When making the reservation
Read the terms and conditions carefully and pay special attention to the following points:
- Does the final price include unlimited mileage?
- What are the terms of the basic insurance and of the extensions to the same? To what extent is my liability limited by the payment of an insurance with an excess?
- Is there a charge for collecting the vehicle at one office and dropping it off at another office? And for collecting it at a particular office, for example at an airport? Is it included in the precontract price or will it be included later in the final contract when I collect the vehicle?
Can I take the vehicle out of the country? Does this involve any extra costs?
Credit card or debit card? Although the reservation can often be made with a debit card, a credit card in the driver's name is normally required in order to collect the vehicle.
At the Car Rental Office
Arrive well in advance and make sure that you understand the terms of the contract perfectly before signing.
The driver will be responsible for any damage to the vehicle from the moment of its collection until it has been inspected by the company at the time of drop-off.
When collecting the vehicle, the office staff will probably offer you the option of an additional insurance with excess to limit your liability. With this extra cover you undertake to pay all the damage repair costs up to the agreed amount, after which the company will be responsible for any costs.
Find out about any particular situations which are not covered by this type of insurance as, in many cases, damage to windows, wheels, windscreen wipers, etc. are not included.
Check what sort of fuel the vehicle uses as a mistake when filling the tank may cause severe damage to the engine, for which the driver will be responsible.
Several options are normally offered with regard to the filling of the tank. Find out which option you have contracted:
Inspect the vehicle closely before signing the contract and notify the office staff of any minor damage you find. Make sure that this is recorded in writing in a report and that you are given a copy. Any damage that has not been reported at the time will be the driver's responsibility.
During the rental period
If you have an accident, you must immediately contact the company and fill in the accident report. If third parties are involved, you should ask them to complete the relevant sections.
If an offence is committed, it is the driver's responsibility. The company will normally charge you administrative fees for sending your details to the authority issuing the fine. Then, you will receive the fine at the address provided in the contract.
Returning the vehicle
Arrive at the rental office in good time and make sure that a company employee inspects the car.
Although many cars offer the option to return the car when the office is closed, we recommend you return the vehicle during office hours. Otherwise, you will be responsible for any damage to the vehicle until a member of staff inspects the car.
Take photos of the interior and exterior of the vehicle at the time of return.
