth of 1.6 mm.

For grooves in two tyres mounted on one axle, Article 9.3 states that their thickness must not exceed 5 mm. Article 3 even prohibits the driving of vehicles with different tyre structures. However, this law excludes spare tires that are reserved for temporary use. Two tires with different characteristics should not be mounted on a single axle either.

What sanctions?

The owner of a car that violates French tyre regulations should generally expect penalties. Indeed, he is dealing with a fourth-class ticket. It concerns a fine of 90 euros to 375 euros.

Sanctions may even extend to the immobilisation of the vehicle at the initiative of the authorities. Such a measure may be taken if non-compliance with the rules endangers the safety of the driver and users alike.

Winter conditions are harsh in many areas. As soon as autumn arrives, we can already see that temperatures drop, especially at night. In addition, the roads are slippery and for that, you need winter tires to optimize your car’s grip. They were once called snow tires, and they still play a key role in safety. But when should you change your tires?

Characteristics of winter tires

Winter tires differ from summer tires in design. When temperatures start to drop below 7°C, the rubber hardens. As a result, it affects your car’s handling since summer tires lose their efficiency, which is why they need to be replaced.

Winter tires are flexible and have deeper grooves. Their tread has lamellas that grip and adhere to the road in an optimal way during the cold seasons. This allows your vehicle to have more traction.

The best time to change tires

To know when to change your tires, you must consider the outside temperatures. The ideal time to replace them is when they fall below 7 degrees. Previously, the vehicle had to be equipped with snow tires only when there was snow. Now it’s not the same. The composition of winter tires and their properties are particularly adapted to winter conditions. As a result, the drop-in temperature indicates that it is time to change tires.

Do we have to have winter tires during the cold seasons?

The current legislation does not require drivers to equip themselves with winter tyres. It is still possible to drive with the same tires regardless of the season. Nevertheless, common sense and intelligent thinking are required. It is better to change tires at least once a year for safety reasons.

There are various categories of winter tires and even entry-level tires are effective. They are less resistant than good quality tires, but they are still more practical than summer tires in winter.

Note that in some countries, winter tyres are mandatory from 1 November. It is therefore important to find out in advance when to change your tyres if you drive across the French border. So, you should take responsibility in the event of an incident or accident if you do not have the right equipment.

Puncture-proof tires make it easier for today’s drivers. They no longer need to use spare wheels. This type of tyre stands out because of its high resistance, whatever the type of road. Discover here some anti-puncture tire tips to take advantage of all their advantages.

Coping with a flat tire

Anti-puncture tires are developed, as their name suggests, to resist punctures. Indeed, in some cases, drivers are required to change the tires on their vehicles before returning to the road. Fortunately, the new puncture-proof version allows them to benefit from optimal time savings. Gone are the days when they must park their cars on the side of the road for several minutes or even hours to change tires. All they must do is choose tyres with advanced options. They are generally equipped with reinforced sides. These allow tyres to run non-stop and travel a very long distance, even in the event of a puncture.

Some models of puncture-proof tires have a self-sealing system. They are adorned, in their interior, with a special paste. It reacts positively in the event of a possible small cut by closing it again instantly.

The key to extended mobility

Anti-puncture tire tips will provide you with more details on the right reasons to use this new system. This type of tyre allows great mobility from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. Driving is also possible, even if a tire is punctured. The driver and other occupants are therefore safe from road safety, as the car will always be checked.

A possible puncture does not therefore require the immediate installation of the spare tire. However, the driver must respect certain precautions when driving. For example, it must not exceed the speed threshold of 80 km/h until the tyres are replaced.

A technology that seals the perforations

It is not uncommon for small objects up to 5 mm in size to attack tires. They may create perforations in the tread area. To quickly solve the problem, the puncture-proof tyres are equipped with a thick sealing system. Its role is to cover the inner part of the band.

Thanks to this technology, perforations will be sealed quickly and in the best conditions. This allows the driver to continue to drive his vehicle through the puncture without worry.

Since 2012, all tyres sold in France but also in the rest of the EU must bear an energy label such as the one found on household appliances, washing machines and refrigerators. This labelling obligation must enable motorists to recognise quality products.

What’s behind the tire label

The label on each tyre is very informative for the consumer because it deciphers the qualities of a pneumatic product. Energy labels on wheels make it possible to equip your vehicle with full knowledge of the facts, they provide information on rolling resistance (energy consumption), grip on a wet surface, recommended braking distance and external rolling noise. But the quality of a good tire also depends on other criteria such as driving stability, grip on wet, snowy or frozen surfaces, road holding in curves, the risk of skidding…

Choose the right tires before buying

Buying new tires for your vehicle is a major expense. The first reaction of the consumer before buying should be to read the energy labels on wheels in detail, which provides a good overview of the basic properties of a tyre. These indications allow the quality of the tyre to be assessed and are the result of tests carried out by automotive experts. Equipping your vehicle with good tires is a guarantee of safety, comfort and handling. It is advisable to choose a tyre with the shortest possible braking distance because this criterion also saves fuel. Manufacturers of quality tires aim to offer consumers tires with optimal values and functionality knowing that perfection does not exist.

The European tyre labels

All tires sold in France and Europe in general are subject to strict quality controls to ensure optimal safety for motorists. On the energy labels on wheels must appear on each pneumatic product because it is proof that it has been tested under all road and driving conditions. Before deciding to buy new tires, take the time to read the label carefully. It is also advisable that in addition to labelling information, you read car magazines that provide user reviews and additional information on wear, handling, comfort, etc.

