Now that your planning an upcoming family road trip, why not consider leaving your personal vehicle at home and renting a minivan for the excursion? Here are four good reasons to consider doing so:

Forget about Wear and Tear

One of the best reasons to rent a mini van when hitting the open road with your family is that you can avoid putting any wear and tear on your own vehicle. It can stay parked in the garage, and the minivan will do all the legwork for you. This can come in especially handy if you're traveling long distances. It means you won't have to do your next oil change as soon, your brake pads won't experience any wear, and your gas tank can stay full.

Avoid Space Restrictions

If you own a small dean or pickup, renting a minivan for your next family road trip will help to minimize space restrictions. There should be plenty of room in the back of the van, on the hood's rack, and even between the seats to store all of your family's belongings without having to rent an extra trailer in order to accommodate your needs. And if necessary, you could have the rental company take a seat or two out of the minivan if you don't need them all for passengers so there is even more room to transport your stuff.

Enjoy Full Protection

Most rental companies offer the opportunity to purchase extra insurance and protection policies that will help ensure that you don't have to pay out of pocket if the minivan breaks down and needs a tow, and you have to rent another vehicle to get to your destination. For just a few dollars a day, you can enjoy full travel protection without having to use up your AAA membership or spend money on another rental if a breakdown or accident occurs.

Take Advantage of Extra Features

You are likely to have access to brand new minivan rentals that have extra features you only wish your own vehicle had, such as DVD players and personal climate controls for each passenger to enjoy. Backup cameras, remote entry systems, and high quality security alarms are typically also available in new minivan models. Ask your rental company for a full list of extra features their company offers so you can check off the ones you'd like and they can suggest a rental that best meets your needs and expectations.