🚘Japan self-driving guide｜Practical practice of self-driving car rental: Detailed explanation of the three steps of online car rental reservation

In order to prepare for a self-driving trip to Japan, in addition to getting the necessary air tickets, accommodation, and a Japanese translation of your driver's license, the next step is to book a car rental service online. Japanese car rental websites are quite diverse, and many of them provide Chinese interfaces, which are quite friendly.

Online car rental reservation process and operating steps

The online car rental reservation process is very simple and can be divided into three steps: "website login", "email confirmation" and "paper printing". The most important threshold lies in the text. There are many websites that provide reservation services, and they do not support Japanese or English. For those who are familiar with it, it is recommended that you just look for a website that provides a Chinese interface.

Klook.Car rental reservation:Self-driving car rental in Hokkaido (low season)|Self-driving car rental in Hokkaido (peak season)

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Step 1: Log in to the car rental reservation information online

Follow the reservation process and form on the website to fill in the car rental application information.The main information to fill in includes: pick-up and return location and time, rental period, car model, applicant's contact information and credit card information, etc. The information required for each website is similar. You have to operate and directly choose a website with a Chinese interface. I believe it will go smoothly. a lot of.

After filling in the information, the website will automatically list the application materials. After the applicant reconfirms, and after reconfirming that the information is correct, the taxi reservation form can be sent.

After successfully sending the taxi reservation application, the website automatically displays the reservation success screen.Generally, the subsequent car rental application arrangements and confirmation operations will be notified at the same time, and emails will be used for reply and confirmation.

Step 2: Email confirmation of successful appointment

After completing the appointment application on the website, the system usually automatically sends an email to notify the applicant that the appointment application materials have been received first, and the subsequent appointment result will be notified by email.

Generally speaking, after the car rental application form is sent through the system and successfully submitted to the service staff, if there are no problems, the case will be opened first and then the car rental operation will start.During the period when the service staff is confirming whether there is a car in operation, some websites will first send a letter to notify that the application has been confirmed, and list the application appointment number, stating that the detailed confirmation information will be notified by email.

Step 3: Print out the paper reservation information

After completing the car rental reservation procedures and confirming that the car rental is successful, it is recommended that you print out the confirmation letter and bring the paper to Japan.If the paper cannot be provided for some reason, you can use your mobile phone or tablet to show the confirmation letter, or provide some basic information about the appointment. I believe you can still ask the service staff to inquire through the system.

Reservation precautions and failure cases

According to the operation process and speed of each service website, if the service staff confirms that the vehicle required by the applicant is available during the car rental reservation period, a confirmation letter will be sent again to inform that the reservation has been successful, and then the reservation will be considered as a successful completion.Some websites will ask the applicant to reply to the letter, letting you know that the confirmation letter has been received, or log on to the website to confirm.

In the letter informing you of the successful appointment, the notices are usually listed at the same time, including: please save this confirmation email, it is recommended to print out the paper, when renting the car, please bring the original driver’s license, the Japanese translation of the driver’s license and the passport, etc., reminding if you rent a car Failure to provide relevant information, the car rental company has the right to cancel this transaction.

In addition, some websites will send a letter again a few days before booking and picking up the car. Applicants are asked to reconfirm and write back, depending on the operating procedures of the operators. Please also pay special attention to this aspect.

During the peak tourist season, it is recommended to make an early car rental reservation, otherwise you may face the failure of the reservation. At this time, you have to find other websites and make a new reservation.Fortunately, there are so many websites that provide car rental services. If you fail to make an appointment, look for the next one as soon as possible.

Based on my own self-driving experience in Hokkaido, I originally planned to purchase the JR Hokkaido Pass as a means of transportation for Hakodate, Toya, Sapporo and Otaru, followed by Furano.Biei self-driving tour.Because of the late planning and the approaching departure time, I have no time to find too many car rental websites. I directly choose the car rental discount program provided by JR Hokkaido and TOYOTA. It feels very worthwhile.

The rental car reservation service provided by JR Hokkaido is very easy to apply.Directly on the JR Hokkaido websiteCar rental offer description page, After clicking the "Reservation" option, the "Car Rental Online Reservation" window will pop up, fill in the relevant information and send it out. The full Chinese interface is very simple and easy to use.

Next, the system will send a letter to notify the result of the reservation, and the content of the notification is quite simple and easy to understand, but there is no car now, and the car rental service cannot be provided.

After JR Hokkaido’s preferential car rental service failed, under time constraints, we directly selected the ToCoo car rental service portal that gathers multiple car rental companies, and submitted an appointment application according to the website process.

Because ToCoo's car rental service brings together multiple car rental companies, applicants can choose their own car rental company.When choosing a car rental company, I reluctantly chose JR Hokkaido and TOYOTA's cooperation discount plan again. The reply was still to inform that there is no car and there is no room for fluke!

However, the reply letter reminded one thing that TOYOTA (not JR) still has a car.I guess the general situation is that JR Hokkaido and TOYOTA offer discounts on car rentals for the purchase of free passes. The number of vehicles provided is limited. If you can’t get the quota, you can follow the general car rental method, or you can rent a car from TOYOTA, which has a large number of vehicles. .

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