What are the general car rental Terms & Conditions?
Where can I find Terms & Conditions of rental company?
You can find this under the photo of any car you see in the search results in the Terms and Conditions section.
What is a deposit and an excess?
The deposit is an amount consisting of an excess and a cost of fuel which is blocked on the customer's credit card as a guarantee on the rental car. The amount of the deposit varies according to the car category. The deposit is unlocked by the car rental company on the drop off date provided that the car is returned in the same condition as rented. An excess is an amount of money withheld by the car rental company from the deposit you left when you picked the car up if the car was damaged (Damage Excess) or stolen (Theft Excess) during the rental. For example, if your damage excess was 300 EUR and damage to the bodywork is 1,000 EUR on return, you would only have to pay 300 EUR. The remaining 700 EUR would be covered by CDW policy.
Do I need to leave a deposit when picking my rental car up?
Yes, the car rental company requires a deposit temporarily blocked on the main driver’s credit card to cover damages or theft during your rental. The deposit amount is held for the duration of the rental and will be unblocked within seven working days if you return the car undamaged at the end of the rental. If there are not enough funds available on the main driver’s credit card to leave a deposit, the car rental company may refuse to provide you with the car. The counter staff may also insist you buy additional cover from them. This is a common practice among car rental companies.
Why do I need to sign a rental agreement at the counter?
EconomyBookings acts as a car rental agent connecting customers with car rental companies. The rental agreement you sign with the rental company is subject to its terms and conditions and the law of the country you are renting in. Read terms and conditions of the agreement carefully and make sure that you understand (and agree to) them. All additional drivers will also need to sign the rental agreement.
What are the requirements for a driving license?
A driving license must be presented at pick-up. At least one year of driving experience is required. The car won’t be provided to you if your license has expired or is provisional. When you rent a car abroad, in some countries you will need an International Driving Permit (often called International Driving License). Please note that an International Driving Permit is only valid when used in conjunction with your valid national driving license. Please check your voucher to see if you need one or not.
What if I want to travel abroad?
If you are planning to cross the border of the country you are renting the car in please check terms and conditions of the car rental because the restrictions may apply for some countries as well as an additional fee and additional coverage. It may also not be possible to take the car to another country depending on where you are renting. Please inform the rental company at the desk, as they have to issue the special permit and the fee is also payable directly to the supplier.
What should I do when I get my car?
Before you sign the contract and drive away with your rental car, take a little time to familiarize yourself with your rental car, check fuel type and level, headlights, hazards, windscreen wipers, door locks etc. Be sure to inspect scratches, dents or any other damages in the presence of an agent and ask to record them. The good thing is to take photos of the rental car before pick-up and after drop-off so there is no confusion regarding the car’s condition upon return.
Are there any extra charges at pick-up?
On some occasions, there could be charges paid directly to the car rental company like airport fee, winterization fee, one-way fee, out of hours fee, cross-border fee etc. Please check your rental car’s terms and conditions for details.
Are there any extra charges at drop-off?
Charges may be applied to the amount of fuel, excessive dirt as well as to extra hours / days, so be sure to return your rental car on date and time specified in the agreement to avoid charges.
Should I pay an additional fee if I want to pick the car up out of hours?
This service is provided by some car rental companies in some locations and incurs an additional fee. If you want to pick the car up or drop it off out of business hours, the company has to be notified in advance.
How do I pay for additional equipment?
Additional equipment (such as GPS, child seats, snow chains etc) has to be paid at pick-up directly to the car rental company.
Does additional fee apply to additional drivers?
It depends on the car rental company’s terms and conditions. For some companies one or more additional drivers may be included in a car rental price, for others there may be an additional fee for any additional driver required to be paid at the counter. All drivers need to be present at the counter to pick the car up and must possess their driving licenses and passports.
What is the fuel policy?
The fuel policy explains how you will pay for the fuel and whether you need to fill the tank before you return the car or not. There is a certain Fuel policy for each car rental company displayed on the terms and conditions section, on your confirmation voucher and on the rental agreement provided by the car rental company at the counter.
Are rental cars equipped with winter tires in winter? Is it free?
The obligation to use winter tires varies by country and even by region. In most cases, winter tires are mandatory or recommended for a certain period of time. You can always ask our operators if there is an additional fee for winter tires when making a booking over the phone.
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