There are many situations in life when you might need to hire a car. Going on holiday, travelling for business, taking your own car into the garage, sharing the driving during a road trip – in all of these circumstances, and many more, car hire can come in very useful. Whilst the process itself should be pretty easy, there are some important things which you should consider before going ahead.

Are you old enough? Often, you will need to be 25 or over in order to hire a car. If you’re planning to share driving with other people, make sure that everyone is old enough. It might also be more expensive if you are younger, so be prepared.

Are you a confident driver? If you’ve only ever driven one or two cars, or you get nervous on the road, hire a car with caution. You will probably settle into driving it quicker than you think, but consider choosing a make and model which you are familiar with to help minimise the anxiety.

Have you checked the hire car thoroughly? There should be an agreement with yourself and the leasing company which details any existing damage to the car. This should include any cosmetic faults with the bodywork or paint, as well as any mechanical faults. Cars should be well maintained and deemed to be in good condition in order to be leased, so you shouldn’t spot anything too dramatic, but keep an eye out just in case.