3. Renting a car on holiday: a few tips worth knowing

Both businesspeople and holidaymakers rent cars. You can rent a car on the spot or book it on the internet. There are some things you need to be aware of when renting a vehicle. Rights and obligations apply before, during and after rental.

The following tips can prevent difficulties.

• First compare prices and read the general conditions
• A detailed contract is important
• You may still have an amount to pay on the final bill
• When you receive the vehicle, check its condition properly
• Checks by both parties when returning the vehicle
• Specific rules for payments by credit card
• Third party liability is covered. Additional insurance is optional
• You must respect the highway code of the country where you are driving
  

The car rental market is very competitive. Each company applies its own rates and defines its own general conditions. A car rental company may offer advantageous prices, but are the general terms and conditions as favourable as those of a more expensive competitor? The main thing therefore is to compare what is on offer in advance.

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You receive a written confirmation when you book, on the spot or on the internet. As well as the parties’ details, this document states the rental price, the category of vehicle, the rental period, etc. You may also have to pay various additional taxes and supplements. You may also have to pay a supplement depending on the driver's age, or the number of drivers who are mentioned. You may have to pay a deposit as well. One company may ask for a fixed amount in cash when you collect the car, while another may require authorisation to debit the amount it thinks is necessary from your credit card (in the event of damage - see below). All this information must be stated in the contract.

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You may still have something to pay when you return the vehicle and the final bill is drawn up. There are various reasons for this: you only made an advance payment when you booked, you returned the car too late, you didn't fill the tank up with petrol, you signed an additional insurance policy, etc. Look at the final bill very carefully and don’t hesitate to ask the agency for explanations if there is any doubt.

Some rental companies allow you to return the vehicle to a place other than the one where you collected it. You will generally have to pay more for this option.

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You have to fill in various documents when you go to collect the vehicle. One of the most important points is the description of the condition. Before you take the car away, check its condition. Make a note of all the dents, scratches and any other damage that you see. Agencies generally have a standard form which is completed and signed by both parties together. Don’t miss out any details, because this document will be used as a reference when you return the vehicle. Any fresh damage will be noted and charged for. If this form was not drawn up when you took possession of the vehicle, it is assumed that you have returned the vehicle in its initial condition.

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It is best to assess the condition of the vehicle together with the rental company when you return it. Once both parties have signed the 'condition on return' document, the rental company cannot charge you any additional costs for damage that is not stated in this document.

If you return the rented car outside opening hours, then it is impossible for both parties to assess the condition of the vehicle. You then run the risk that the rental company will charge you for damage you did not cause. It is a general principle in law that the rental company has to prove that the hirer is responsible for damage. You can avoid this difficult situation by returning the car during opening hours and drawing up an inventory of the condition of the vehicle jointly with the rental company.

Conversely, if you recognise that you have damaged the rented vehicle, it is advisable to obtain an estimate beforehand of the costs of repair at a garage. If the amount that the rental company charges you appears to be unreasonable, you can always quote this estimate in your defence.

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Some credit card issuers impose specific rules on car rental companies. Some card issuers do not allow car rental firms to charge repair costs without your prior agreement. If the rental company does this, then you should dispute this as soon as possible with the rental company and also the card issuer, to block the transaction until the dispute is settled.

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When you rent a vehicle in Europe, you are automatically covered for third-party liability (civil liability). This covers material damage and physical injury caused to third parties. Some rental agencies make you pay an excess if a third party is harmed.

Car rental companies usually advise you to take out additional insurance. Each additional insurance policy has a specific set of conditions and scope of application. Don’t hesitate to ask the rental company for information. According to the type of damage and the insurance cover, the rental company may or may not charge you for additional costs (repair, excess, etc.)

If you decide to take out extra insurance, you must receive a document with the terms of the insurance contract. In the event of an accident or problem, the first thing to do is to contact the rental agency. Some insurers impose a maximum time limit within which incidents must be reported. The agency will tell you what further steps to take.

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Whichever country you are using the hired car in, you must comply with the local highway code. You will be held responsible for any infringements. The rental company will forward penalty notices for infringements. If you are fined for an infringement you did not commit, it is always possible to contest this.

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