Hiring a rental car is a necessary part of your vacations and travels. Sometimes, hiring a car is easy and trouble-free. But sometimes, driving a rental car is complicated and problematic. Of course, you don't want to destroy your vacation by having the rental car break down in the middle of the road. So, before driving off the rental lot, here are ten things to check when you hire a rental car.

1. Mileage Odometer - Some rental car companies charge additional mileage fees. Make sure that the papers you signed show the accurate mileage.

2. Car body - Check the body for damages, scratches, and dents. Should you find some damage, this should be reported, in detail, to the car rental company. Otherwise, the company might charge you collision damage fees.

3. Gas tank - You should know which side it is on. In remote places where rickety cars are rented, don't trust the dashboard. Ensure that the gas tank is full. Then, avoid using any "petrol prepaid plans." Just return the car with a full tank.

4. AC and Heater - Ensure that the rental car's heater and air conditioning work perfectly, especially when visiting places where temperatures are too hot or too cold.

5. Tyres - Check the tread depth of the tyres. You don't need a tyre tread depth gauge. Just use a penny and insert it into the tyres grooves. If you can still see most of the Queen's head then you should ask for the tyres to be changed.

6. Turn signals - These should be working perfectly before you negotiate traffic driving a strange car.

7. Headlights - This is vital especially when you intend to drive at night. Even if you plan to drive only with daylight, don't settle for damaged headlights.

8. Windshield wipers - You may not get an opportunity to use it but it is still recommended to check if these are working. Be sure to know how to operate these.

9. Interior - Most rental cars have relatively clean interiors but it is a good idea to check for stains, tears, and other problems. These should be noted in the signing papers.

10. Engine - Most important of all, make sure that the engine is running well. You can do this by letting it warm up for a few minutes before driving off the rental lot.

These 10 tips on what to watch out for when renting a car are the most important things to remember. But other considerations should also be made such as the costs and fees, the size of the car, and the transmission. For example, you don't want manual transmission if you can't drive stick shift.