CAR HIRE
ESSENTIAL GUIDES
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The ultimate guide to picking up your rental
Picking-up your car rental can often be a painstakingly long process that’s overcomplicated
by insurance policies, required documents and deposits. But the more you know before
arriving at the counter, the easier your pick up process will be.
Where do I collect my car?
The first thing to know is where to go to collect your car. If you’re arriving at the
airport, are the rental offices located in the terminal or do you have to take a shuttle
to get there? Look up exactly where you’re going before you arrive and keep the car hire
company’s number handy (remember to include the country code!) in case you can’t locate
the office.
What documents do I need with me when picking up my rental
car?
Once you arrive at the car hire desk, you’ll be asked for the necessary documents. This
almost always includes your booking voucher, driver’s licence and additional proof of
ID. Your booking voucher should have all the details of your rental, such as the booking
number, address and phone number of the specific car hire branch you’re collecting the
car from. Proof of ID may include your passport or another piece of ID that includes
your address.
If you’re a UK resident hiring a car in the UK, you will also need to have a valid DVLA
licence check code with you. You can find out more about check codes here. Depending on where you’re from and
where you’re travelling to, you may also need to have an international driving permit.
The money
In addition to having your necessary documents, the main driver will also need to have a
credit card with their name on it at the ready. The credit card is required for the security
deposit, which will be blocked during the rental and, so long as the car is returned
damage-free, released back afterwards. The deposit can be quite large, so make sure your
card has sufficient funds. Almost all car hire suppliers require a credit card and not a
debit card – so if you don’t have a credit card in your name, you may have to get somebody
else to hire on your behalf. For more info on this, check out our guide to why credit cards
are required for car rental deposits, here.
The fine print, check it twice
Even if you’ve already read the agency’s rental policy before arriving at the counter, it’s
a good idea to read it all through again. Ask any questions you have about the Terms and
Conditions and remember that even if you’ve rented from the supplier before, their fine
print may change depending on location. Key things to take a look at include: the fuel
policy, mileage limit, border crossings, and what happens if the car breaks down. You may
feel pressured to just glance through the policy, but don’t! If you haven’t read all the
details and yet sign the agreement, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise on return.
Car hire charges to watch out for
Avoiding the hard sell
When picking up your car, you should remember that the supplier reps are not just there to
hand you your rental, they’re there as sales reps too. You should expect that they’ll try
and sell you on optional extras and additional insurance. If you don’t need the extras,
don’t take them. Buying extra insurance at the counter is not a legal requirement, all
rentals already include the mandatory insurance (though there will be a payable excess). For
more info on this, check out the easyCar guide to not getting ripped off on your car hire,
here.
Know your insurance
If you opted to buy independent insurance before picking up your car, know what it covers.
This will help you avoid the selling tactics of the rental reps at the desk and give you
extra comfort during your trip. Buying insurance directly from the supplier is often far
more expensive and covers less than buying an insurance policy beforehand online. You may be
told that a standalone policy isn’t valid and that you’ll need the company’s own insurance,
but this simply isn’t true.
Check your rental car over
After you’ve signed the rental agreement and been given your keys, survey your rental for
any possible damages or issues that haven’t been recorded on the condition report. Make sure
to inform a rep and have them change the report to accurately reflect the state of the car.
It is also a good idea to take pictures of the car and test that the headlights and
windscreen wipers are working.
Book your car hire now
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