Renting a car when traveling can be a great way to explore further afield, but it can come with a few hiccups. Thinking back to my own adventures with rental cars, I can remember:
- Being hit by another driver who ran a stop sign in Niagara Falls.
- The rental agency in South Africa that tried to rip me off by claiming damage and then trying to bill multiple insurance companies.
- Being unable to figure out how to put our rental car in reverse at Paris airport. To be fair, a local bus driver and several other people who came to help couldn’t figure it out either. I spent the next hour translating the car’s manual while my husband drove.
The following tips can help you avoid all manner of problems, from contract calamities to booking blunders, mechanical mishaps to driving debacles, so that you can get on the road and enjoy your vacation.
Booking Your Rental Car
Book in advance wherever possible. The pricing and car options will probably be better than if you try to rent on the spot. And you don’t want to arrive at a foreign destination, tired after a flight, only to discover there are no vehicles available.
It seems simple enough to go online, do a quick search, and presto! Your car is booked. Not so fast. Sadly, rental car scams are becoming all too common. The Better Business Bureau reports that con artists are increasingly impersonating rental car company representatives to scam unwitting travelers.
Harry Anapliotis is the CEO of Rental Center Crete, a premier car hire company based on the island of Crete, Greece. He says, “As we approach the busy summer travel season, travelers are becoming increasingly savvy, but the scammers often adapt their strategies just as quickly.”
One common scam is to tell the renter that there is a special deal at the moment. Pay up-front when booking with a debit card or prepaid card and you can get a special rate. They then may offer to tell you an insider tip (“my boss doesn’t want you to know) advising you to use specific cards for a bigger discount. Upon arrival, you will find there is no rental agency, or there is no record of your booking and, since you didn’t pay by credit card, you have no way of getting your money back.
When booking, using a credit card offers better financial protection against scams. It may also be worth checking the fine print of your credit card to see if insurance is included.
Read the Contract
Speaking of fine print, make sure you read the contract for your rental carefully. A lot of times, agencies will use hidden fees and confusing language to inflate your bill.
Things to watch for include:
- Mileage limits. Does your rental come with unlimited mileage? Or is there a daily/trip limit? If it’s the latter and you don’t know about it, you may find yourself with an unwelcome bill when you return the car. If you exceed the cap, the fee for the excess can be astronomical. Harry says, “If you plan on driving extensively, look for deals that offer unlimited mileage to avoid any excess charges.”
- Fuel policy. Does the car come with a full tank? What about when you return it? Many rental companies charge a hefty fee for refueling. “Opt for a ‘full-to-full’ policy where you receive the car with a full tank and return it the same way,” suggests Harry. “Full-to-full is usually the fairest deal as you only pay for the fuel you actually use.”
- Insurance. This can be a tricky one, and I have made the mistake myself. If you already have travel insurance that covers car hire, make sure your rental agreement does not include an additional policy. You’ll be paying twice needlessly. The optional insurance that comes with the policy is often more expensive than a third-party travel policy. You may also find your credit card offers automatic insurance. Even if you have told the agency you have other coverage, double-check the policy when you collect the car to ensure no extra charges have snuck in.
- Additional fees. Rental agencies may try to sneak in other fees, including those for additional drivers, young drivers, infant car seats, or GPS. Again, read carefully and only pay for what you need.
Keep a printout of any bookings you made online as proof, should you need it.
“Knowing the rules of the road can mean the difference between smooth travels and unexpected fines. By checking these rules in advance, you can ensure a safe and stress-free driving experience abroad.”
Harry Anapliotis, CEO OF RENTAL CENTER CRETE
Other Tips When Renting a Car
Experts also offer the following tips that can come in handy when you are renting a car:
- Avoid airport pickups. This isn’t always practical but it is worth remembering that airport rentals may be more expensive with convenience fees or additional taxes. Shop around to see if you will save by renting a car at a nearby off-airport rental location.
- Inspect the car thoroughly. Before you leave the rental lot, check the car carefully for any pre-existing damage, both inside and outside. Some unscrupulous agencies will try to later charge you for dents that were already there. Harry suggests, “Take photos and make sure any dents, scratches, or issues are documented in your rental agreement. This prevents you from being held responsible for damage you didn’t cause.”
- Check local licensing regulations. Just because you can drive legally at home does not mean you can automatically drive in another country. In some countries, your standard driving license is all you need when renting a car. Others may require an International Driving Permit (IDP) as well as your license. For instance, Japan, Brazil, and Thailand expect you to have an IDP. You may be unable to rent a car without one. Or you may find that you go to pick up your car and are refused. Travelers from the US can obtain an IDP from AAA before leaving home. British travelers can find more information here.
- Is your license clean? Some countries have strict policies regarding driving records, meaning certain offenses could disqualify you from driving there. For instance, Canada and New Zealand may deny rental cars or even entry to drivers with serious past offenses like DUIs.
- Check rental age restrictions. Just because you can legally drive a car doesn’t mean you can legally rent one. Every country and agency has their own rules about minimum driving age. Within the US, age requirements vary from state to state, with some permitting rentals at 18, others at 21. There may also be an extra fee for under 25s.
- What side of the road? This may sound obvious, but it is not unusual to find a confused international driver turning and unwittingly entering the wrong lane. Adjusting to driving on the opposite side of the road can be challenging, particularly at intersections and roundabouts. The UK, Australia, and Japan drive on the left, while the US, France, and Canada drive on the right.
- Know the local traffic laws. In my hometown in England, there is a particular roundabout that is a dome-shaped hump in the middle of the road. When I was younger, every summer there would be at least one case of a foreign visitor getting stuck on the hump because they didn’t realise they were supposed to drive around it. Now I live in Lexington where the few roundabouts are marked with everything from flashing lights to signs indicating what you are supposed to do in one. The roundabout is just one example of a local traffic feature that you may or not be used to. Other examples are whether you can turn on a red light, who has right of way, and what the speed limit is. My general rule of thumb is to follow what local drivers are doing.
If you are an old hat at renting a car when you travel, this is all information that you probably already know. If this is your first time renting, don’t panic. Read everything carefully, make sure you are protected, and enjoy your vacation!
