Lots of firms hope to part you from your hard earned money with policies like billing for a full tank of fuel on collection, with the car to be returned with an empty tank, which is technically impossible! Vehicle hire businesses have a huge range of optional extras, all of which will add to the total charge of your car hire, and unfortunately, the only way to make sure you do not get trapped for additional charges at the airport hire desk is to read ALL the online terms and conditions.The terminology used can be confusing - collision damage waiver, additional liability insurance, super theft coverage, the list is almost endless. We cannot emphasize this enough, you need to familiarise yourself with the wording, find out more about what all the terminology actually means. And make sure you do this prior to travel - it will save you a bundle and frustration, and who wants to land on holiday sensing that they have been totally ripped off in the process of getting there ?
The following items are key to your choice of car hire company
It is a great idea to arrange travel insurance in your home country ahead of travelling. This will allow you to select the cover you need to have for car hire in foreign countries and have this on hand when you arrive at the car rental desk in the country you are visiting. For regular travellers, annual insurance of this sort is much less expensive and you will not have the problem of organising insurance each and every time you travel. In particular, you should try to organize cover on the excess charges most businesses have in place when you rent a car. In someplaces, the excess, which is the bit you pay yourself in the event of an collision, can be as high as 3,500 euros !
Once you collect your car rental, read the paperwork carefully before signing anything . Make sure you fully grasp what is and is not included in the insurance provided to you by the provider. If you decide to buy further insurance to cover the excess, make sure your cover is suitable.
You must inspect your car thoroughly before you actually accept the keys. If you find damage to your vehicle, ensure it is recorded on the car condition paperwork, and have the salesperson sign to confirm and agree any problems you uncover.
Always check that the tyres are in good condition, and this includes the emergency tyre. Many travellers have found to their cost that the spare tyre is either completely worn or non existent! Not a good experience in a foreign country where you probably don't speak the local language and will be at the mercy of the breakdown company who attend.
When you return the car, ask for authorized confirmation that there will not be any repair charges sent to you.
Make sure you take a look at your credit card statements when you come home. It isn't uncommon for charges to appear months after your visit, so be alert.
Additionally, always pay through a credit card if you can. The credit card business is often jointly liable in the case of any dispute.
If a hire car is provided as part of a package holiday deal, and you do have to deal with problems with the car, you will probably be able to claim reimbursement through ABTA, so confirm your tour operator is a professional member.