Holidaymakers who rent cars while abroad are being urged to check carefully for any damage to avoid unfair excess charges on their return.
Comparison website Carrentals.co.uk is calling on travellers to report any “wear and tear” as they are being charged for damaged clutches and other issues that would have built up over time.
“Most people will check over their rental car before driving off, but sometimes there can be problems that can’t be found until the car is actually being driven,” said Gareth Robinson, Managing Director of Carrentals.co.uk.
“A clutch that has been damaged by frequent riding, brakes affected by aggressive usage over time – they’re just some of the potential issues that can build up and result in one unlucky customer being unfairly charged.”
Rental companies are required to carry out regular maintenance checks on their cars; however it is possible for unseen damage to occur over a long period of time.
Car-hire insurance policies vary and in some cases may not cover this type of wear and tear. Holidaymakers often end up forking out more than they initially hoped after failing to inspect the cars they hire.
It is advisable to keep the details of the car rental company and all correspondence with them should you need to challenge any charges.
Follow these tips for successful car rental:
- Shop around for comprehensive excess car hire insurance cover before you travel – and make sure it covers items such as tyre and windscreen damage.
- Check over your rental car carefully – take your time and highlight any concerns with your supplier.
- If you have any concerns with the car when you start driving it – go back to the supplier and let them know straight away.
- If something is not right with your car, don’t wait until you drop it off to highlight the problem, contact the supplier and let them know.
- Keep a record of your contact with your supplier, including phone calls and written communication to ensure you have all of the details in case you need to challenge any charges. If there is damage to the car in any way, or you are involved in an incident take pictures of any marks or damage so you have a record to fall back on and back up your claims.
(Image: Holidayextras)
