12 COMMON HIRE CAR PITFALLS IN 2024

          –  HOW TO AVOID THEM & SAVE MONEY

iCarhireinsurance.com, a leading supplier of car hire excess insurance, has compiled a checklist to save money and avoid car hire pitfalls in 2024:

1. Book Early But Look for Last Minute Deals – Book early to get the hire car you want and at a good price, but make sure to use a company that offers free cancellation. A week before departure it may be worthwhile checking for better deals.

Also, shop around using a price comparison service or car hire broker, e.g., for a week’s summer hire in Crete* Europcar is quoting £312 rental fee, while Avis and Budget are quoting over £500.

2. Don’t Hire from the Main Airport / Railway Station – Compare the cost of hiring from the main transport hubs, i.e., the airport or railway station with the same company a short distance away, as the savings might be worth the taxi fare.

3. Shop Around for Excess Protection Cover. We found you could save around £150 – If a hire car is damaged or stolen, the hirer is responsible for the excess amount, which can be as high as £1,800*.

Buying excess protection cover in advance from a standalone provider, like iCarhireinsurance.com, is normally considerably cheaper and usually offers more comprehensive cover.

For example, a week’s summer hire (27 July to 3 Aug 2024) costs from £33.15** for a week’s protection from iCarhireinsurance.com and includes damage, theft, and tyre and windscreen cover. This is over five times cheaper than buying from the rental companies which, according to a survey of car hire costs*, charge, on average, £154 for excess protection cover and £23 for tyre and windscreen excess protection cover for a week – a total of £177. For those who use hire care more than once a year, an annual policy from iCarhireinsurance can offer even better value from just £41.99**.

4. Avoid Buying Extras From the Rental Desk and You Could Save Around £195* – Otherwise expect to pay, on average, £56 for an extra driver*, £72 for a sat nav and £67 for a child’s car seat costs £67 – a total of £195*.

5. Use a Credit Card for Booking and to cover the excess – Use a credit card to gain Section 75 protection under the Consumer Credit Act. This means the credit card provider will protect purchases over £100 (and less than £30,000) and you could get your money back if there is a problem.

Also, if you buy excess protection insurance in advance from a specialist insurance provider, and not the rental company, a credit card will be required by the rental company to cover the excess amount during the rental as debit cards are not usually accepted. If a claim is made, this is paid initially by the hirer on the credit card and is then reimbursed by the insurance company.

6. Read The Small Print to Avoid Any Unpleasant Surprises – Always read the agreement document thoroughly to make sure you are not agreeing to an upgrade or paying for the rental company’s excess protection cover if you don’t want it.

7. Check the Fuel Policy – Know the fuel policy before you drive away. If you need to return it with a full tank, make sure you do, as the penalties can be expensive. Keep the receipt from the petrol company as evidence.

8. Mileage Restrictions – If you are planning a driving holiday check for mileage restrictions to avoid getting caught out.

9. Take Photographic Evidence of Existing Damage – One in three (34%) hire car drivers*** found damage on a hire car which was not highlighted on the checkout sheet. To avoid unfair damage charges, check the vehicle thoroughly at pick-up and return and take dated photos or video proof.

iCarhireinsurance.com’s free travel app for travellers, called ‘iCarhire’, helps you to take and store photographs which can be easily accessed and used as evidence in the event of a dispute.

10. How to Complain – Go to the rental company within fourteen days with a complaint. If a satisfactory outcome is not reached, complaints can be directed to the BVRLA in the UK whose members, including Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Budget, Europcar and Sixt, are expected to adhere to its mandatory Codes of Conduct. An alternative is to contact the European Car Rental Conciliation Service (ECRCS), which offers a free service to help with unresolved complaints, but the rental must be with a company that has signed up, i.e., Europcar, Enterprise, AVIS, Budget, Maggiore, Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar, Alamo, National, Firefly and Sixt.

11. Running Late – Always stay in touch with the car hire company and ensure they are aware of your travel details, as car hire bookings can be cancelled if travellers are late.

12. Clean the Car – Anecdotally there are increasing reports of car hirers being fined for returning dirty cars. Try to keep the car in as clean a state as possible and take away rubbish and excess dirt.

Ben Wooltorton, from iCarhireinsurance.com, said: “Cost-conscious travellers should approach hiring a car exactly as they do other aspects of their holiday planning to ensure they get the best deal. To make your money go further, shop around for the best prices and don’t waste money on extras at the rental desk including items like sat navs and child car seats, that could have been brought from home, or bought in advance. Also, consider buying excess protection cover before your trip from a specialist insurance provider, like iCarhireinsurance.com.”