Don't pay rental firm upfront

Q: We need to book a car hire for late October in Cape Town and have been looking on the internet. However there are so many companies or agents it is hard to know if they are legitimate. Some of them ask for payment in full upfront and if one mentions their name to anyone, nobody has heard of them. They do seem very reasonably priced compared to the car hire companies themselves. What would your advice be? - Ruth Livermore
A: I am sure that most of the small companies are legitimate and offer a good, honest service. I have had good experiences with small operators, but I have only rented from them after I have visited their offices and met the manager or owner. However, it is difficult to judge from a distance. I would be cautious of a rental firm that asked for full payment upfront or did not have facilities for credit card payment. If you are unsure, it may be best to rent from one of the big companies (or at least one that has an office at the airport). Some offer good rates for rentals of one week or more.