Car Exchanging
Essential guide table of contents
Exchanging your car, as well as your home, will enable both of you to explore the country far more easily and cheaply. Some people have fewer concerns about exchanging their homes than their cars. However, provided you approach car exchanging with care there is no reason why it should not form an integral and economical part of your exchange. And when you look at car rental charges, you may find a car exchange worthy of serious consideration.
There are some important issues you must address first before going ahead with your plans:
- Negotiate and agree upon a set mileage. If you only use your exchanger’s car to drive to the supermarket, but your exchanger is travelling the length and breadth of your country, you are most definitely losing out on the deal.
- Consider an arrangement of say, 750 free miles and then a set per mile excess charge.
- Do you feel competent if you have to drive on the other side of the road, especially if you are collecting your exchanger’s car from the airport, after a long and exhausting flight?
- Does your driver’s licence permit you to drive both an automatic and manual car? Remember that in Europe most cars are ‘stick-shift’, whereas in America and Canada most are automatic.
- Will you need an International Driver’s Licence? Check with your car insurance company very carefully. In America most owners are insured for other people to drive their cars, yet in parts of Europe a special policy may have to be written.
- Leave your registration certificate, insurance certificate, car manual AND a ‘To Whom it May Concern,’ signed and dated letter of authorisation in the glove compartment of your car.
- Leave your car spotlessly clean and mechanically sound for your exchanger.
- Leave a full tank of petrol and check the oil.
- Check the oil after every 1000 miles. Car insurers will not pay for your own negligence.
- Provide information about what emergency services are available.
- Leave details of parking provision in your neighbourhood.
- Write a letter of agreement, addressing all the above issues and others that may concern you, that both you and your exchanger sign and date before exchanging.
Read our Car Exchange Agreement Form