Car rental
If you are not travelling with your own vehicle, car hire is usually the most practical and convenient solution for travelling in another European country. When hiring a car we want to save up as much as we can; however we must be careful about the additional costs.
There are no specific EU rules on car rental but consumers are, of course, protected by the general rules on consumer protection which are predominantly defined in the Directive 2005/29/EC concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and the Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts.
The main rights are:
1. Right to fair and clear information: The price quote must include all unavoidable charges (such as local fees and taxes). The cost of any optional extras that you will need (such as a child seat or extra insurance) must be shown clearly and must not be misleading.
2. Fair contract terms: Your rental contract must not contain unfair terms. For example, the seller cannot bind you to terms which you had no real opportunity to read before signing the contract.
N.B.: The right to withdraw from the contract does not apply to car hire which means that the consumer does not have the right of withdrawing from the contract within 7 days and being eligible for refund of payment which is applicable to other distance purchases of goods and services.
Useful tips on car hire:
1. Before hiring check what is included in the price quote. Always check the cost of any extras that you will need during your rental, such as additional driver, child seat or extra insurance. Check the fuel policy. Check the cancellation policy which should be explained to you before confirming your reservation. You may be obliged to return the car with an almost empty fuel tank which means that you will not be reimbursed for the extra fuel you might leave in the fuel tank. If you hire a car with a full fuel tank, be sure to return a full-fuelled car; if you don not, you may have to pay the difference of fuel costs for a full fuel tank. Before hiring a car also check the terms of withdraw from the contract, age limitations and road traffic laws.
2. Selecting the car: the selected car should be checked by the staff and any damage and other specifics about the car should be noted. You should receive a copy of the note. If the staff members do not check the car before renting, check the vehicle yourself and log any damage, bruising or specifics in writing. This note should be signed by the staff before leaving with the hired vehicle. Also check the company policy in case of breakdown or accident. Make sure you are informed about what the insurance covers as you may be liable for any damage to the vehicle that was not present prior to hiring. Also check the fuel range of the rented car.
3. Using the rented car: If the car breaks down, call the rental company and follow their instructions. Do not have the vehicle repaired yourself, without their authorisation. In case of an accident, note down the names and addresses of everyone involved and contact the rental company immediately. Inform the police about the accident.
4. Returning the car: Try to return the car during the rental company’s opening hours so you can be there when they check it. An employee should make a note of the condition of the car. Both you and the employee should sign this. If you must return the car outside working hours, park it in the designated area. Consider taking photos of the car as proof that it was returned in good condition. You should be aware of the fact that the rental company staff may check the car the following day which means that in the case the car is not in the same state as it was before hiring, the rental company may subsequently charge your credit card for any damage which is not covered by the insurance.
