February 16th, 2010
If you have ever rented a car for a short period of time, whether during a holiday, a business trip, or while your own vehicle was being repaired, you have probably faced the situation of whether to take out insurance at the rental agency desk when you rent the car. Paying your rental company for insurance on your rental car is necessary sometimes, but not always. In fact, much of the time rental car insurance ends up adding some fairly high fees onto your rental even though the coverage you’re paying for may be completely redundant.
To know whether you need to write a check for the hefty chunk of change that a lot of automobile rental companies collect for insurance coverage, all you need to do is spend a bit of time enquiring exactly what type of coverage you already have. In some cases, your regular car insurance is more than enough to protect you financially if you do damage a rental car. Anyone who owns an automobile of their own has an insurance policy that gives them some level of coverage in case of damage to the car from an accident, theft, vandalism, or other mishap. All policies differ, but most of the time this same coverage will apply to a car rented in the policy owner’s name. This means that if your car is fully insured, any rental car that you drive will probably be just as well covered as your personal automobile.
Whether you find out that you need to take out a non-owner auto liability insurance policy, or whether you discover that you don’t need to pay anything other than what you already do for insurance, a bit of forethought and planning can save you a lot of money at the car rental desk. Your rental car may be temporary, but the savings will be permanent.
Technorati Tags: car hire, car rental, rent a car
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February 16th, 2010
The old days are gone when you brought your child on a plane and they took your word that it was your child. Now with security levels being raised it is necessary for all passengers to have a passport. Even with an infant you will need passport identification for their ability to board a plane. You also need to know what to bring with you for a child passport application.
Getting a passport is a good idea for your child anyway. They are good for five years and there are many circumstances where your child may need photo identification that is legally recognized. You can change the photo every six months as they grow to keep the picture current.
Your children’s legal birth certificate will be needed. It needs to be the actual certificate with the seal and not a copy or the little card that you may have. They will submit it with the application so know this in advance. You will get it back but you might want more than one copy so you have one on hand while they keep it.
You will also need proof that you are the parent. You will need to prove this with a birth certificate or custody papers if it is an adoption. If one parent is not present and both have custody you will need a notarized signature on a form you get from the post office or download online of the absent parent. If you have sole custody and the other parent is not in the picture you will need your signed court documents to prove it when applying for a passport for your child.
You will also need your child’s social security number for the DS-11 application that is submitted to the federal government. It is best to bring your child’s social security card with you just in case. They will not collect this piece of material.
Make sure you have your identification as well. You as the parent need a picture ID to prove who you are. It is great if you have a passport, but you can also use your driver’s license or military ID. Check with their official site if you do not have these for other acceptable forms of identification.
You will need a photo of your child for the passport that is turned in with the application. You can get this done at some sites with the application for an extra fee or bring it with you. Get a pro to do it, as there are specs you have to follow. You will need two copies.
Know that a pasport cost around eighty dollars. Be prepared to pay this fee and extra fees for photos if you need those as well to obtain a child’s passport. Check the acceptable modes of payment before you arrive to submit the application. Being prepared can make the application process go smoothly for you, the person who works there, and everyone else in line. You can get a minor passport easily when you are prepared and have all the necessary pieces of legal material needed to submit an application smoothly that will be approved.
Technorati Tags: child passport, child us passport, child’s passport, children passport, children’s passport
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