Choosing a rental car service for enjoining your upcoming vacation is a nice idea. However, it may be necessary to use a cargo rooftop carrier on the car you rent. In that case, you have to know your options and possibilities.
Can You Use a Cargo Roof Box on a Rented Car?
This depends on the vehicle norms of the region you are heading to. You also need to have a talk with the car Rental Company. Some companies may allow their customers to use cargo boxes atop the rented vehicles and others may not.
Some Basic Considerations
At first, think if you want to purchase a rooftop cargo box or rent one such unit for your needs. Nowadays, car rental entities offer many things on rent apart from the car. They may offer you things like bicycle racks and child car seats. They may also offer rooftop carriers on lease in some cases. They may charge a little more for it though.
You have to look for 2 aspects. These are:
- Will the car rental agency allow you to put a carrier atop the rented car, whether the box is rented or your own? Check this part before placing an order for a rooftop cargo box unit.
- Does the company offer cargo box units or require the customers to bring them?
Each Car Leasing Agency Is Different
Before buying a car roof carrier, check with the car rental agency about its policy on letting customers use such units. It would be a practical idea to contact several such agencies. Some companies may disagree to let the customers use their accessories with rented vehicles.
You can find this information in the app or website of the car rental entities. If necessary, contact their customer support section and clarify your queries on the matter. You may find some of the big car rental companies refusing to let you use cargo boxes atop their vehicles. Checking these facts will save you from facing hurdles later, for sure.
Allowing Carriers In Specific Situations
The car rental entities may allow customers to use cargo box carriers but they may impose certain conditions for the same. They may ask you to use only soft-type roof cargo boxes and not the hard-shell ones. They may also ask you to use carriers that can be set up on roof racks. This ensures the car roof does not get scratched. You may be asked to choose a cargo box with certain weight capacity as well. The bottom line is car rental companies want to ensure their vehicles are not affected or damaged when the customers use a roof cargo box.
Most car rental entities may ask you to sign an agreement, in person or online, so that you are liable for damages caused to the rented car for using any carrier. No matter what company you choose, the onus will be on you to keep the car safe from damages.
A Few More Factors to Think of
When you approach car rental companies for allowing you to use cargo boxes atop the rented car, be prepared for refusal and conditional allowance. The car rental agency will have its own limitations even when it allows customers to use rooftop cargo carriers. So, it is better that you contact a number of such agencies and assess their offerings carefully.
