Advice for renters

Prior to making a booking, Check and Compare:
Prices:
Many car rental companies show a low price on the internet, but is everything included? The prices from European Car Rental are the total cost with no hidden extras.
Conditions :
Are taxes, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and other insurances included? How much is the excess/deductible amount?
With European Car Rental you now have the choice of the All Inclusive Package including CDW with Excess or the All Inclusive Package offering you FDW / CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) with ZERO Excess.
Opening hours:
Our car hire partners can deliver your car any time of the day, every day of the year, at most of our destinations.

Which car category is suitable for you:
Online you will see all the possible car categories and you may select the best for your needs. You will be able to select car category according to the size of the engine, A/C, the number of luggage, etc.

Extra services/equipment selection:
Online, during the procedure, you may select any extra service/equipment you wish, like Additional Driver, GPS, etc.

Child seat:
Be aware that the child seats standards differ from country to country. European Car Rental advises you to take your own childseat for your convenience. In the Mediterranean countries, especially, the standard of the child seats may differ from the standard of your country.

Roof rack:
If available, they will be offered online, during the booking procedure. Consider renting a bigger car instead of a small one with a roof rack as it is more comfortable to drive without a roof rack and the risk of theft. No insurance covers damages caused by roof rack- or luggage on the roof.

Before booking:
Always check the traffic laws of the country that you are travelling in.
This information can be requested from the embassy or consulate of the country you will visit.

Be sure to check that your Driver’s license is valid.

You may also require an International Driver’s license, please check your rental terms and conditions available in your “My Booking” account.
Don’t forget your credit card and your car rental voucher.

Make a plan for your first day of driving.
Where will you travel to?
Will you stop off along the way?

Communication:
Will your mobile phone work abroad?
You may need to call your phone company to check how to make the changes for certain countries.
Remember that you also pay if somebody is calling you abroad.
Check the country code to use for calling home.
Please note that in many countries it is forbidden to use the mobile phone whilst driving.
At the time of delivery:
Please check:
– damage’s on the car. Have them written down on your contract.
– where the spare tire and necessary tools for changing wheels are.
– DO NOT forget to take your copy of the contract!
– if you have local currency, for tolls etc. Not all petrol stations accept credit cards.
– you must find out exactly where to return the car when the hire is over.
– ask the representative for instructions to your first destination.
– check what kind of fuel the car needs. Diesel or petrol?
– ask what you have to do in case of accident/damage.

At most destinations it is necessary to make a police report even for the smallest damage.

Tips for driving:
Route planning:
Check the local map at home to decide how far you want to drive and in how much time.
You can leave the detailed planning till later but make sure that you have your first day’s route roughly in your mind.

Who’s driving?
If you are sharing the driving, make sure that all the co-drivers are named on the car hire agreement and authorized to drive. Make sure everyone has a valid drivers license and passport.

Planned stops:
No one is designed to sit still for hours, so plan your stops along the way to your destination.
Set a time limit to stop for a meal or a stroll. Break up the journey into maximum 2-hour segments if you are traveling with children. Ideally, choose your first overnight stop as near to the airport as possible, particularly if you have arrived after a long flight or arrive during the night. Remember the idea is to enjoy your holiday and relax, not get exhausted.

Travelling with children:
Do your children get car sick? If so, you will want to avoid anything visual. Is everyone happy to listen to the same nursery rhymes the whole way, or will you all go mad? If there is only one tablet or iPod, will it cause more arguments than it’s worth?

In case of accident:
In the unlucky event of an accident the most important advice is:
STAY CALM and try not to panic!
If anybody is injured, help them first and if needed call the ambulance.
Call the car hire company.
Their contact number can be found on your car hire agreement. Also call the police and make a report of the accident/damage.
Obtain as much information as possible about the other vehicle and driver, like name, registration number etc.
In case of mechanical breakdown contact the car hire company or the Road Assistance.
Contact numbers can be found on your car hire agreement.
The Team of European Car Rental wishe you a pleasant drive!