Car Rental & Driving

1. Ou te mana'o e fa'afaigaluega se ta'avale mo aso e...

   I'd like to rent a car for ... days.

   Usage

   Basic phrase for requesting a car rental

   Grammar Note

   ta'avale = vehicle that runs. ta'a- (to go/run) + vale (vehicle) compound

2. 'O le a e aofia i le tau fa'afaigaluega?

   What's included in the rental price?

   Usage

   Used to ask what is included in the rental fee

   Grammar Note

   aofia is passive of aofi (to include). tau = price/cost

3. E iai se GPS ma se ta'avale otometi?

   Does it have GPS and automatic transmission?

   Usage

   Used to check if the car has GPS and auto transmission

   Grammar Note

   otometi is borrowed from English "automatic". e iai = there is/exists

4. 'O a ni filifiliga o le inisiua?

   What are the insurance options?

   Usage

   Used to ask about insurance options

   Grammar Note

   inisiua borrowed from English "insurance". 'o a = what is/are (interrogative)

5. E tatau ona ou toe fo'i le ta'avale ma le tenki atoa?

   Should I return it with a full tank?

   Usage

   Used to clarify the fuel return policy

   Grammar Note

   e tatau ona = should/must (obligation). tenki from English "tank"

6. E iai se tapula'a i le numera o maila?

   Is there a mileage limit?

   Usage

   Used to ask about mileage limits

   Grammar Note

   maila borrowed from English "mile". e iai = there is (existential expression)

7. Ou te mana'o e lipoti se manu'a.

   I'd like to report a scratch / damage.

   Usage

   Used to report vehicle damage

   Grammar Note

   lipoti borrowed from English "report". manu'a = wound/damage/injury

8. 'O fea le fale'oloa o le kesi?

   Where is the nearest gas station?

   Usage

   Used to find a gas station

   Grammar Note

   fale'oloa = shop (house of goods: fale + 'oloa). kesi borrowed from English "gas"

9. E mafai ona ou ave lenei ta'avale i luga o le tuaoi?

   Can I take this car across the border?

   Usage

   Used to ask if cross-border travel is allowed

   Grammar Note

   i luga o = over/across (literally "on top of"). Standard prepositional phrase for crossing

10. Na taofi a'u e le leoleo o le auala.

    I've been stopped by traffic police.

    Usage

    Used to describe being stopped by traffic police

    Grammar Note

    na marks past tense. a'u is the first person singular pronoun (I/me)

11. E iai ni totogi i lenei auala?

    Are there toll roads on this route?

    Usage

    Used to ask about toll roads on a route

    Grammar Note

    totogi means payment/fees; "are there fees on this road" asks about toll roads. ni is the indefinite plural determiner

12. 'O a ni tulafono o le tu'u o ta'avale iinei?

    What are the parking rules here?

    Usage

    Used to ask about local parking regulations

    Grammar Note

    tu'u = to place/put/park. tu'u o ta'avale = placing/parking of vehicles

13. E le mafai e le ta'avale ona amata.

    The car won't start.

    Usage

    Used when the rental car won't start

    Grammar Note

    e le mafai ona is the negative of e mafai ona (can). e le = negation particle

14. Ou te mana'o e toe fa'afo'i le ta'avale muamua.

    I'd like to return the car early.

    Usage

    Used to inform the rental agency of early return

    Grammar Note

    fa'afo'i = to return something (causative fa'a- + fo'i to return/go back)

15. E iai se nofoa mo le pepe?

    Do you have a child seat available?

    Usage

    Used to ask for a child seat in a rental car

    Grammar Note

    pepe = baby/infant. nofoa mo le pepe = seat for the baby/child

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