Are you wondering which is better between renting and owing a car on a safari? Read our informative guide to discover the advantages of renting and owing a car.
The decision between renting and owing car can be a tough one. Usually, the choice boils down to priorities. For some drivers, it could be a matter of budget and simple choice of which is the more affordable option. For others, it might all come down to the benefits of ownership.
But before you can navigate your decision, it is important to know the advantages of renting a car vs owing and understand the key differences between both in order to make the best possible choice for you.
What are benefits of renting of a car?
When you rent a car, you are paying to drive it for a set period of time. The average rental period in the East Africa is between 3 to months, although long term rentals are also common. Once your rental lease is up, you return the vehicle to the rental company for another person to rent in the future.
The benefits of renting a car include:
You are not typically responsible for maintenance or repairs.
Renting a new model car is cheaper than buying one outright.
Car rental agreements can offer more flexibility.
You don’t have to worry about reselling the car.
Our cars are often maintained to incredibly high standards.
Is renting a car cheaper than buying?
For a lot of people, owing a car is a necessity. But it comes with a cost and there are sometimes where it is better to rent a car vs buy a car, and vice versa.
For example, you might want to rent a family car road trip or to treat yourself to a luxury convertible for a wedding. In this instance, it could be far cheaper to hire a car for a short period of time. If you are going away on business and need a car to get around for a number of days, renting might be not only cheaper but also more practical than driving your own car there.
On the other side, buying a car may be a more feasible option if you are a frequent driver and are likely to cover long distances, or consistently make frequent shorter trips more locally. It may make more financial sense to purchase a car and build equity for when you come to sell in the future.
Advice before making a decision on owing vs renting
In the case of renting a car vs owing a car, the decision depends on a variety of factors including:
What you need the car for
• Ho w often you will be driving
• How long you need to have the car
• How much you can afford to spend each month
• Whether you are willing to make a long term commitment
So with these considerations, deciding between renting vs owing a car should become easier. Be sure to weigh the costs of both options before heading to a dealership.
But if you are eyeing up a particular model to make your own, rental also offers a great way to test drive the car and some of its alternatives fully before you make your choice.
