Car Rental - How to Prevent Unreasonable Charge after Return?

M27 on 15/03/2022 - 14:53
Last edited 15/03/2022 - 15:34 by 1 other user

Hi guys,

I booked a rental car for my upcoming overseas trip. Not long after making the reservation, I noticed the car rental company I am going for has less than 2 stars for their online reviews. Most of the negative feedbacks are about their excessive charge for the tiny chips/scratches after returning the car (sometimes the damage was not even done by you).

While I have got "car rental excess waiver" as part of my travel insurance, I am wondering whether there is any better way to prevent the rental company from charging me such cost (assuming the damage is not done by me). Will it work if I just lock my credit card right after returning the car? or I can lodge a credit card dispute after seeing any unfair charge?

Any suggestion will be appreciated. : )

P.S. My booking is not refundable.

Travel Car Rental

Comments

  • MrHyde on 15/03/2022 - 14:56
    +8

    Take lots of photos and videos in their presence on pick-up and drop-off.

    Ensure that every small scratch is marked on the condition report on pick-up.

    Ensure that they check the car thoroughly and give you a written all clear on drop-off.

    • Hybroid on 15/03/2022 - 15:15
      +1

      Ensure that they check the car thoroughly and give you a written all clear on drop-off.

      This is the bit that people so often don't do properly. So many people just drop the car off in the dedicated area with keys left inside and head off to airport because it's convenient.

      NO!

      Get there earlier and ask them to finalise account and get a final receipt for your booking. They will check the car on the spot and issue you a receipt. Then that's it. You have no further obligation and they cannot charge you any more.

      • M27 on 15/03/2022 - 15:26

        Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately my returning flight will be in the early morning so I have to do after hours return. :(

      • djsweet on 15/03/2022 - 15:30
        +1

        You would think that… But, I ended up being charged for a full tank of fuel a week later. Thankfully I still had the receipt to prove I had filled it up.

      • knobbs on 15/03/2022 - 21:17

        I've tried this before and they say no, they don't do it now they will send the report later. No matter what wouldn't process then

  • ol mate on 15/03/2022 - 14:56
    +4

    Take photos and videos of the car everywhere until you think you have enough, then double that.

    Do the same on return.

    • andresampras on 15/03/2022 - 15:05
      +1

      agreed. and go slow with the video. and take a high 360 and a low 360. and take photos of the underside of the front and rear bumpers.

  • GG57 on 15/03/2022 - 14:58

    Is it too late to cancel that hire and go with another provider?

    • M27 on 15/03/2022 - 14:59

      Just updated the post, the booking is not refundable. LOL

  • Hardlyworkin on 15/03/2022 - 15:00

    Wear your bikes uniform when you pick the car up and more importantly drop it off (assuming bikes use cars too!)

  • holdenmg on 15/03/2022 - 15:05
    +1

    Seinfeld:

    Rental Car Agent:
    Would you like to purchase the renter's insurance?

    Jerry:
    Yeah, you better give me the insurance because I'm going to beat the HELL out of this thing.

  • Porker on 15/03/2022 - 15:06

    In the past, rental employees would come to inspect car in return. Nowadays, it seems they just accept then return without checking.

    I niw ask them to come inspect the car on return and I stand there with them.

    Also, check the initial inspection report against the car. Many times I've asked them to update the report with items they've missed.

  • cupcake on 15/03/2022 - 15:07

    Yes. Take lots of photos of the car inside and out along the way of using it.
    Ensure that you fill it up with petrol upon it's return if it's part of the conditions.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2022 - 15:09

    take lots of pictures before and after, maybe a walkaround video, lock your credit card after you drop it off as well so that they can't charge it any more than was agreed.

  • anna10 on 15/03/2022 - 15:20
    +1

    Try to ‘capture’ the agent standing next to the car in the comprehensive vid you do.

  • payless69 on 15/03/2022 - 15:50

    Let us know where you go! I have rented cars in several countries and had few problems. But there are some countries where travel forums have nothing good to say about car rental companies.

    • M27 on 15/03/2022 - 15:52

      I am going to Switzerland for 2 weeks.

      • payless69 on 15/03/2022 - 18:12
        +1

        Late 2019 we booked the cheapest car for 10 days from ZRH on a coparison site whilst in Miami FL. Never heard of the rental company, but just returned the cheapest car taken at Cape Carneval and dropped at FtLauderdale. Upon arrival we got directed to the Hertz office and the woman asked perplexed if I ever had driven a manual? Were given a spot to find the car in a huge parking garage. By the time we found the car it was dark. It was a Toyota Aygo and auto. It had a good phone holder about 8kkm on the clock. Zero issues. On a small road I scraped the rim a bit on a kerb. The roads there are about half as wide. Flogged it all the way thru Germany into Strassbourg Fr. Even the French behave nowadays. Paid for all parking but in Kayserberg we drove right thru town that is normally prohibited for non locals. Before returning it we went thru a car wash and vacuum to please the inspecting clark. It worked, the scratch on the rim was not detected. Zero issues at around 60% the normal Hertz rate. Yes there are A.H.'s in Switzerland but proportionally lot less than in most other countries.

  • Donaldhump on 15/03/2022 - 17:34

    rip them a new one online, they quickly back down

    euro car gave me my car 2 hours early when i arrived at the counter.. upon returning it they charged me $250 for extra day.

    i refused to pay , and after back and forth they gave in, not after a barrage of online roasting which was based on truth.

    started renting from hertz upon subsequent trips and smiled at the euro counter every time i lined up which was a good dozen times

    get the inspector to sign it off upon return, if after hours how can you ever be charged, they cant prove the damage done was not after wards

  • Mechz on 15/03/2022 - 18:52
    +1

    Never really had any problems and I've rented probably 30 or 40 times OS in the last decade and countless times here in AU even with the car share places and Bunnings.

    Even got my 10k hold released after renting a Suburban in Mexico. I was sure they'd fleece me for something.

    I guess just make sure you document everything before you leave and don't be rough with anything except the stop and go pedals.

    • M27 on 15/03/2022 - 18:54

      Thanks Mechz for sharing your experience, this gives me some confidence. :)

  • boomramada on 16/03/2022 - 13:52

    Just make sure to get a travel insurance, if you don't, at least get some excess reduction insurance. Dealing with car rental companies while you not in the same location is a pain.

    I've rented number of times too, here and overseas. Haven't had issues with rental companies but had issues with hit and run. For the rental company, just having a hit and run drivers number plate is useless as they need everything, licence details and address. Luckily I had rental reduction insurance

    Ah except one time, rental company charge me $100 for cleaning as there were bit of soil in the carpet after been on a dirt road. That was kind of my mistake too.

  • Massive Flog on 16/03/2022 - 22:44

    Take a photo of the fuel gauge which also includes the odometer reading when picking up and dropping off the car.

    I got into a dispute many years a go with a rental company who charged my credit card about a week after I returned the vehicle. They claimed I hadn't put petrol in it (I had).

  • No and then on 17/03/2022 - 12:43

    Get a separate car rental insurance. They don't cost much extra to your trip.

    They also cover undercarriage damage such as blown tyres, which your travel insurance most likely wouldn't cover. If you're renting a car with some nice Michelin PS, its going to hurt to replace it.

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