10 hours ago
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It is not too late to get a good deal on your holiday car rental, even if you have booked already and are travelling soon. But there are many pitfalls to avoid so that you do not end up paying over the odds.
A survey from Which? found that one in eight people who had hired a car in the past two years had ended up paying more than they were first quoted.
“Booking car hire should be straightforward, but hidden fees, unclear terms and costly add-ons still make it difficult for travellers to compare prices and know who is really offering the best deal,” says Guy Hobbs, a travel expert at the consumer group.
“Too often we hear from holidaymakers who have faced poor customer service and unexpected charges that turn a seemingly cheap rental into an expensive one.”
Booking
Booking directly with a hire company will not necessarily give you the best deal, so check out as many aggregator and broker websites as possible.
Those such as Carrentals.co.uk, Skyscanner, Kayak and Zest Car Rental cover holiday destinations around the world.
When comparing offers, it is vital that you are clear about what you are getting for the price. A cheaper deal may not be offering everything you want.
One of the most important things to look out for is free cancellation. Many providers offer this and the period often runs up to 48 or 72 hours before the booking starts.
As rental prices fluctuate all the time, watch out for the best deals and switch if you come across something that is better value.
Figures from iCarhireinsurance showed European hires for the same holiday week went down in price by 16% in July compared with January last year. This means a week-long rental in places such as Nice and Crete could be £100 cheaper if you cancel and rebook.
When booking, aim for a deal with unlimited mileage – otherwise you will be charged for every mile that you go over the limit. And pick a deal where you return the car full of fuel, rather than returning it empty, to avoid the often high price of rental firms’ petrol and diesel.
When overseas, it is worth refilling your car a short distance away from the airport, as prices near the terminal can be higher than elsewhere.
Look at the customer rating applied to the provider, which is often attached to search rankings. It is worth paying more and getting a reliable provider, than going with a poorly rated one that is cheap.
Collection
All rentals in the UK and Europe will come with a level of insurance. If there is an accident, or damage is caused to the vehicle you have rented, you will typically have to pay an excess, and the insurance will cover the rest. But this excess can be hundreds – and sometimes thousands – of pounds.
When you pick up your car, the rental company will often try to sell you “extra” or “top-up” insurance to cover that excess.
This is usually bad value. Instead, buy your own policy before you travel. If there is an accident, then you pay the excess to the rental company and claim it back off your policy.
You can compare these car hire excess policies using aggregator sites such as MoneyMaxim. Which? scores the Cover4Rentals silver plan highest. You can buy single, or multi-trip policies. It charges £30.50 a year for one driver hiring cars on multiple trips to Europe.
The excess and other deposits will be authorised on your credit card – a debit card will usually not be accepted.
Make sure you have enough credit available and that the credit card is in the name of the person who made the booking. Also make sure you take your driving licence.
Once you have the keys, check the car thoroughly for any damage, and take time-stamped pictures and a video of any scrapes, scratches or other problems. Report back straight away anything that is different from the details in the hire documents that the company sent you. If it is too dark to do an inspection, do it the next day, make a note and inform the rental company. Make sure the fuel tank is full.
If you are collecting your car late at night, you may be charged extra for “out of hours” pickup.
For example, Hertz at Dublin airport charges €30 (£26) after midnight for a “late service fee”. Other rental companies may charge similar fees, though the amount will vary. Check the terms and conditions of the rental carefully.
Drop-off
After refilling the car at a garage, take it back and stay for the inspection. Try to get the paperwork completed there and then. If there has been an accident, ensure you keep all documents and receipts for a later claim on your excess insurance.
If you are delayed and are going to return the car late, you may be charged an extra day of rental fees. Companies will often have a grace period, typically 29 minutes after the car is due to be returned, for you to bring it back without penalty, but these can vary.
Once home, keep an eye on your card statements to make sure that any money ringfenced on your credit card has been returned.
If you have a problem and have not got a resolution through the car rental company’s complaints procedure, you can lodge a complaint with the European Car Rental Conciliation Service.
However, the ECRCS only covers companies signed up to the scheme and in Europe. They are Alamo Rent A Car, Avis Budget, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National Car Rental, Sixt, Thrifty and Firefly.
In the UK, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association has a conciliation service.
If you have a problem with a rental in the US, complain to the company first, then ask your bank whether you can raise a chargeback against the company.
The UK International Consumer Centre, a government-funded body, can help with advice.