A tyre test is carried out by a specialised pilot. Working for players in the field, its mission is to measure and evaluate tire handling. To do this, it carries out tests on various types of terrain and on all climatic conditions. The tests also cover wear, fuel consumption, durability and high-speed resistance. With this type of test, it becomes easier to determine which type of tire is suitable for which type of driving.

Testing on all types of tires

To carry out a tyre test, specialised players choose brand tires and tires that have a certain importance on the market. The idea is to be able to establish a price range for all products, whether they are of superior quality or intended for small budgets.

For new products on the market, testers opt for the manufacturer’s first series. They are immediately put on sale in the free market before the test in question is completed. Then we test them again. This series test makes it possible to exclude a product in the event of a deviation (for example, a braking problem on wet surfaces). Measures are then taken in different disciplines.

The brand of tires not revealed to the test driver

During a tire test, each product to be tested is numbered and this is done randomly to maintain anonymity. A driver therefore does not know the brand of the tyre he is testing. The number is used to reference a product so that all assessments and measurement results can be retained throughout the test.

The routes used for all tests are closed to traffic, except for wear measurements. And before starting the tests, all the tires are tested on dry ground.

The different test criteria

The performance of a tire test is based on a few important criteria. First, the handling must be tested on wet, dry and snow for a winter tire. Then we focus on comfort and noise on a concrete and asphalted course. Fuel consumption is also analysed at a constant speed of 100 km/h. In addition, there is also the wear test. Finally, the stability of the tire is checked at the maximum authorized speed.

 

The braking system of a vehicle is an essential safety element. It is important to understand how it works. In most cases, reducing the throttle is not enough and you must depress the brake pedal. So your vehicle stops like magic, but how does the braking system of a car work? What are the types of braking devices?

Disc brakes

The functioning of a car’s braking system is very ingenious. You can have disc brakes on one side and drum brakes on the other. From now on, most vehicles have a disc brake on both front wheels and some sports cars on all wheels.

Then, the system works like this: by depressing the brake pedal, the device presses 2 pads against the brake disc attached to the rotating wheel. It takes a lot of strength to brake a car.

There are also very high frictions between the pads and the brake disc that heat up and can reach 800°C. As a result, current discs are made of ceramic since this material is more resistant to extremely high temperatures.

Your car also has brake pad wear indicators because friction can wear them down very quickly depending on your driving style. A warning light on the dashboard lights up when the pads reach the surface. The latter are mounted on the outside of the wheels, in the brackets that are visible on the vehicles.

Drum brakes

The drum brakes are located inside the wheels. These are jaws that are pushed from the inside against the drum to stop the car. This is the role of the cylinder located between the brake shoes.

Afterwards, the springs release them when you release the brake pressure. Note that the front wheels are the ones that suffer the most braking since the vehicle slides forward when it slows down.

Disc brakes support more loads than drum brakes. That’s why they’re mounted at the front.

Other elements that play a role in the disc brake system

For disc brakes to work properly, all components must be free of defects, so we have:

– The master cylinder which is the master control of the system. It transmits pressure via the brake fluid to the brake receiving components via the front and rear hydraulic lines.

– The brake fluid that you must replace every 2 years. If it is worn, it can cause the brake system to become unlubricated and premature leaks can occur. Without this fluid, your braking system will not work. It can also cause carburetor malfunction due to the absence of gasoline or diesel fuel or a high humidity level. This will make it difficult for your vehicle to start.

– The rubber hoses that connect the rigid pipes to the brake calipers. Check them at each inspection visit.

A brake caliper is a mechanical part that is an integral part of a vehicle’s braking system. He pushes the pads against the brake disc to slow down the wheel. To do this, the caliper receives the oil from the hydraulic system under pressure and changes it into mechanical force with the piston(s). Then, the latter exert pressure on the pads to press the disc. These elements must not deform in order to have a progressive and controlled braking intensity.

The different types of brake calipers

There are different types of car brake calipers:

– The fixed caliper provides a better distribution of braking force over the entire brake disc. Indeed, the pistons are placed on each side of the disc on which they exert pressure;

– The floating caliper slides along 2 rods attached to the rocket so that the pressure of one or both pistons is only applied on one side;

– The sliding caliper consists of a brake pad attached to a clamp. It is the sliding device that takes the pressure exerted by the pistons;

– The ring caliper consists of 2 pistons, each with its respective role: one pushes the brake pad inside and the other slides outwards on the disc.

The importance of changing your brake caliper

Your brake caliper is regularly subjected to wear and tear due to its mechanical action. The latter must be seriously considered since you cannot always avoid dangerous driving, splashing water and salt on the road or winding roads.

So, if you notice a recurrent and unusual braking noise or your brake pedal becomes soft, it is essential to change your brake caliper. The braking system of a vehicle is not something to be taken lightly, it is important for your own safety as well as that of others (passengers or vehicles).

When to replace your brake caliper?

Replace your brake caliper when it is defective, seized or locked. It is not always easy to know the exact time to change your caliper and it is even less so if you have no knowledge of mechanics.

However, the following factors can come to your attention: immobile pads, a permanently heated brake disc, corroded pistons, a braking feeling without depressing the brake pedal, etc. When you see that something is wrong with your braking system, consult a professional directly so that they can make a precise diagnosis.