Nervous About Breakdowns
Because large passenger vans are rented for long trips and thus accrue lots of miles, tight preventive maintenance measures are essential. Breakdowns can be extra costly.
"If I have a transmission blow 800 miles away in Flagstaff, Ariz., I have to get them in another van, which costs me another $1,500 to $2,000 to get 15 kids in the middle of nowhere and maybe cover hotels and meals," says Irani. "It's a total loss for me."
Proper tire pressure is important, especially with so many passengers. But check the manual, as newer van models require tire pressures that vary greatly from passenger car models. "The last thing I want is a tire to blow out because I didn't check it," says Irani.
Tread depth and brakes wear out quickly and at unpredictable rates due to heavy loads and irregular driving patterns.
RACs must decide if they'll allow renters to tow a trailer. "If you don't allow it, they might do it themselves," says Capps, who has seen renters cut wiring harnesses and rig an unsafe hitch assembly. Renters will tie gear to the roof as well. Forgetting to check the roof for damage could cost $3,000 in repairs, Capps says.
Accidents Happen
Sharky Laguana of Bandago, a company that specializes in 15-passenger and Sprinter vans for long-term use, such as touring bands and film and TV production, has seen his share of beat-up vans. Laguana says that due to the vans' increased size, it's easier for passenger van drivers to "run into things," such as backing into stationary objects, hitting overhangs at fast food drive-ins and airport parking, or scraping low ceilings in garages.
"An employee backed into a car and did about $4,000 worth of damage. We'll pay that claim out of pocket, because we don't want to run up our insurance," says Laguana, whose six locations serve the San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, New York and Nashville markets.
Not to be overlooked is the cost to process a claim-regardless of fault-from accident reports and documentation and subrogation to dealing with claims processors and insurance companies, as well as the hit to your cash flow waiting to get the vehicle fixed.
"If you carry physical collision coverage, you'll be filing a lot of claims," says Laguana, who has an employee focused primarily on claims processing. "Will you pay them out of pocket? Or submit them to your carrier, and then have the carrier raise your rates? You need to think about the impact it will have on your bottom line."