Car hire breaks in two places: at the desk and at the return
At the desk you discover you need a different document, your card will not take the deposit, or the insurance does not cover what you assumed. At the return you discover a scratch you do not remember and a tank that is “not quite full”. Both problems are solved in advance and almost for free: with the right documents and ten minutes of filming at pick-up.
Rules differ by country and company and they change: driver age, licence held for how long, whether an international permit is needed, deposit size, excess limits. Check all of it before booking, not at a desk in another country.
What to check before booking
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which licences are accepted | Some countries require an international permit alongside the national one |
| Age and years held | Young drivers face a surcharge or a refusal |
| Deposit and card type | A credit card in the driver’s name is often required |
| What the insurance covers | Glass, tyres, underside and roof are frequently excluded |
| Mileage limit | “Unlimited” is not always unlimited |
| Additional driver | Usually paid for and registered separately |
| Crossing borders | Often prohibited or requiring permission |
Filming at pick-up is the most important thing you will do
Walk around the car and record a video: every side, the roof, sills, wheels, windscreen, mirrors. Photograph each piece of damage close up and make sure it is marked on the condition report. Inside: the cabin, the odometer and the fuel level. Ten minutes of filming closes the most common dispute at return.
Check on the spot: spare wheel or repair kit, jack, warning triangle and vest if they are compulsory locally, the child seat if you booked one, the air conditioning and the wipers.
Fuel and fines
Confirm the fuel policy: full-to-full is usually better value than a prepaid tank. Photograph the fuel receipt before returning. Fines almost always reach the rental company, which charges them to your card along with an admin fee — sometimes months later, so do not close that card straight away.
At the return
Return the car during office hours and to a person rather than a key box where you can avoid it. Film it again, record the odometer and fuel level, get a signed condition report and keep all of it until the deposit release period has passed.
When the rental is closed
The car is back, the report is signed, video and photos are saved, the deposit is released and there are no outstanding fines. Only then is the trip over — not at the moment you stepped out of the car.
