{"id":12924,"date":"2020-10-06T13:14:02","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T13:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.zandxcars.com\/?p=12924"},"modified":"2020-10-06T14:50:47","modified_gmt":"2020-10-06T14:50:47","slug":"7-car-hire-rip-offs-and-how-to-avoid-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zandxcars.com\/7-car-hire-rip-offs-and-how-to-avoid-them\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Car Hire Rip-Offs And How To Avoid Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Exploration and discovery are yours when you hire a car<\/strong><\/a> on holiday<\/strong><\/a>. But without a little planning, you can end up paying way over the odds. Protect yourself by getting to grips with the seven worst car hire rip-offs.<\/p>\n

Rip-off #1: Sky-high excess costs<\/h2>\n
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When you hire a car, insurance is included. But you may well find it comes with incredibly high excess charges \u2013 the amount you have to pay to cover the cost of an accident before the policy kicks in. This amount can be up to \u20ac2,000, in some cases \u2013 potentially leaving you well out of pocket if something goes wrong. One way to get around the charge is to buy an excess waiver policy, which reduces the charge to zero or a small sum. But don\u2019t wait until you get to the desk! Buy your waiver at home before you travel and you could pay around a mere\u00a0 \u20ac2.99 a day, compared with up to \u20ac20 if you don\u2019t plan ahead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"carRip-off #2: The \u2018full-empty\u2019 fuel policy<\/h2>\n
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Being hit with a petrol bill before you have even got in the driving seat isn\u2019t the best start to a holiday. But many car hire companies employ a so-called \u201cfull-empty policy\u201d, which means you pay upfront for a tank of petrol and can return it empty. But there are two drawbacks to such a policy. First, you are likely to be charged an inflated price for the petrol. And, second, you may not use all the fuel you have paid for if you are on a short trip or don\u2019t end up driving much. In some cases, you will be offered the right to a refund on unused fuel, but there is still usually a service charge attached. Look for car hire firms that allow you simply to return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel it had when you picked it up – it’s generally known as a fair fuel policy.<\/p>\n

Rip-off #3: Paying for extras you could bring yourself<\/h2>\n

Want to use sat-nav when driving abroad or think you will need a baby seat? Fine \u2013 but don\u2019t fall into the trap of hiring them through your car rental company. It will be cheaper to bring your own. If you are travelling abroad, charter airlines don\u2019t charge extra for you to bring pushchairs and car seats, while many sat-navs cover both the UK and Europe.<\/p>\n

If your sat-nav doesn\u2019t extend beyond the UK, consider purchasing the additional software. Alternatively, you can use Google Maps in offline mode. Simply download the map of the area you are travelling to and you will have access to a free sat-nav, without the excessive data charges! If all else fails \u2013 there is always the option of a good old-fashioned paper map.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"carRip-off #4: The \u2018upgrade\u2019 option<\/h2>\n
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When you arrive at the rental desk to pick up your pre-booked car, you may be told the company has run out of vehicles in the category you chose and be offered an upgrade \u2013 at a price. Don\u2019t fall for it. You should either be offered a higher-category car for no extra charge or a lesser one with the appropriate refund. Make sure this is the case before you sign your contract and drive away.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Rip-off #5: Buying at the desk<\/h2>\n
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With so much to organise before a holiday, it\u2019s easy to put off hiring a car until you arrive at your destination.\u00a0But\u00a0booking a vehicle in advance \u2013 and online \u2013 will save you a chunk of cash, leaving you more to spend on the good stuff. What\u2019s more, if you book at the destination airport, or other pick-up point such as in a city centre, you risk ending up with\u00a0an unsuitable vehicle \u2013 when demand soars in peak season, for example.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Rip-off #6:\u00a0 Unexpected charges when you get home<\/h2>\n
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You expect to return from holiday with a lighter wallet \u2013 but it is infuriating to find extra taken off your credit card for a bill you thought you would squared. The main reasons for car hire firms to charge more than you expected\u00a0is when they claim you\u2019ve damaged the vehicle in some way or that you returned it without the agreed amount of fuel.<\/p>\n

To protect yourself, give the vehicle a full inspection both when you pick it up and when you return it and ask for a receipt stating it\u2019s in good order with the required amount of petrol. It also pays to keep all documents, contracts and other evidence (such as photos of the vehicle) if you need to\u00a0dispute unexpected charges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"carRip-off #7: Hidden charges<\/h2>\n

Always read the small print of your car hire policy to check for any hidden charges or exclusions. Some car hire companies, for example, charge extra if you have been driving for less than four years, while others charge more for including a second driver. Others \u2013 and we are talking about the really unscrupulous operators here \u2013 may try and sneak hidden fees, such as their own insurance policies, onto your contract. You will have to sign this before you leave, so ensure that you are clear about every item\/fee on it.<\/p>\n

And others will levy an \u201cadmin\u201d fee for theft or damage to the car \u2013 even if you have bought an excess waiver policy.<\/p>\n

To put it in a nutshell: being thorough in your research when hiring a car is the way to get the best deal. \u00a0Book your Cyprus car rental with us now<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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