Leading comparator tackles the lack of transparency in car hire sector with its top tips and advice on essential car hire information
With the recession seeing car hire prices rise across the board this summer, leading price comparator Carrentals.co.uk is advising customers to get savvy when it comes to their car rental, with the company highlighting several of the key areas to be aware of to stop costs mounting up.
A recent survey by Carrentals.co.uk found that out of the 1,500 people questioned, more than a quarter had been charged unexpected additional costs for car hire, many of which were down to a lack of transparency by car rental firms, with customers agreeing to policies and payments they had not directly been informed about.
Gareth Robinson, Managing Director of Carrentals.co.uk, says: “Our recent survey findings demonstrate the need for better transparency and fairness in the car hire sector, as some customers reported having to pay hundreds of pounds extra for issues relating to their car hire, on top of the rental fee.
“Renting a car offers travellers the freedom to explore their holiday location in their own time and it should not be with the caveat of having to worry over surprise extra payments. We therefore want to make it easier for customers to experience hassle free car hire by making sure consumers are better aware of the processes involved. Every car rental firm has its own individual terms and conditions, but no matter who the supplier, being more clued up on issues
such as insurance and fuel policies will help keep costs down.”
To help customers avoid being caught out by surprise extra costs, Carrentals.co.uk has put together the following advice on essential car hire information:
- Credit Card Requirement – Many car hire firms require a credit card in the lead driver’s name in order to collect the car. Some companies do accept debit cards, but it must be in the lead driver’s name – a friend or family member’s card will not suffice. The card details are taken in case any charges are incurred during the rental.
- Excess Insurance – All car hire companies offer excess insurance policies at collection, but these are often more expensive than booking in advance with a third party and aren’t always as comprehensive. If customers already have a Collision Damage Excess Waiver policy in place, then it is their right to refuse any extra policies from the car hire company, but in case challenged on this, it is advisable to have a print out of the policy agreement to hand.
What customers do, however, need to be aware of, is that even with a Collision Damage Excess Waiver policy, if the hire car is damaged, the charge to cover this will be taken on their credit card, but with a Collision Damage Waiver Excess policy this amount will be fully refunded by the insurance company. Carrentals.co.uk offers Collision Damage Excess Waiver policies from Questor Insurance for only £3.99 a day.
- Border Charges – If hiring a car close to a country’s border, make sure you check the individual supplier’s policy, as some will charge extra to take the car into a different country.
- One Way Rentals – anyone planning to hire a car one way only should be aware that many suppliers will charge a fee for this (which can be much as £300 in some cases), as this leaves them with the task of relocating the vehicle themselves. It is advisable to contact the specific car rental company directly to confirm any costs for one way rental fees before confirming a booking.
- Out of Hours – one of the less common considerations when hiring a car is the opening hours of the rental office. If the collection point is in a major international airport, then there is unlikely to be an issue, but in smaller locations, especially away from airports, it is important to check the opening hours as if customers wish to collect a car ‘out of hours’, they will be charged a fee to cover re-opening of the office. Some locations, especially in smaller locations can sometimes be closed all day on Sundays.
- Fuel Policies – Again these depend on the individual rental provider, but the most common policies are; collecting the car with a full tank and returning it with a full tank; collecting the car with a full tank and paying for what is used; and probably most controversially, collecting the car with a full tank and returning it empty, which means getting value for money requires customers to use at least a tank full, even if this is not needed. If customers have a full to full policy, it is well worth making sure the tank is full on returning the vehicle, as if not, car hire firms may charge up to 40% more than pump prices to top up the tank.
- Child Seats – These can be rented from car hire suppliers, but their price and availability do vary. In some cases, costs can reach over £60 a week for rental. If baggage restrictions allow, customers may find it more economical to take their own.
Carrentals.co.uk’s tips and advice form part of its ‘Raising the Standard’ campaign, which sees the company calling for greater fairness and transparency in the travel industry. For more information on Raising the Standard or to access the forum, blog or to download travel advice papers, visit www.carrentals.co.uk_raising_the_standard.
Carrentals.co.uk compares car hire deals from up to 50 rental companies, including Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, easyCar, Holiday Autos and Sixt, in over 9,000 locations worldwide.
To compare the latest car hire deals visit www.carrentals.co.uk
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