Travel Finances Home > Hire cars abroad

Hire cars abroad

You might think that arranging to jump into a car when you reach your holiday destination would be easy. But it seems we have a lot to learn if we are avoid car-hire pitfalls abroad. Here are 16 top tips to help you steer clear of trouble.

Before you go:

•  Don't leave car hire until the last minute. Prices can vary enormously between companies so to get the best deal and choice of vehicle you need to allow time to shop around. Some airlines or frequent flyer clubs may have tie-ins with car hire companies and could offer preferential rates. If you are picking up the car abroad after a long journey or flight then it will also help to be aware of the potential pitfalls in the small print and avoid unnecessary fees and insurance.

•  Take both the plastic and paper parts of your UK driving licence and at least one other form of ID per driver. Remember that in the US, most companies have a minimum age of 25 for car hire customers.

•  Make sure you get collision damage waiver (CDW). Third party insurance usually comes as standard but CDW covers damage to the car you're driving. So if you cut corners and choose not to take out CDW then you could end up shelling out for the up to the entire cost of the vehicle. Many companies include the cost of CDW in their prices but some do not so it is essential to check. It could be particularly expensive in the US but is still worthwhile.

•  Bear in mind that as in the UK, you will be required to pay an excess on any claims. Find out what this is in advance so you don't get any nasty surprises. Some companies charge several hundred pounds on even their smallest cars and may also require you to pay the excess even if the accident was not your fault. It is possible to buy 'super CDW' to cover yourself against the cost of paying any excess or pay a significantly reduced excess. Again, ask for details before you sign up.

•  You will have third party motor insurance to drive in any European Union (EU) country, as long as your policy was bought from any UK or EU-based insurer. Your existing insurer can supplement your cover and provide a green card to confirm the extended protection. If you hire several cars over the course of a year, consider the annual insurance cover such as that offered by Insurance4carhire.com. It works much like an annual travel insurance policy. For a flat fee, the company reimburses any excesses incurred during the year. Annual cover charges start from £49.

•  You may be encouraged to pay for personal accident insurance when you hire but this should already be included in your general travel insurance and so you are unlikely to need it.

•  Before you sign up a car-load of friends as drivers, check how you will be charged. Some companies do this as a flat rate and other charge per driver per day so avoid adding anyone you don't need.

When you collect the car:

•  If two or more of you are travelling and want to dodge the hire car desk queues when you land at an airport then send one to hire desk while the others collect luggage.

•  Holidaymakers who hire cars abroad are urged to make basic safety checks by Holiday Which? In June 2002, researchers from the magazine hired 60 cars in resorts on the Greek island of Rhodes and on Spain's Costa Blanca. Only four passed their inspection in total - based on the UK MOT test - with full marks, while one-third were classed as "unsafe". In Rhodes, 16 out of 30 cars were found to be dangerous. Which? recommends carrying out your own checks with a member of staff before you drive away. It suggests checking that seat belts, lights, petrol cap and windscreen wipers work. It also recommends checking tyres for wear and pressure and test driving the car to check the brakes. If the car has an alarm fitted, make sure you know how it works.

•  Don't assume that your hire car will have air conditioning, even if you are renting in a hot country. Ask when you book to make sure you get what you want.

•  If you are travelling with young children then a special baby seat for hire cars will often be compulsory. It's unlikely that you would want to drive without one anyway. You will need to book in advance and many companies charge a flat fee or else a daily rate. Expect to pay between £25 and £45 for a week in Europe. Check that your seat is suitable for the model of car you'll be driving - if it isn't designed to fit, it won't be safe. Read about the experiences of one Yahoo user for more information on what could go wrong.

When you return the car:

•  Always make sure that you and a hire-company employee give the car a once-over when you return it at the end of the hire period to check for any new damage. Reputable companies are unlikely to deliberately rip you off but mistakes can happen so it is best to take time to double-check before you head home. If you want to extra careful then take photos of the vehicle both when you first collect the car and when you return it to the car hire company. This can help if there is any dispute about whether the car has been damaged whilst in your care or the state of the vehicle when you first hired the car.

•  It may seem like a minor detail but if you are required to return the car with a certain amount of petrol in the tank and you do not then expect to find an extortionate surcharge added to your credit card when you get home. Almost all companies are very firm about this so make sure you leave time to fill up on your way to drop off the car.

•  If you hire a car in one UK town and drop it off in another then you may have to pay extra charges, depending on the size of the company and their fee structure. When you hire vehicles abroad this can get even more expensive, particularly if you want to cross into a different country and leave the car there. Depending on how little hassle you want, expect to pay around £250 extra for this when you drive from Spain to France. Alternatively, you can jump out at the border and hop into a first class train carriage before picking up another car in your new destination.

•  If you are dropping off at an airport, don't assume the car drop area will be near your terminal - leave plenty of time. If you have passengers and luggage then drop them off at the airport first to keep hassle to a minimum.

•  When the car hire company completes the condition report at the end of the car hire, ask them what they have said. Read the form through carefully, take your own notes if you want to and cross through any empty spaces on the form so that the company can't add anything else later. Insist on being given a copy of the form.