Car Warranty Transfer
International Car Rental Costs
Ensuring an Accurate Price for Car Rental in EuropeWhat you see is what you pay? Yes, if you are looking carefully!
Travel is a multi-billion dollar market that is constantly expanding online. With new companies offering travel services abroad every day, it is no wonder that hidden fees can sneak up on unsuspecting car rental bookers. The travel services industry is booked today in Euros, US Dollars, and Pounds Sterling, adding complications to rate comparison shopping. These tips are intended to address common fees that may not be immediately disclosed and to help familiarize travelers with the right questions to ask when booking a car rental in Europe.
Budgeting
A budget is a great idea for any traveler regardless of the economy or length of trip. When renting a car abroad, confusion can sometimes arise when the lowest priced vehicle is reserved without first fully researching the total cost of the chosen car class. It is very important to remember that additional costs can be added to a price: a seemingly cheap rate can suddenly double in price when all factors are considered. When budgeting, be sure to account for the correct class of vehicle needed in order to avoid unnecessary upgrade fees. Travel can also factor in to additional costs, as fees will sometimes apply in order to allow travel from one country to another.
Basic Quotation
Most websites that are found in Google.com search results for "car rental in Europe" will offer international car rental to United States based clients in US Dollars. It is very important to pay attention to the currency of the quoted rate, as a misread can cause the price to double when factoring some exchange rates. Booking a rental car in a foreign currency can also cause a rate to increase unnecessarily as non-US citizens are not offered free insurances from their credit cards, which is a benefit to US cardholders. Booking fees are also sometimes omitted from the rate quote and are added when the booking is completed, so be sure to inquire about booking fees prior to making your reservation. Below are a few examples of inclusion and exclusions of which to be weary.
Common Car Rental Inclusions
Fire and Liability Insurances - Many car rental quotations will include mandatory insurances as part of the rate, as they will not change from company to company. Fire insurance, or basic warranty on the vehicle, protects the driver from mechanical defects of the car. Third-party liability insurance is also mandated and covers the costs of damage to public property. Be sure to examine quotes for included fire and liability insurance, as no rental car is legally allowed to leave the facility without these insurances.
Mileage - Most self-driven rental cars will include unlimited miles with a rental quote. Exceptions include specialty vehicles such as convertibles, 4x4's, or sports cars. Unknowingly booking a rental car without unlimited miles can drastically increase the rental price.
What is Not Included
CDW/Theft Insurances - As many credit cards offer collision damage waiver (CDW insurance) and theft insurance to American card holders, these insurances are sometimes optional with an online rate quote. As previously stated, booking a car rental with a non-US rental company will force CDW and theft insurance as European renter's credit cards do not offer these insurances. In order to maintain an accurate quote, contact your credit card company prior to booking to see what coverage is offered when using their credit card. Some countries, such as Ireland, do not honor insurance from credit cards, so it is very important to be aware of coverage. If you arrive to a location and your credit card is not honored, adding these insurances at the counter will significantly increase your rental rate.Hotel Delivery - This service will have a fee that is paid locally and directly to the car rental agent. Many online car rental agencies will confirm this service and not alter the rate quote as the fee is not paid until the pick up date.
Out of Hours - This service will always be charged locally for any car rental pick up that is not during advertised operating hours. This fee can be withheld from the quote for a variety of reasons. If the pick up is reserved to be technically within office hours (for example, a 9:50PM pickup at a location that closes at 10:00PM) a fee will be charged if the pick up is delayed even one minute past normal business hours.
As with hotel delivery, the fee can be omitted from the rate quote as it is not paid until the actual pick up date.
Optional Insurance - Insurance will be offered that is not mandatory and therefore will not be included in a rate quote automatically. Examples of these insurances include Personal Accident Insurance which covers bodily injury to persons inside the rental car, and Personal Effects Coverage, which covers items that may be lost during theft of the rental car. PEC is often overlooked as renters assume that theft insurance covers personal effects, which it does not.
Fuel - Fuel policies will vary greatly, but will never be included in a quoted rate. Some rental locations will offer a "full to full" policy for rentals, but it is becoming common practice to charge for a tank of fuel at pick up. This is vitally important to research as a tank of fuel can sometimes carry a local fuel charge that equals the cost of the rental.
Additional Drivers - As with many optional fees, rate quotes will not include the cost for additional drivers. This fee is assessed locally and is not immediately visible, as quotations will assume only one driver. For an accurate quote, find out whether an additional driver is included in the rate prior to completing the booking.
Winterization - Depending on the season, rental car agencies will charge a fee for installing snow chains and snow tires. As the locally paid fee will only be charged during a portion of the year, rental quotations will not include the additional charge, leaving the fee to be paid at the counter.
Credit Card Fee - Rental locations will sometimes add an additional fee ranging from 1%-5% for charging any local fees. This fee for charging fees is rarely listed in a quotation, as the quote assumes no local fees to be paid. Travel Fees - Additional charges will be levied for international travel and for most one-way car rentals. Rental quotations will usually include one-way travel fees, as the rental request will clearly state a different pick up and drop off location. You must inquire about any potential travel fees if traveling outside of the pick up country. For example, fees would be charged locally for a car rental in the United Kingdom that is driven to continental Europe, or for a car rental that is picked up the Republic of Ireland and driven into Northern Ireland.
Equipment - Quotations will often include the request for equipment such as child seats, GPS navigation units, or ski racks; but not the associated cost. If a request for equipment is made, be sure to obtain the additional cost to be expected locally.
Administrative Fees - Rental locations will charge a fee for any traffic violation that occurs during the rental, which will be in addition to any amount due for the fine itself. These administration fees will never be listed in the quotation as the quote assumes that no traffic rule will be violated. With the widespread use of traffic cameras in Europe, it is important to research the fees that will be charged in the event of an infraction.
Save Paperwork
When obtaining a car rental quotation, it is very important to have documentation supporting a quoted price. While few companies will "bait and switch" a quotation outright, it is common for local fees to be omitted from a reservation booked online. If you are quoted an included fee, it is imperative to record related information, such as an agent name or printed quote. Reservations will often have associated terms and conditions that advise of local fees: these must be fully read and comprehended. If a booking is made with terms and conditions advising of local fees, they will not be reversed. The same will be true for any rental agreement signed locally: if a fee is listed (even when it is listed in a foreign language) and the agreement is signed, the fee will not be reversed.In cases when a quotation includes a particular fee or insurance; and the car rental location does not honor the quote, all documentation must be retained. If the fee is not accepted locally, the car rental may be denied outright. Many booking agencies will refund for locally paid fees that are not properly advised at the time of booking. Retaining a receipt will be necessary in order to obtain any refund from the booking agency responsible.
Savvy Traveling
Many companies will offer the information regarding additional costs if requested. If the research is completed, a rate quote can be accurate. Don't expect that any particular service or add-on is free, as the rental location will in turn expect to charge. Ask questions and document answers. By following these guidelines, you can stop worrying about the price and start enjoying a driving tour of Europe.External Links
Auto Europe - A car rental company offering full disclosure of locally paid fees, offering US Dollar quotationsxe.com: Currency Conversion - Reveal the true cost of an international quotation in a foreign currency
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