Booking car rental online is quick and easy if you know what to look out for.  You will normally be asked to type in your airport destination, date and time of pick-up.  In most cases you will be asked your flight number and scheduled arrival time, your drop off date, time and location.  You will also be asked a few questions about the name of the person who will be driving the car and age and possibly gender.

Make yourself aware of hidden fees.  With some research and planning, you can avoid the fees that some rental companies tack on that you won’t find out about until you go to pick up the car.

Look for an all-inclusive quote  for a specific period of time like the one offers.  This way you won’t get any nasty surprises from extras like the airport concession recovery fee (which some rental companies sneak on the agreement as a percentage on the complete deal).However, companies generally don’t like to include insurance costs in their quotes because this is a negotiable process and depends on how much excess you are willing to pay in the event of a prang.

With many car hire companies, if a vehicle is damaged, the driver has to pay the first amount of the repair bill.  In some countries this can be over EUR1,000.  Where possible take out Damage Excess Waiver (DEW) with your car hire, this costs just £2.50 a day and gives you peace of mind that any excess paid will be refunded back to you at the end of the hire as long as your Car Rental Agency are sent a police and accident report form if you have a claim.

Fixed mileage per rental day.

Check how much, if any, the cost is for additional mileage.  (Unlimited Mileage should be included in the price on all your car hire rentals).

I know it’s a pain but make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully before confirming your reservation.  Look for possible restrictions, details and hidden costs.  Make sure you understand the conditions of your reservation. Is there a penalty if you cancel?  How long do they hold the car if you are delayed? Is there a fee for additional drivers? Is there an extra fee for child seats, roof racks etc.

Book your car when you book your flight.  Sometimes the earlier you book, the better the deal you’ll get.

If you just turn up at the car rental desk at the airport without booking you will pay over the top and most probably won’t get the size or type of car you want.  Instead of the car you want you’ll get what the company has on offer and pay the maximum rate.  Also try and avoid booking your car rental from a local company once you get to your holiday destination as the cars may not be as reliable and you could find yourself on your own if you hit problems.  Language can become a barrier in the booking process, leaving additional costs hidden.  This is providing there are cars available. 

Never be tempted by a cheap, fabulous day rate for the rental vehicle you’re planning to book.  A lot of extra charges may apply like airport surcharges, insurance, sales taxes, licensing fees, local and state taxes, concession recovery fees, customer facility charges, mandatory theft protection, young driver fees to name just a few.  By the time the extra charges are added onto your bill, you may find yourself paying almost double the cheap car rental base rate your were quoted.

What car is best

Consider your luggage requirement, how many passengers, Is it going to be hot (if so air conditioning is a must), budget and economy.    If you aim to use the car to cover large distances during your holiday, a larger car may make this more pleasant.

Watch out for the hefty “one-way” fee

If you are only planning to drive from one destination to the next and leave the car there, rental companies will charge extra to return the car to its point of origin.  As a general rule of thumb, the further the distance (from point of origin), the higher the charge.

Airport Taxes

If you have booked your car hire rental at an airport location, in many cases the l agency is contractually required to pay an airport tax to the airport.  Check that this fee is included in the quoted price, some online car hire booking engines do not mention this charge at all until the moment you’re almost ready to confirm the car hire booking online.

Once you’ve booked your rental car

Go online and google the driving laws for the country you are visiting or go to the Embassy  to familiarise yourself with the local rules of the road well before you actually get into the car.  Study such details as which side of the road to drive on, road signs, laws using mobiles etc.  Also check parking restrictions.

Another source to check is an up-to-date guide book for the area.

When you collect Your Rental Car

Before you drive away from the airport or pick-up point you should inspect the car carefully for any dents or scratches.  Don’t just leave it to the agent.  You should do your own check because the agents have been known to miss the odd scratch or two and when it comes down to it you’re the one that would be responsible for any damage not marked up on the agreement once you return the car.  If you spot anything yourself it is worth getting the agent to co-sign the agreement form.  Also check all the accessories, wipers, radio, brakes, seatbelts, lights, signals etc not only to familiarize yourself with them, but also to check if they work.  Again you could be charged for this if you don’t inform them of any breakages.  Another thing you should do is start the car up and make sure it is running fairly well with no strange noises.  Check the mileage odometer and report any defects straight away.

Quite often people get into a rental car, start it up and head straight out into the streets getting caught up with the busy airport traffic, busses and taxi’s trying to make sense of the foreign road signs whilst trying to familarise themselves with the different, unfamiliar  knobs, buttons and controls without really knowing where they are going.

Consult your map before driving off (most car rental companies will give you a map of the area).  You should always work out your route yourself before handing the map over to your passenger.

Returning your car

Be wary of pre-paid petrol plans.  Car rental companies charge double the market rate to top up the car.  Always fill the tank yourself before returning the vehicle so that you’re only paying for the amount of petrol you actually used.

Unless of course, you’re really in a hurry and risk missing your plane due to the delay of finding a petrol station and filling up the tank.

Try to avoid the petrol stations right near the airport where you’re dropping off your car – the prices tend to be highest there.  Instead, fill up a few miles away.

Be sure that the check-in attendant inspects the car’s body work in your presence and that you agree about any damage.  Examine your rental agreement carefully for all charges and make sure they credit any deposit to your account while you wait.

Benefits Include:

• Fully inclusive car hire
• No insurance excess
• Unlimited mileage
• Free additional driver
• No hidden extras