OUR "CHARIOT OF HIRE" OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT IN BLED SLOVENIA.
TOASTING THE DEAL WITH MARKO FOR 1000 EURO CASH FOR 90 DAYS. HE BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY APARTMENT IN BLED FROM THE CAPITAL.
EXTRACTED FROM MY BOOK MAKE THE WORLD YOUR SECOND HOME AT AMAZON.COM
Since my costly experience in Ireland, I have rented a Kia from a small independent agency in Australia for $16 a day. In Slovenia, I rented from Marko, a very reliable, never-failed me, 1991 Honda Accord, also for about $16 a day. And in Estonia, I rented a 1992 Ford Mondeo station wagon for $17.50 a day. Compare these to $60 to 490 dollar day at the airport. All three rentals came with the necessary papers and insurance for $17.50 and a promise to repair or replace should I have a problem with the car.
How do I go about this? Basically, once I nail down the lease on where I am going to live, I work on getting the car.In each case I have mentioned, the landlord or rental agent was able to steer me in the right direction. Every country has young entrepreneurs starting up such businesses. These are not “shady” deals mind you. In each case I had a legitimate contract with a viable company and all the necessary documents should I get into an accident or be stopped by authorities.
The owners of these used-car rental fleets were delighted to make a cut rate deal because I was renting the car for a continuous 90 to 100 days. As in renting a place to live for that long a period, they were able to cut their rates by half or more because they were guaranteed a long-term lease. No down time for the car, no redoing the paperwork ten or fifteen times over the same period, and no collection problems. I paid in cash up front for the entire period, in local currency. No credit cards.
And, by waiting until I arrived to seal the deal, I could make a judgment about the dealer and examine the car, and they too could see I was reliable and would not be abusing their vehicle.
My next postings will provide some reassuring anecdotes.
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