According to Auto Rental News, there are around 2.2 million cars available for hire in the US right now. That’s around the same number of new cars that are sold in the UK each year. The value of those rentals is $26 billion annually – and that’s just the US. Figures aren’t available for the UK or Europe but it’s fair to say that globally, car hire is big business.

The thing is, car rental companies are making more money out of their customers than they should, because too many people don’t go into the transaction with their eyes open. Remember, car hire companies don’t offer you options with a view to cutting your costs – they do it so they can maximise their profits. Here’s how to take them on at their own game.

Book ahead

Just turning up and hoping a car is available will cost you dear. It’s not unusual to pay a daily rate of well over £100 even for a small car if you book on the spur of the moment. Book well in advance and for the same money you could have the car for a whole week. By planning ahead you can also see what deals are available – most of the key players run offers all of the time and your mission is to take advantage of these.

Fuel

There are usually numerous options here. One is to return the car with the same amount of fuel in it as when you collected it, which is fair enough. Another option is to let them refuel it when you get back and they’ll just bill you for the fuel used. Except they’ll charge you a much higher price per litre than the pump price.

It’s a similar story if you go for the pre-pay option which can be one of the biggest cons going. It’s not unusual for you to be told that you’ll cough up a fixed price when you collect the car, so you can return it running on fumes. But do the sums and you’ll probably see that even if the tank is empty, the money you’ve paid out would pay to refill it twice over.

The key is to establish where the nearest fuel stop is to the hire centre and top up the tank as you return the car. But make sure you leave enough time to do so; if you’re in a mad dash to catch your plane because you didn’t leave enough time, it could end up costing you dear.

Driving licence

You may be fine to collect your hire car simply by brandishing your photocard driving licence. However, it’s also worth sorting out access to your driving licence record from the DVLA website before you travel. It may also be a good idea to invest in an international driving permit.

Insurance

This is one that causes flared tempers at collection time. It’s always the same; you take out all of the necessary insurances when you book your rental, then when you turn up you’re landed with a load of extra charges “for peace of mind”. Only you can decide whether or not you want to pay any of these extra costs at the last minute, but don’t be afraid to ask very specific questions when you book, to nail down exactly what insurance cover is included in the price.

The problem with the insurance issue is that there are so many different types of cover you can be landed with, so just when you think you’ve got everything nailed down, another policy is landed on you. It’s also not unusual to pay a premium to a booking agent, only to turn up and be told that’s the agent’s policy, not the hirer’s. So when booking, get in writing that you’re covered for every eventuality – which admittedly is much easier said than done…

Accessories

It’s probably madly impractical for you to take your own child seat but if you’ve got a sat-nav it’s easy enough to carry that in your bag. These are the sorts of things that rental companies will charge you heavily for; fees of £10 per day for a sat-nav are common yet you can buy your own for under £100. Booking in advance usually doesn’t cut the cost either, so if you do need a child seat you might have to swallow the cost.

Be prepared

Before you leave the rental base make sure you’ve got a full set of contact details and any necessary paperwork in the event of a breakdown or crash. If something goes wrong, the last thing you’ll need is to feel stranded because you don’t know who to call.

Before you drive off…

It’s not unusual for a hire car to be handed over with bits of light damage such as kerbed wheels, scratched paint or dents. Don’t accept that it’s been logged without seeing the evidence, because if you hand it back in the same condition then get charged for any damage, they’ve got you over a barrel. The key is to go round the car and note anything down in the presence of someone from the hiring company.

If it helps, take a video as you walk around the car or photograph any damage. This may seem over the top but you’ll be glad you did it in the event of any dispute. Also, before driving off make sure you’ve checked for a spare wheel and jack/brace. Not only will you need them if you get a puncture but if they’re missing you could be charged for them when you return the car.

Finally, check that any other pieces of equipment that you might need are present. These might include fluorescent jackets, a warning triangle and the key to any locking wheel nuts, if they’re fitted. A few extra minutes spent at collection time could save a heap of grief further down the line.

European car rental concilliation service

If you’re hiring within Europe, look for a rental company that’s a member of the European Car Rental Concilliation Service ) (ECRCS). Members of this agree to be bound by the decisions of the concilliation service in the event of a complaint unresolved by their own internal complaints procedure.

ECRCS can only help in the case of disputes involving cross-border (rental takes place in a different country to the booking) rentals within Europe. Subscribing hire companies commit to an eight point rental charter and also agree to adhere to a code of best practice.

Richard Dredge

July 2016