Top Tips On Hiring A Car

Book It Early

During the high season of summer months, hire cars in your chosen resort may become especially thin on the ground.

In order to secure the vehicle you want, at a price that represents good value for money, therefore, the earlier you book, the less likely you are to be disappointed.

Insurance

European car hire insurance is a particular bug-bear for many visiting motorists – so much so, in fact, that the whole question of insurance plays a prominent part in the so-called Rental Charter of the European Car Rental Conciliation Service (ECRCS) founded by major leading hire car operators on the continent.

The Charter calls for customers to be given clear and explicit explanations for the insurance cover they may be buying with their hire car and, in particular, transparency with respect to insurance excess options.

Less scrupulous rental companies in Europe indulge in especially hard sell tactics when it comes to persuading customers to buy excess insurance – rather than pay upwards of a thousand pounds in excess charges if an accident occurs.

This pressure may be avoided altogether, however, simply by buying your excess insurance from an independent, UK-based source – such as us here at Bettersafe – before you set out on your holidays.

Choosing Your Car

One of the more obvious tips – but nevertheless one worth repeating – is the importance of choosing the size, make and model of the hire car that most suits your holiday needs.

A small, compact car might be fine for running around cities and built-up areas, for instance, but less appropriate if you are planning to drive long distances or use your hire car for touring. 

If you arrive at the rental company’s check-in desk to be told that the car you booked is no longer available and you need to upgrade to a different vehicle, you might want to stand your ground and insist that in such a case you need to pay no extra.

Fuel Policies

When hiring a car in Europe you might want to beware of the increasingly widespread practice of having you pay upfront for a full tank of petrol, on the understanding that it is to be returned with an empty tank.

Of course, you are likely to find it practically impossible to return the car with an empty tank – with the result that you are paying twice over for fuel you have not used.

Pick Up & Drop Off

You might want to pay especially close attention to the condition of the car when you take delivery of it – noting every scratch and dent and backing up your record with pictures on your camera or smartphone.

The same goes for the inspection check when you return the vehicle and especially if you are dropping it off after hours.

Remember to check any debits on your credit card when you return home and follow up on the recovery of those charges which you believe to have been made unfairly or in error.

By following some of these tips and suggestions, your experiences of renting a car in Europe this year are hopefully only good ones.