Renting a car in Europe

Renting a vehicle at your holiday destination is a practical transportation solution, but it does not come without risks. What should you look out for when booking online? Why do car rental companies often require a credit card? What should you be checking for at the rental agency?...

Here is our practical advice on how to rent a car abroad without adding unnecessary stress to your holiday.

Take the time to compare your options. Some special offers can considerably reduce the cost of your rental (advance booking, promotional weekends, etc.). For instance, you can use an Internet broker or intermediary to reserve a vehicle. Be aware that in this case, you will sign a second rental contract at the local agency, whose terms and conditions may differ from those of the broker. An alternative option is to ask the travel agency or airline that sold you your travel ticket. They often negotiate with rental companies to offer their customers preferable rates.

Before reserving a car rental through a website, check customer reviews on the Internet. Always review the general terms and conditions to find out about the rental company’s or intermediary’s cancellation policy, as the 14-day right of withdrawal laid out by the European Union does not apply to car rentals. In this case, terms and conditions are very important!

Pay close attention to the options and conditions laid out in the contract:

• Additional costs not included in your reservation (e.g. fuel option, return outside opening hours, cleaning fees, etc.) or additional options billed on top of the reservation (e.g. child seat, additional driver, GPS, etc.).
• Unlimited mileage option: make sure this option is indicated in your contract if you want to be able to drive without keeping track of the distance travelled.
• Traffic restrictions imposed by the rental company: there may be geographical limits set beyond which you are not authorised to drive the vehicle. For example, crossing a border or leaving the EU. Be aware that if you break this rule, you will no longer be covered by insurance and the rental company may apply a penalty. A rental company may also forbid you to take a ferry or require you to drive only on paved roads (often in Iceland or Mediterranean countries).
• Compulsory on-board equipment. In the event of an inspection, it is highly likely that the driver (i.e. you) will be held responsible and fined if anything is found damaged or missing.

Tip: Before you leave, find out about the traffic rules and speed limits set by the country you are visiting. Each EU member country has its own particular driving rules. For example, in some Italian towns, there are limited traffic zones.

• Minimum age to rent: this varies depending on the rental company and category of the vehicle. Generally, it is between 18 and 21 years of age.
• A driver’s licence valid for more than one year. Depending on the rental company, this period of validity may be up to two years. The licence must be issued by a Member State and be valid (mutually recognised) within the EU.
• A valid mode of payment with your first and last name (check it matches the name you used for the booking) accepted by the company.

Third-party liability (which covers personal injury and damage to the vehicle caused by third-parties) is compulsory. In principle, it is automatically included in the rental price. You will often find it under the acronym TI or TPI in the general terms and conditions.

Theft and damage to the vehicle caused by the driver are generally not covered by third-party liability. These are often supplementary options that can be included in the rental price. You will find them under the acronyms CDW or TP (with or without an excess, i.e. you may be left with a sum to pay) and generally "Super Cover" or "SCDW" (reduced or zero excess).

As a driver, your individual protection is rarely included in the contract. The rental company may offer you an additional, chargeable option (usually called a "PAI").

Supplementary insurance can be useful because it helps reduce costs in the event of an accident or theft. This optional insurance is used to reduce the excess applied by rental companies. If you take out this type of insurance, your liability in the event of damage and/or theft is limited, and the excess you have to pay will be between 600 – 1500 euros. You can take out insurance that eliminates the excess/reduces it to 0 eurosin the event of an accident/theft of the vehicle. But be careful! These insurance options often contain exclusions that you should check carefully in the terms and conditions (obligation to notify the police in the event of an accident, damage to tires/glass breakage/underbody/roof not covered, loss of keys/damage to locks not covered, incorrect fuel not covered, insurance void in the event of an accident while under the influence of alcohol/drugs or as a result of failure to comply with the local highway regulations, etc.).

The main acronyms you should know when taking out supplementary insurance.

• LDW/ CDW/Super CDW: insurance against physical damage to the vehicle with an excess paid by the customer.
• TP/TW/TPC: theft insurance with excess.
• SLDW/Super CDW: insurance against physical damage to the vehicle with reduced or zero excess.
• PAI/PI/SPAI: insurance for passengers (in the event of accidental death, bodily injury, and medical expenses).
• PEC: insurance against theft of personal items.
• OAC/FPO: Fuel Purchase Option.

If there is more than one person who will be driving your car, check that you have taken out insurance for the second driver. It can cost extra, but it will be very useful in the event of an accident. If you don’t have it, the insurance company may refuse to cover any damages caused by the second driver.

