Car rental: the pitfalls to avoid!

Posted by ilham elkh on September 7th, 2019

Hidden fees, insurance not necessary, payment ... Here are my tips to avoid the pitfalls during a car rental.
Here is an article on the pitfalls to avoid in car rental. It should be especially helpful if this is the first time you rent a car.

1. The question of insurance

This is a question that comes up often. The renter will offer you his insurance every time. Should I take it? Am I already insured?

For civil liability, in general no need. By cons, if you travel to the US, it may be recommended to take the one proposed by the renter. Indeed, we must know that in the US, the refund ceiling is low ...

The renter will also offer you a comprehensive insurance. With a franchise or not.

What to take as insurance then?

First, if you have a Gold or Visa Premier card, you have a deductible refund included. To check with your bank.

If not, you have three options:

You take the option with deductible. In case of problems, you pay all or part of the amount of the deductible.
With franchise refund. You pay all or part of the amount of the franchise to the landlord on the spot and you are fully refunded. By cons, the price of your rental will be higher, around 5 euros more per day. Up to you…
With full franchise buyback: in case of damage, you have nothing to advance. Disadvantage: it is very expensive, about 15-20 euros per day.
For my part, for a short-term rental, I do not bother and I take option A.

2. Paid options

Each option is paid unfortunately ...

This is the case for GPS for example. The price may be more than 10 euros per day ... .Conseil: take a local SIM and data, download Google Maps and presto, here you have your GPS! However, there are some companies which offer them free. 

3. Rent a car at the airport

In general, I avoid because it is not here that you will find the best rates, unless you go through a comparator, in some cases. That said, on a short trip, it can be handy to save time.

Already, know that airport taxes may apply. They are often included in the price.

If the agency is closed when your flight arrives, additional fees may apply.

4. Hidden fees

Here are some traps set by the car rental companies to puncture a few euros:

a one-way ticket ? Be aware that if you return your car to another agency, fees will apply.
in the case of a second driver, the renter can apply charges there too. Try to negotiate if you rent your car directly from the agency.
for drivers under 25, fees also apply.
pay attention to limited mileage. Each additional kilometer will be charged.
some renters request a winter supplement, especially for snow tires ...
Read your contract carefully!

5. Attention to crossing borders

If you think you may be crossing a border, ask your landlord. It is possible that the contract does not cover you.

6. Inspection of the car

Take your time to take stock of the car. If in doubt, take pictures, this is often what I do.

This is probably the biggest trap to avoid when renting a car.

Ditto the return, made the inventory with the landlord, even if you are in a hurry.

7. Automatic transmission?

Be aware that in some countries like the USA, vehicles are only equipped with automatic transmission.

Have you ever driven with this type of box? No worries, you'll see, it's easy, you'll learn quickly! Train a little on the car park of the renter and go there quiet the first hours.

It was during my road trip in California that I drove for the first time with an automatic transmission. At first, it's confusing. And then, I did it quickly. And frankly, it's not bad at all!

8. About gasoline

First, make no mistake when you fill up! Yes, it's a stupid mistake, but it's already happened! Make sure to leave knowing what petrol to put on.

Remember to return the vehicle with full fuel if the contract requires it. Otherwise, you will have to pay extra ...

You can also choose the option to return the vehicle with the tank not full. It is the renter who will do it then. This will save you from looking for a gas station at the last moment. If you make the vehicle in a big city, it can be a bit of a struggle to find one easily. However, it has a cost.

9. Beware of the ceiling of your credit card!

As you know, your spending limit is limited, especially if you have a basic VISA or Mastercard. Also, think about calling your bank to raise your cap. Indeed :

you will be charged the price of your rental, which may be already substantial.
the renter will also debit a deposit
Do not forget your daily expenses on site.
In the end, it can do a lot.

10. Have the right documents

As a reminder, the credit card must be in the name of the driver.

You must have your driver's license or an international driver's license. Depending on the country, check with reservation because you have to take into account the time to apply.

11. Anticipate for the reservation

You will tell me "yes, of course! ".

All right, but I also wanted to talk about taking vacation and holidays on the spot.

In Australia, I wanted to rent a car a few days before a weekend. No luck, it was a long weekend: it was impossible to find a rental at a fair price.

Consider the local context.

12. Keep receipts

Once the vehicle is handed over to the renter, do not immediately throw out the receipts. Keep them a few months just in case. Accounting errors, it happens!

13. Use a comparator

As for flights, this is the most convenient way to find the best price! A comparator tells you the best option, whether it's with the agencies at airports or in the city.

For Morocco car rental, book with "location voiture Casablanca aéroport" and "location voiture Marrakech aéroport".