Flying can be difficult. Taking any trip is exciting, of course. However, there are a lot of things that we have to keep in mind as we do so. This is even more true when we take a plane. For instance, on our recent trip to Dubai, our flight timings were so odd – early morning from India and late evening from Dubai!!
Whether you’re leaving from or entering from Gardermoen airport, you may be wondering what your transportation options are. As we reach the end of the tourist season. And this becomes an increasingly important question. After all, those constant resources will start to dwindle.
Renting a car might not seem like the best idea at times. There are lots of forums like this one that may advise against it. However, you might be surprised by how useful it can be. If you want to learn more about hiring or renting a car, stay tuned. We’ll be covering all sorts of juicy details on the subject! No matter where you’re traveling, this can be good advice. Just keep in mind that we’re focusing on Oslo. And talking about effectively renting a car in Oslo.
Table of Contents
What are Car Rentals?
Of course, where else would we start but here? To kick things off, let’s look at what car rentals are. Some of you may already be familiar with this concept. That said, it’s still important to consider. Simply put, when you rent a car, you are temporarily purchasing it. You pay money to borrow the vehicle. The time periods vary. It can be anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. That will depend on how long your trip is.
Often, you can choose between a lot of options. Most rental companies have large fleets of vehicles to pick from. This adds to the overall flexibility of hiring a car. We’ll delve into that further later on. For now, let’s take a look at some key aspects of renting a car. There is a lot to keep track of. That said, hopefully it’s not overly complicated for you.
A Variety of Vehicle Choices for car rental in Oslo
One of the most important things about hiring a car is the fact that most rental companies have a lot of options to offer. When you’re going to or leaving Gardermoen Lufthavn, Oslo, you’ll want that ride range.
After all, there are a lot of different activities across Norway. You’ll probably want a different vehicle for a backpacking or off-roading trip versus a business trip. It’s important to have that flexibility. Whether you want a standard four door car, a two door, or something else entirely, you’re bound to find it. There are also trucks and minivans available. If you don’t see what you want, you can just ask! Most of the time, there should be someone at the rental company to answer your questions.
Duration of car rental in Oslo
One key component of this process, across the board, is flexibility. Naturally, this applies to the duration of the rental period as well. It can vary pretty significantly. If you’re only going to be in Oslo for a few hours, for a flight layover or something like that, you can get a vehicle for that period of time. What about for longer stays? You’ll be covered there as well. You should be covered up through several months. That can be a pretty stressful thing for anyone travelling for that long. This takes the guesswork out of that.
Rental Agreements
When you’re going through this process, you’ll need to sign a rental agreement. What might that look like? Well, no two will be exactly the same. They’ll be different depending on the rental company.
Still, there are some general standards to be aware of. For instance, they’ll outline any terms and conditions involved. This may include the duration of the rental period, as well as any rules about how far you can travel and where you can go.Most cars that aren’t intended to go off-road will include a clause to prohibit that. Make sure you read through any terms and conditions. That way, you’ll know precisely what you’re getting into.
Additionally, they may explain any additional fees in this agreement. Again, it’s just important to read it carefully. Treat it like a contract.
Requirements of car rental in Oslo
If you didn’t know, there are some requirements before you can rent a vehicle. You can read more about requirements to rent a vehicle in Europe here . Most of the time, you need to be over twenty-one. Additionally, you will need a driver’s license and a credit card. All of this is to ensure safety on both sides of the equation. It’s a good idea to have these documents and items on hand when you apply for a car hire.
Insurance for car rental in Oslo
Most of us are probably familiar with car insurance. We may not know that it’s important for rental vehicles as well. Of course, it is! That’s why many care rental companies offer insurance options. They may also require renters to have some in the aforementioned rental agreement. Along with that, there are often scales of insurance, so you can choose a plan that works best for you.
Pick-up and Drop-off
Rentals can be picked up at designated locations. This could include airports, train stations, or city offices. Naturally, we’re discussing how this works in airports today. You can have the vehicle picked up or dropped off from Gardermoen here in Oslo. Something else to note is that they can be returned to the same or even a different location. Those are the details to work out with the rental company. It will depend on the company you’re working with.
Why Hire a Car?
Now that we’ve gone over some of the particular details involved, we can shift gears. Why would anyone want to hire a car anyway? Well, let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons. One may even resonate with you.
Convenience of car rental in Oslo (and anywhere else)
As we’ve mentioned before, flexibility is one of the main components at play here. Therefore, it’s not hard to see why rentals are a convenient travel option. This is especially true when travelling abroad. Think about how hard it is to rely on public transportation. Throughout Oslo, there are some options. However, being able to run on your own schedule is often preferable. This is true whether you’re visiting for business or for a vacation.
And sometimes, particularly when traveling with kids, you need the time flexibility the most. You will want to travel around at your own pace. I still remember on our trip to Europe we mostly used public transport. And there were so many times when we had to rush like anything. For instance, when we were about to miss our connecting bus to Disneyland Paris. And the day we took a tour of Paris. And almost got lost in the maze of Paris Metro, reaching our hotel way past midnight!! Only if we had a car rental, all this could have been avoided.
Business Needs
For business trips, renting a car can be more efficient. After all, it can be useful for attending meetings, conferences, or site visits. That is because it provides a reliable way to travel between locations. You don’t have to rely on public transportation methods in order to do so. It also means that you can leave to do recreational things in between your business meetings. People who rely only on buses, trolleys, or taxis will not have that level of flexibility. You may even be able to wake up later in the morning.
Cost Effectiveness of car rental in Oslo (and anywhere else)
At first glance, this point may seem odd. How can spending money on a car hire be cost effective? Well, it comes down to what you don’t have to spend on public transportation or taxis. You see, in some cases, renting a car can be more cost-effective. This is as opposed to using a taxi or rideshare service. For longer trips in particular, this can be true. Especially if you need the vehicle for multiple days. And you are traveling with a larger family. As then, you end up purchasing ticket for each individual separately if using public transport.
Road Trips
Not everyone will be leaving the airport to go on a road trip. However, if that is your plan, it can make a lot of sense to rent a vehicle. Many families who are travelling decide to rent a larger car than the one they already own.This way, everyone involved in the trip will be more comfortable. It’s not a necessity. However, it can go a long way to keep everyone cheerful throughout the whole trip. Not to mention, some cars just aren’t a good idea for long-distance travel. Rental companies will have options available.
If you are a regular reader, you already know that road trips in India are our favourite way of traveling. With the multiple breaks that we take with kids and random de-tours on our choice, there’s no other way we can imagine to travel now. And if we happen to travel to Europe again, particularly to Oslo, we are definitely going to take a car rental in Oslo.
Is Hiring a Car Worth it?
Our final consideration is this: Is it worth it to hire a vehicle? Admittedly, this will depend on individual circumstances. Each of us has to decide this for ourselves. However, based on what we’ve covered above, many people do find it worth it. This is true for business trips, family vacations, and any other trip. As long as you are doing your research, you should be able to find what you need in terms of a rental company. There are plenty of options here for car rental in Oslo. Many of them will pick you up or drop you off in Gardermoen as well.