When you next go on vacation the best way to explore a new country is by car. Renting a car allows you to sightsee at your own pace to tourist spots of your own choice. You can easily rent cars from car rental services, but there are certain things you should keep in mind when you are renting a car abroad.

* It is a good idea to make all arrangements from the USA itself before you embark on your vacation. If you rent directly in a foreign land the language and cultural barriers, the foreign currency conversion rates, unfamiliar rental rules and other differences may utterly confuse you. Instead if you rent right from your home country, you are more likely to catch the hidden costs such as late penalties, gas charges and others.

* Make sure your billing starts right from the time of the drop-off. Remember, there are agencies that charge on a full 24-hour basis, even if you use the car for lesser hours per day. Avoid these types of car rental agencies.

* There are various types of discounts that are available on car rentals internationally. For example, the frequent flyer discount, credit card discount, AAA discount or senior citizen discount etc. are the most common type of car rental discounts. Insist on getting the discounts if you qualify for them.

* When you are booking in advance, consider the prospective size of your luggage and the number of people traveling with you. In case the luggage and the size of your group are small you can consider a smaller car. But if you feel you are going to travel with a big group or have big or quite a few luggages, then book a roomier car.

* You should carry an international driving permit with you. It is recognized by some 150 countries. However you must be at least 18 years old to obtain an international driving permit. In the USA, two agencies are authorized to issue the document: the American Automobile Association and the American Automobile Touring Alliance.

* Do not expect to rent a luxurious or automatic car in other countries as you would expect to rent back home. For example, if you rent a car of European make, there is a high possibly that you have to drive a manual stick shift car. However, since you are not familiar with your way around in a foreign city it is better that you insist on renting an automatic car even though it comes at a higher price tag.

So you see, driving in the foreign land is much more than laughing about driving on the wrong side of the road! Be prepared and carry the right documents for safe and happy driving abroad.

Major car manufacturer Toyota has produced car models that have consistently ranked high in both the US and Japan market, specifically with regard to the Toyota Camry and the remodeled Toyota Corolla.

While the Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in the United States for the past four years (2002-2005), back in Japan where Toyota is based, it is the Toyota Corolla that has been the best selling vehicle. Reports say there were 70,675 units of the Toyota Corolla sold from January to June this year. That total is actually a decrease of 11.7% from their total sales during the same period a year ago.

According to figures from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association, the Toyota Corolla has actually been the best-selling car in Japan for the last four six-month periods. Toyota actually released a fully remodeled Corolla in August 2000 and its impressive sales performance since that time attests to its immense popularity.

The performance of the Toyota Camry in the United States has been simply amazing. Not only has it been the best-selling car for four straight years now, it has also been the country’s best seller in eight of the last nine years. It has consistently topped its mid-size competitors such as the Honda Accord and the Chevrolet Impala in that period.

Reports say that plans are currently afoot to launch a hybrid Camry later this year as well a fully redesigned version of the Camry in 2007. The general expectation is that Toyota Camry set to be unveiled Monday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the sedan likely will set the bar high for its competitors.

Understandably, Toyota has been mum about the new Camry, hardly releasing any details. However, according to Jim Press, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., it will offer better style, technology and drivability. And it will build on the reputation the nameplate has established in previous incarnations.

Press said he expects the company this year to sell about the nearly the same as the 432,000 Camrys it sold in 2005, but may lose some sales as it switches from offering the old model. He said Toyota strives to keep Camry’s style timeless while keeping in mind the goal of a well-balanced car that satisfies drivers’ needs.

Taking the dog for a ride in the car? Better think twice about your four-legged passenger. According to a recent American Automobile Association study, pets and loose objects are rated as the third worst driver distraction, next to cell phone usage and unruly children.

The reality behind these statistics is not pretty for drivers or pets:

• A pet is propelled with force equal to 30 times its weight in a 30 mile-per-hour accident.
• A 30-pound dog can be sent flying with the equivalency of 900 pounds of force behind it - energy enough to kill it, and anything in its path. At faster speeds, the force is even greater.

In the event of a collision, pets are not only flying objects within the car, but can also be killed through their own impact with a windshield or any other hard surface within the vehicle. Pets are especially vulnerable in the front seat, where they can be injured by airbags, windows, windshields, or from distracting the driver by getting between him and the controls.

So buckle up the pet passengers in your vehicle with the Canine Auto Safety Harness created by Watson’s Senior Pet Products. Available in four different sizes, each harness conforms and adjusts to your pet’s specific proportions to ensure their comfort — and safety. The Canine Auto Safety Harness slips easily onto existing seat belts, and is guaranteed to fit any automobile.

For the sake of passengers, pets, pedestrians, and other drivers, it is important that pets be restrained at all times while riding in vehicles. Unrestrained pets can be a serious threat to both drivers and passengers, creating distractions or impairing the driver’s ability to drive. Without restraint, pets can be seriously injured during quick stops, sharp turns, and accidents. [PRWEB]

tagTRAX: american automobile association | pets | drivers | safety harness

Despite the shock of rising gas prices, the American Automobile Association, AAA, predicts more Americans are on the road this summer than ever before with 328 million leisure trips expected. And you can be sure that in many of those cars crisscrossing America will be kids; bored, whiney, driving-their-parents-crazy kids. Many parents have developed routines to make a trip to the grocery store more tolerable, but what do you do when traveling hundreds of miles? [PRWEB Jul 20, 2005]