You have organised your holiday abroad, now you need to arrange car hire. When hiring a car on the Internet, even from one of the larger companies, you may think you have come across a bargain until you arrive at the airport to collect your car. To avoid booking the worst deal of your vacation, always pay attention to the small print and understand the meaning of the quotes given online. Make it a habit to check the wording and documentation on the site carefully, even if you are renting a car from a major car hire company.
Misrepresentation of car rental prices on Internet sites
There may be an “approximate” price quoted on the website of the car rental firm. This is not only misleading but often incorrect. To avoid disappointment and unwelcome surprises, check that this price includes:
- different types of insurance
- local tax
- stamp duty
- valet service
- filling the car with petrol on return
- airport tax
- unlimited mileage
- breakdown assistance
- extra charges for the additional driver
Firstly, many of the items listed as ‘optional’ on car-hire websites soon become compulsory costs once collecting the car from the airport. For example, collision damage waiver and other insurances are not necessarily optional because their non-compulsory status depends on the country in which you will be driving. The word "optional" for many of the items listed misleads customers into believing that the total price they will pay is close to the "approximate price" quoted on the website of the car rental company. However, once in the arrivals lounge of the airport, car-hire customers may discover the approximate price quoted on the internet was only 50 per cent of the total cost.
To avoid unexpected overheads that can eat away into your spending money, potential customers should check carefully that they have interpreted the tables presented on the Internet correctly. Often the optional items are listed in a separate column parallel to the approximate cost column and are not included in the approximate price. This tabular form or representing prices and optional costs, makes it even harder for the client to notice or calculate the true cost of the car rental.
What does 'total price' mean in a car rental contract?
Not only are prices represented in a confusing manner, often there is no "total price" quoted on the website. Customers may only receive the total cost of the car hire when they arrive at their destination because the main car-hire company cannot calculate or predict local costs of insurance, foreign currency exchange rates and so forth.
Also, take into consideration when rental firms request credit card payment at the destination, the final rental price you receive, once at your destination, may be higher than that quoted on the Internet and you will pay foreign currency surcharges. Therefore, be prepared:
- read and check the small print of Internet documentation
- calculate the approximate cost of the car hire including all the "optional" items listed
- look for words such as "optional," "inclusive," and "fully inclusive" and notice what they refer to
- understand what is included in the terms of agreement
- be wary of 'bargain' upgrades to the next category of vehicle
If the total car rental price presented at your destination is still much greater than your calculated cost, you may still have the option to hire a car with a different company before you sign your rental lease.
Check if car valet and petrol are included in car rental prices
Many large companies charge a valet service if they deem the car not clean enough on its return. They also insist that the petrol tank is full. These may sound like innocuous costs but a full valet service can set you back a day’s spending money. Again, before signing rental agreements, check thoroughly the meaning of valet service and when it is required and its cost. Also many airports are miles away from the nearest petrol station, so you may end up filling the tank at the very high rates charged at the airport or even worse – the rates levied by the car-hire company because you have not followed the signed agreement. Both filling at the airport and ignoring the rental agreement clauses may lead to paying a price almost 3 times the amount of the regular petrol prices.
Why you should read car rental contract small print
So, potential car renters be aware of the layout of the car rental’s internet site. Look for wording that allows for misrepresentation of the final car rental costs. Make sure that the "approximate total" is not actually 50 per cent of the total costs that you will eventually have to pay. Check thoroughly what you are expected to pay if the payment takes place in the country of destination and not directly to the company over the internet site. Remember, large car-hire companies are not always the cheapest deal; they may be relying on their popular name to attract your attention.
Lesley Lanir - Freelance writer, lecturer and teacher trainer Lesley Lanir, writes on foreign language learning disorders, linguistics, and literature.