You should also be aware that most rental companies charge a young driver’s insurance supplement for those under 25.

Most rental companies will ask you for a deposit. This is a direct debit authorisation sent to your bank. The amount generally corresponds with the amount of excess and is intended to cover any damage. The higher the category of vehicle rented, the higher the deposit required.

You should be aware that the price and conditions of return are independently determined by rental companies. However, they must be clearly displayed on the premises and in the general terms and conditions. Don’t hesitate to check these conditions at the rental company.

Before renting a vehicle in Europe, first check the type of bank card you have! While you may be able to book a vehicle online using a debit card, many car rental companies require you to present a credit card in the name of the primary driver. This is for the following reasons :

• A credit card with the word CREDIT printed on it is a card whose amounts are debited on a deferred basis (e.g. consumer credit cards, revolving credit cards, etc.). It allows you to block a sum of money on the card without it necessarily being available in your bank account. The rental company can therefore block an amount corresponding to the security deposit without actually cashing it in.
• A debit card with the word DEBIT printed on it is the most common type of bank card in France. This is an immediate debit card: sums are debited from the account within 48 hours of the card being used. It is not always possible to block a deposit, which means that rental companies must ask permission from your bank first. If pre-authorisation is not possible on the card, the rental company will need to deduct it. Therefore, you will need to have sufficient funds in your account at the time the reservation is made (1,000 euros, sometimes 2,000 euros). At the end of the rental period, part of or all of this sum will be refunded to you.

To avoid additional labour and costs, many rental companies prefer to refuse cards that are marked as debit and, if the driver is unable to produce a credit card in their name, rental companies may require additional insurance, which is often costly.

Before confirming your booking, double-check the terms and conditions and make sure that all available options and your choice of insurance have been taken into account.

Remember to print out your booking confirmation as well as the terms and conditions of your contract. They will come in handy when you arrive at the rental agency to collect your vehicle. Before signing the rental contract, check that it includes the same elements as those written on the booking form. Never sign a contract you don’t understand! Check each option carefully and ask for explanations or for the removal of unwanted clauses.

You arrive at the rental agency, but things don’t go according to plan: the vehicle you booked isn’t available or there are no employees present when you check in. What should you do?

If the car model you booked does not match the one offered in the agency (due to lack of availability), you do not need to pay more for a vehicle in a higher price range.

Conversely, if the vehicle is in a lower price range, the price you pay must be readjusted.

When you collect your vehicle, an inventory should be drawn up in the presence of an employee of the rental company, if possible. If an employee is not present, check that the pre-filled rental contract/schedule of condition accurately indicates any damage (scratches, bumps, etc.) and that additional options you requested have been provided (GPS, radio, child seat, etc.). Carefully check all details, especially the areas most likely to have been damaged (rims underside of the vehicle/shock absorber, interior of the vehicle and fabrics, presence of the rear shelf and aerial, etc.).

If you become aware of any damage to or malfunction of the vehicle that was not reported during inventory just after departure, write to the rental company immediately to inform them and take photos of the damage.

In the event of an accident, refer to the rental guide and notify the rental company and local police immediately. Some contracts give you an emergency contact number.

An accident report must be drawn up and submitted to the agency.

In the event of theft, you must file a complaint and return the keys and vehicle papers to the rental company. Your liability will be limited to the amount of the deductible, but only if you have taken out insurance to cover damage to and/or theft of the vehicle.

If you commit an offence abroad, you are liable for the same penalties as local drivers. You pay the fines, plus an administrative fee charged by the rental company. This fee corresponds with the company’s processing costs for transferring the fine to your address. The amount should be indicated in the general terms and conditions of your rental.

Additional charges may apply if:

• You do not return the car to the location originally specified in the rental contract.
• You do not return the car during opening hours and at the scheduled return time. Depending on the rental company, a tolerance of between thirty minutes and one hour may be applied. Please note: car rental companies generally charge an extra day’s fee for any excess.
• You have not filled the car with fuel, unless you have taken out a fuel option. If you do fill up, keep the receipt and take a photo of the meter, in case the rental company disputes the amount filled.

Before returning the car, you must once again carry out an inventory, ideally in the presence of an employee of the rental company, and sign the return document as proof. Keep a copy of this.

If the agency is closed upon your return, remember that you remain responsible for the vehicle until you have handed the keys over to the agency. So if the vehicle is damaged before this point, the agency holds you accountable. However, some rental companies use "key boxes" that allow you to return the vehicle outside opening hours. In this case, remember to take photos of the vehicle to avoid the rental company billing you for any damage