Carrentals.co.uk Shows How To Avoid Hire Car Mistakes This Summer

SURREY, ENGLAND, May 19, 2011 (Press-News.org) The UK's leading car rental comparator, Carrentals.co.uk, has been advising motorists heading off on holiday to watch for the top ten pitfalls that are usually made.

"Although hiring a car on holiday usually makes things much more easier and more convenient, more and more people are making mistakes when it comes to the rental agreement", says Gareth Robinson, Managing Director of Carrentals.co.uk.

"We have listed the ten most common mistakes that drivers fall into and hopefully by taking them on board, holidaymakers can have a more relaxing and stress-free holiday."

Top ten problems to avoid by Carrentals.co.uk

1. Fuel policy problems - People sometimes don't read the fuel policies when renting a car and return the car without a full tank of fuel, which can incur charges. In other cases, some hire car suppliers prefer to have an empty tank on its return, and not doing so is against terms and conditions.

2. Before pick up check your credit card limit - It is normal practice for a hire car company to swipe your credit card with the excess amount to authorise a payment should you have any damage or an insurance excess is required. In some cases, the renter might not have enough on their credit card limit to warrant the rental and thus be refused the car.

3. Road laws abroad - Not everyone reads up on the rules of the road in the country they are visiting. In some cases, the traffic laws can be completely different to the UK. In Japan for instance it is an offence to stop closer than 78cm from the traffic stop line, which would incur a penalty.

4. Booking extras beforehand - Too many renters forget to add on child seats, sat navs, snow chains or snow tyres before they leave. As in many cases these items are rare or of limited supply, it is best to book them when you book the car itself.

5. Take your documentation - Before you collect the car make sure you have all the relevant documents with you and ensure you have your passport, flight tickets and driver's license as well as your credit card. Renters will reject your purchase if you do not have the correct documents with you.

6. Check the car before starting it up - If the car has damage, such as scrapes, dents or scratches then make sure the supplier is aware of them before you take the keys as you will be charged for any additional damage that is found afterwards.

7. Car hire insurance - too many people run the risk of having large excess charges for items that aren't covered on the insurance. If you're offered insurance make sure you are covered for certain items and not double insured if you take extra coverage.

8. Not knowing the best insurance policy - Insurance policies such as Total Damage Excess Waiver relieves many worries from having to pay for new wheels or windscreens, which are normally the most commonly damaged on a hire car. The TDEW covers you for tyres, windscreen, excess and the roof and the underside of the car.

9. Cheapest isn't always best - If you choose the cheapest car to rent, then you might not be able to fit luggage in there or the engine might not be powerful enough to climb up mountains, such as you need on a Swiss or French Alps holiday. A larger car or MPV is sometimes better value.

10. Early bookings are best - Make sure you don't leave booking a hire car to the last minute because there is usually less chance of finding the car of your choice and vehicles such as MPVs or people carriers are usually limited in their supply.

In more than 15,000 locations around the world, Carrentals.co.uk the leading hire car comparator, compares the best prices and deals from over 50 suppliers such as Sixt, Holiday Autos, Budget, Auto Europe and Alamo. To find out the latest deals visit www.carrentals.co.uk.

About Carrentals.co.uk
Carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and grew to become one of the UK's leading online car hire companies by 2006.

In 2007 the company re-launched its site to create the first major online price comparator in the travel industry. Using the latest technology the Carrentals.co.uk site now searches up to 50 different car hire websites, providing an impartial comparison of the best prices available in over 15,000 locations.

Websites searched include Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Ebookers, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Sixt and Thrifty, with the Carrentals.co.uk site quickly comparing prices and allowing customers to refine their search by car type.

The Carrentals.co.uk site also features over 5,000 pages of travel information in a mini-guide format.

In 2008 Carrentals.co.uk was voted Best Car Hire Website in the Travolution Awards, and in 2010 it was Highly Commended in the Best Meta-search/Price Comparison category. To book or for further information visit www.carrentals.co.uk

Media Contact
Rachel Builder & Jenny White
Context
T: 01625 511966
F: 01625 511967
carrentals@contextpr.co.uk
www.contextpr.co.uk