Hidden Cost
A lot of time Rental car companies love fees, especially hidden fees, but they can’t advertise a price that’s only part of the cost of hire unless they also display the total price at least as prominently.
For example: they can’t state the car hire costs $40 a day but then stick an unavoidable cost on top, like $5 for administration fees or taxes, unless they also advertise the minimum total amount of $100 just as prominently as they advertised the $40 before the fees.
In other words, if you see two prices advertised for a hire car then you can presume the higher price is the real one. And if you don’t see another price advertised but they spring some extra compulsory costs on you, you should mention they’re in breach of the ACL.
Note that this doesn’t include other costs such as parking fees and toll fees or optional extras that you may choose to pay.
Single Vehicle Accident fees
If you’re in an accident where there’s no other vehicle involved, you’ll pay extra on top of the standard liability. Some rental agreements may be broad in their definition of ‘Single Vehicle Accident’. For example the Thrifty rental agreement expands the application of this fee to; accidents with parked cars; reversing into stationary cars or where another vehicle was involved but the driver of the other vehicle hasn’t been identified to Thrifty.
Glass and tyres
Regularly excluded from the standard liability, you could be up for an extra fee or have no cover at all for damage to wheels, tyres, windscreen and other windows.
Underbody and overhead damage
You may find yourself fully liable for damage to the underbody or top of the vehicle.
Animals
Some contracts may charge an extra fee or not cover you for an accident involving an animal. Some famous companies contract, for example, won’t cover you if you hit an animal or have an accident while avoiding hitting an animal at night time in an area they define as rural.
Bad weather
Damage from flood, fire, storm, cyclone or other natural disasters may also incur extra costs on top of the standard liability.
Excess reduction or collision damage waiver
Also referred to as loss damage waiver or one of the many acronyms invented in car hire contracts, this extra cost can seriously jack up the price of your car hire.
It’s not actually insurance cover but a fee paid to the car rental company to release you from liability for damage, subject to the terms of the rental agreement, and it often excludes damage for the catches mentioned above.
The double insurance trick
Domestic travel insurance or excess reduction insurance can be a far cheaper alternative to forking out for the car rental company’s excess reduction. You take out a policy with an external insurance company and if there’s loss or damage to the vehicle then you pay the excess to the car rental company and claim reimbursement from the insurance company.
It does require you to have the basic insurance offered by the car rental company, which is usually included in the car hire, but check with the insurer because this may put you in big trouble if the insurance is not there.
What you need to check before you hire
- Read the contract terms and conditions before you select a rental company.
- Inspect your vehicle carefully in the presence of a sales assistant before taking possession of your car. Make sure all pre-existing damage, no matter how minor, is documented.
- Photograph the vehicle at the beginning and end of hire. Try to time-stamp the photos and, if possible, get the sales assistant in the photos too.
- Ask for information about what to do in the event of a breakdown or accident.
- Find out whether you need to bring the vehicle back with a full tank and what is the charge per litre if you don’t.
During the hire
- As you drive out of the car hire depot the first thing to check for, apart from a running motor, is the nearest petrol station so you can fill up on return without incurring the exorbitant fuel charges.
- If the vehicle breaks down during the rental or you have an accident, follow the company’s procedures. Don’t have it repaired without approval.
After the hire
- While you’re filling up, hose down your vehicle before returning it so that any potential damage is visible.
- To avoid having to pay for someone else’s misdeeds, aim to return your car during opening hours.
- Get a company representative to inspect the vehicle in your presence immediately upon return.
- Work out any disputes over damages on the spot.