Tips on Hiring a Car Abroad

Car Hire - What's Included?

When you are comparing costs from different car hire companies, you need to make sure you are comparing like with like. You need to know what's included and what isn't included. You should make sure the following items are all included with the rental:

• Airport Surcharges - should be included in rental cost quoted but may be added separately.
• Breakdown cover
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) - protects the driver from a claim for damage to the rental car, minus the excess.
• Third party insurance.
• Local surcharges
• Check at the time of booking whether additional drivers are covered or if an additional charge is payable.

You might also want to consider a hire car with unlimited mileage if you are going to be doing a lot of driving - in any event you need to check to see if there are any mileage restrictions on your policy. If you are travelling somewhere hot, I would recommend hiring a car with air conditioning.

Another point that you should check is the excess on the insurance cover. Some car hire insurance policies have an excess of up to £500 - you may want to consider paying extra for insurance to reduce the cost of the excess.

What about Car Seats for children?

These are usually available at an additional charge - a ball park figure would be about £2 / day. However, I would strongly recommend taking your own car seat as:

• There is no chance it will be forgotten
• You know how to fit it
• You know its history
• £2 a day is money that could be better spent elsewhere

Documentation Required

You will need to make sure that you have your passport and full UK driving licence, but in addition some countries require an International Driving Permit. This may depend on whether you have an old style UK driving licence or one of the new photocards. A full list of the individual country requirements can be found here. International Driving Permits can be obtained from the AA or RAC.

Before Collecting Your Car

Check the specification is that same as what you booked before signing. Make sure the car is as described and anything extra you requested is included. Have your booking confirmation documents on hand to verify your statements.

Once you have the car, check it carefully for any damage so you don't get charged for scratches or dents that you did not cause. Make sure the sales person makes a note of any damage you point out if it has not already been listed. You should be given a copy of the document indicating the pre-existing damage for your own records.