Many people are not aware of the fact that when they rent a vehicle from a service that they are supposed to return it in the condition which it was rented in. Although that sounds like common sense, what most people consider “clean” won’t be clean as far as the rental service is concerned. Car rental services can charge cleaning fees if you don’t bring the vehicle back to them in pristine condition. There are a few things that you can do to guard against these fees, however.

One of the first rules when you rent a vehicle is to not smoke in it. The need for a cigarette can probably wait until you’re out of the car and the fee for having to deodorize it for non-smoking customers can be hefty if there is an odor left. If you do have to smoke, don’t use the ash tray, because this will definitely leave an odor if you don’t clean it when you return the vehicle.

There is no telling what you’ll find underneath the seats after you finish using the car, either. Many a pen, coin, and bluetooth headset has been lost under the seat of a vehicle, but why make yourself a potential victim. Miscellaneous bits of trash can collect under the seat, as well, causing the rental service to have to spend more time prepping the vehicle to be re-rented. Gum and candies can stick to the carpet, also, so avoid using these things while renting.

Don’t forget about the car’s storage compartments. Most modern vehicles have at least a few of them, including the glove box. Make sure before you return the vehicle that you clean these out. Even if you don’t remember using them, check them again, anyway, just to make sure you’re not leaving anything behind. Whether it’s papers, cell phones, pens, jewelry, or anything else even remotely important to you, things get left in storage compartments on a regular basis. Do yourself a favor and check them out.

Last, but certainly not least, you want to keep in mind as you are driving the rental car that it doesn’t belong to you. Even if you really want it really really badly, you still have to return it at the end of your rental period, no matter how much damage you’ve done to the interior or the exterior. It is your responsibility to keep the vehicle in good operating condition while it is in your care, because after all, you wouldn’t borrow a friend or relative’s car and not take care of it, would you?

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