Renting a Car is a stress-free and unforgettable way of exploring the hidden and beautiful safari destinations in Uganda and Rwanda. There are a number of benefits that include saving time while getting around, having the freedom to explore and enjoy breaks along the way, saving money, and sparing you from the hassle and stress. The most thrilling thing about renting a car in Uganda is enjoying the freedom of doing whatever you wish to do, go wherever you wish to go without so much stress over schedules. However, it is stressful and horrifying for the rental car to get stolen or damaged while in your custody thus it’s your liability.
While insurance can cover theft, it will never cover the inconvenience that it causes. Many car renters think they can be able to find the stolen car but unless the rental car is equipped with a GPS tracker, it would be a total waste of time and money. However, here’s what you can do if your rental car is stolen;
Inform the local police
Once you discover that the Rental Car has been stolen, ensure that the local police are informed. While doing this, get hold of yourself and calmly explain that the rental car has been stolen. Provide all details on your personal belongings such as luggage, or your cell phone that have been taken alongside the rental car. If the stolen rental car is installed with a tracking device yet you aren’t able to track it, then the police will be of help in tracking it. The police should know that the stolen Car is a rental, and if you have the rental agreement/contract, or you are able to get information about it, make sure that it is provided to the Police.
Inform the Car Rental Company
Having informed the local police of the rental car theft, the next thing you should do is to inform the Car Rental Company, and it should also be done immediately (alongside the local police). Let the Car Rental Company know that you have already filed a police report, hence you will require detailed identification information of the Car (such as the vehicle identification number, license plate number, and other details that would be crucial in finding the lost Car. For cars with GPS trackers, they are easier to locate and this is one of the benefits of having GPS in rental cars.
Ensure that the incident report form is filled out
Whether you purchased protection from the Car Rental Company or not, you will be required to fill out the incident report form because the sooner this information is provided alongside the police report number is provided to the Car Rental Company, the better the chances of recovering the stolen Car. Ensure that the contract on the liability insurance you have chosen is well-reviewed. Normally, Car Rental Companies have three kinds of Insurance coverage- full coverage, liability coverage, and passenger coverage (the one that covers you and your passengers).
The most expensive one, which covers your car rental car when stolen is known as the “Collision Damage Waiver” (CDW) or “Loss Damage Waiver” (LDW). In such circumstances, you will be required to verify with the Rental Company whether you actually chose this coverage with your Car Rental Company.
Ask for a replacement Car
In most cases, the Car Rental Company will be hesitant to rent out a replacement Car after the previous incident of theft, even after paying for damages as well as any theft waivers until the Car rental Company has completed the investigation. The Company might need more time to make judgments case by case hence in most cases will not hold you responsible if reasonable measures (such as parking the Car in a well-lighted garage) were taken. However, if the terms and agreement of the rental contract were violated (such as leaving keys in the ignition) leading to the theft of the Car, then chances are high that you will be held responsible for the theft.
Ensure that the replacement Car is kept safe
If you are lucky to get a replacement Car, ensure that it is kept safe and this is by treating it the same way you would treat your car. In so doing, ensure that the rental car is parked in a well-lit and visible location, ensure that the keys are kept safe and out of reach in your Hotel room, lock the car when it is unattended to, keeping all valuables on display, and using GPS Trackers to monitor the car’s location.