Renting a car is a convenient mode of transportation in various situations, but to avoid unpleasant surprises and unnecessary expenses, it’s important to pay attention to the rental contract terms that regulate additional costs. Experts from the car rental online platform EconomyBookings.com have compiled useful tips on how to rent a car while avoiding extra charges.
Mileage – Before and After
Before receiving your rental car, carefully review the rental agreement. Often, the rental company includes terms regarding mileage, which can incur additional costs. Make sure the rental price includes a certain number of kilometers, and if you know you’ll be driving more, calculate the potential costs before signing the rental agreement.
Administrative Costs – Unexpected Expenses
Avoid headaches by carefully reading the rental agreement terms related to administrative fees. Ensure that penalties in case of an accident or violations are clearly defined. Review what is covered by the insurance included in the rental price. Take photos of any damages – it might be time-consuming but especially valuable in case of disputes. If the car has damages when you pick it up, ensure the rental company has noted them and take photos yourself. If you return the car outside of business hours, photograph its condition to protect yourself from potential risks if the rental company attributes damage caused by others to you. Also, familiarize yourself with the consequences of traffic violations and possible penalties in such cases.
Car Cleaning – Reduce Additional Costs
Before returning the rental car, check its condition and adhere to cleaning requirements. Many rental companies charge extra if you return a dirty car. Get detailed information about these rules to avoid unexpected additional expenses.
Time is Money – Check Return Policies
Don’t overlook the important aspect of time tracking! Before picking up and returning the car, find out if there are additional charges for delays. When making a reservation, always provide your flight information. If the car pick-up is scheduled from the airport, include the flight number and arrival time in the reservation so the rental company is informed in case of a flight delay and can wait accordingly. Car rental companies calculate charges in 24-hour blocks, so if you rent a car at 3:00 PM and plan to return it at 1:00 PM a few days later, indicate the return time as 3:00 PM to give yourself some flexibility without additional costs.
“We also encounter various challenges in the car rental process, such as cases where a flight is delayed, but the customer hasn’t provided the flight number when booking the car. In such situations, we always strive to find the best solutions and offer our customers call center support. I encourage everyone to plan rental services carefully, follow the tips, and avoid unnecessary expenses, thereby enjoying the freedom and flexibility that are the main advantages of car rental,” says Alen Baibekov, Chairman of the Board of “Booking Group Corporation”.
