The following are commonly asked questions when booking car rental. It is important to check the website of the car rental company you are booking or the booking site you are using for specific details and requirements as each car rental company will have their own requirements.

These summaries reflect general practices and may vary slightly by company. For detailed information, refer to the specific car rental company’s FAQ section on their website.

General

1. What information do I need to make a Reservation?
  • Dates & times: Planned start and finish dates and times, these can be adjusted in advance of your rental or whilst on rent and may impact the total cost of your car hire.
  • Pick up and drop off location: This can either be the same or different locations, if different locations are required this is then classified as a one-way rental and may incur extra fees.
  • Vehicle Group: At time of reservation, you’ll be required to choose a vehicle group or category.
  • Main Drivers Contact details: Full name, telephone number and/or email address
  • Main Drivers Age:  Typically, renters must be at least 21 or 25 years old, depending on the vehicle category. Some premium or specialty vehicles may require the driver to be older and, in some instance, young driver fees may apply.
  • Flight Information: if renting a vehicle overseas and you already have your flight booked its recommended to provide this at time of reservation. The car hire companies can monitor flight delays and manage your rental requirements prior to arrival.
2. What information do I need to provide at time of Rental?
  • Driver’s License and details: Must have a full valid driver’s license. International drivers may need an International Driving Permit if the license is not in English.
  • Payment: A credit card in the driver’s name is generally required. Some companies accept debit cards with restrictions. If the reservation has already been pre-paid, a credit card is still required for deposits (in case of fines, damage or loss of the vehicle)
  • Identification: A valid ID or passport is required.
  • Proof of address: In some instances, a secondary proof of address is required such as a bill or statement. International travellers may be required to provide the address information of where they are residing whilst visiting that country.
  • Additional Drivers: all additional drivers need to be present at time of rental with their driver license and details and can be added for a fee. They must also meet the age requirements to hire the vehicle and may be required to pay a young renter fee in some instances.
3. How and where can I book a car rental?
  • Car rental websites: Most rental companies provide online booking options through their websites or mobile apps.
  • Online travel agencies, corporate booking tools and car rental brokers: Reservations can also be made via an online travel agency, a car rental broker and airline partner websites. The same rules and requirements would apply.  It is always advisable to check these rules and requirements thoroughly as they might vary from car rental own website especially in terms of payment requirements.
  • Travel agencies: You can also book through your local travel agency who will assist you with everything you need to make a booking.
4. What are the deposit and payment requirements to rent a car?
  • Deposit: A deposit is usually required at the time of rental to cover potential damages, loss of the vehicle, fines or additional charges. The deposit method can vary between car rental companies from an authorisation (blocking funds) on your credit/debit card or debiting the deposit and refunding after the rental period.
  • Payment Options: Major credit cards are widely accepted. Some companies accept debit cards, but pre-paid cards are generally not accepted. Most new cards are no longer embossed which can still cause an issue with some of the smaller car rental companies.
  • Cash: cash is rarely excepted
5. How can I modify, make changes or cancel a reservation?
  • Modification/Changes: Reservations can typically be modified online using the same booking platform the original reservation was made through, contacting reservations/customer service or the location directly.
  • Cancellation Policy: Policies vary, but there may be a fee for last-minute cancellations or no-shows depending on whether you have booked a prepaid rate which are typically cheaper.
6. What are the different Insurances and Coverages and what do I need?
  • What is included in your reserved rate varies based on your country of residence & where you are renting a vehicle, its important you understand exactly what is and is not included when making a reservation. Important tip: Do not just look at the name of the cover, make sure you read the cover details to understand what you are being covered for. 
  • As a general rule rates are set up as per the below:
    • North American Residents are liable for the full cost of the vehicle. Some have their own insurance policies or extra covers, and some may wish to purchase these from the car hire companies. If covering this themselves, they may be asked to provide the car hire company proof of these policies.
    • Rest of World Residents have basic cover included into their rate which reduces your liability for the full cost of the hire vehicle to a reduced amount. Top up covers maybe available at extra costs to reduce the liability further and in some instances to zero.
  • For extra information on the different types of Coverages potentially offered please see our Coverage Information Guide
7. Can I add additional Drivers to the rental?
  • Authorization: Additional drivers must be authorized and meet the same requirements as the primary driver.
  • Fees: Additional driver fees & young renter fees may apply.
8. Can I take vehicles cross border?
  • If you are planning on taking your vehicle outside of the country where the rental started you will need with the car hire company to check which countries if any are allowed, what extra fees are applicable and how much notice is required as some car hire companies may need to pre arrange this service with a third party provider for extra cover and breakdown assistance.
  • Do not get cross border confused with one way rentals, cross border means you continue to return the vehicle back to the originating country but intend to take it out of that country. International one way rentals may still be accepted and the one way fee will be quoted at time of reservation, this however may not automatically include the cross boarder fee which are always paid at time of rental pick up.
9. Can I trust the Estimated Total Price when placing a reservation?

All ACRISS members adhere to the “European Union” and CMA “Competition and Market Authority” price transparency regulations. Based on the information you’ve provided at time of reservation all mandatory charges and fees will be returned in the Estimated Total Price shown. The only additions that could increase this price would be optional extras you select at time of rental or rental related charges such as refuelling, fines & damage. 

10. What classifies a rental day?

A rental day is typically calculated as a 24-hour block starting from the time stated on your rental agreement. A 30-hour rental would therefore typically be a 2-day rental. Please keep this in mind when placing your reservations and also when returning your vehicle at the close of the rental to avoid be charged extra rental days

11. Should I return the vehicle full of fuel?

This varies depending on the car company, you would need to check at time of placing the reservation.

Typically, most work on a Same-to-Same basis providing you with the vehicle at a certain fuel level and asking you to return it with the same amount. In the event you return the vehicle with less fuel the car hire company will charge you for the difference. (Typically, the refuelling rates are set locally by the car hire company and will be provided at time of rental pick up)

Some also offer prepaid fuel so you get the vehicle full and return it empty, please be aware you are not refunded for unused fuel when these options are taken.