When you’re presented with your online car hire quote it’s perfectly reasonable to assume that this is the price you’ll be paying. While it’s important to remember that any figures you receive from a comparison site are not guaranteed, it should be safe to expect no further costs providing the information you declare is correct.
There are sadly a number of hidden charges that can be applied and usually these arise due to an error of judgement on the part of the driver. Maybe you’ve returned the vehicle a little late or perhaps you’ve neglected to refuel before dropping the vehicle back to the car hire office.
The charges applied in circumstances such as these may be high but it’s important to remember that they are usually avoidable.
The majority of car hire firms will have a very small period of grace – possibly less than half an hour when it comes to late returns. If you think you are likely to be later than anticipated, possibly because you’re stuck in traffic, make a call ahead to the hire office. Arrangements could then be made in order to avoid any punitive charge.
Refuelling is always a tricky subject and this is where you need to be aware of the hire company’s policy before you drive away. In most cases you will be given a full tank and be asked to top up again before the car is returned.
This is usually the fairest method but make sure you are aware of the location of the nearest filling station. If there is any room for extra petrol, you may find that you are paying for fuel at a higher rate and you could even be faced with an additional ‘fuelling’ charge.
It’s sadly a common misconception amongst many drivers these days that car hire insurance covers absolutely everything. In fact, damage to areas such as the windscreen, the tyres and the undercarriage is not insured and you will be asked for reimbursement in the event of any problems occurring.
That means it is imperative that you check your vehicle both inside and out before you drive away and that you make sure that any damage, no matter how slight, is recorded on the car hire firm’s inventory.
This will give you peace of mind and make sure that you aren’t charged at a later date for someone else’s bad driving.
If you are hiring a car for a longer period of time you will also need to check on the mileage allowance and if there is a strict limitation, how will it impinge on your hire period. If there are high additional charges for straying over the limit then you might want to consider options with other firms.
Overall, car hire shouldn’t be a complicated business but you will need to do your research in order to avoid any of the charges listed above. By checking the contract and its terms and conditions you can however ensure a completely trouble free rental period.