Compare the full price and terms first. Before driving, check the car and agreement; at return, keep proof of the handover.
Compare the full price for the same dates and collection and return locations. Check what is included, the deposit and the cancellation terms before choosing a car.
Before you bookStart with the stage you are in. Each one leads to a decision or record worth keeping.
Consider the passengers, their luggage and the type of gearbox you are comfortable using. Check the boot space rather than judging capacity from a category name alone. Think about the roads and parking on your route and confirm any equipment you need. A bigger car is not necessarily safer or more convenient for the journey you have planned.
Use the same dates, collection and return points and selected services when comparing offers. Check the total hire price alongside the mileage allowance and fuel policy, rather than choosing on the daily rate alone. Read the conditions for optional extras and cancellation. Assess the security deposit separately and check how it is handled. A smaller deposit does not necessarily mean a cheaper hire.
Before paying, check which driving licence and identity documents are accepted, whether an international driving permit is required, and the age and driving-experience conditions. Confirm the payment and deposit methods, including any rule about a card in the lead driver's name. Check official entry and passport-validity requirements for your nationality and destination. There is no single six-month passport rule that applies to every journey.
Make sure your bags will fit without restricting visibility or taking up passenger space. If travelling with a child seat, check its suitability and availability in advance, whether you bring it or request it with the car. Keep your paperwork, booking confirmation and a charging cable within reach. At collection, check that the booked equipment is present and ask how to use anything unfamiliar.
Check official requirements for each country on your route, including recognition of your driving licence, equipment, tolls and road-use permits. Ask the hire company about border crossings and ferry travel before booking, including any approval or additional documents required. Being entitled to enter another country does not automatically mean that your hire agreement allows the car to go there.
Walk round the parked car in good light and photograph each side, the bumpers, mirrors, glass, wheels and interior. Compare existing scratches and dents with the condition report. Ask the representative to add anything missing and keep the amended record before leaving. Photographs are useful evidence, but do not replace telling the company about damage that has not been recorded.
Check the lead driver, dates, car or category, collection and return points and payment amounts against your confirmation. Read the security deposit, late-return and selected-extra terms separately. If the representative proposes a different arrangement, ask for the new terms in writing. Receiving the keys is not a reason to leave an unexplained charge or a disputed condition unresolved.
Read the cover provided, the exclusions and any applicable excess. Check the position on glass, tyres, the underside, roof, interior and keys. The security deposit is not the same thing as the excess. Before adding a policy or service, establish who provides it, its full price and the claims procedure, including whether you must pay first and claim reimbursement later. Retain the written terms.
Photograph the fuel gauge and odometer at collection and compare them with the handover record. Have any difference corrected before setting off. Establish the required fuel level on return, or the battery charge requirement for an electric car. Check the mileage allowance and any additional-distance charge. Follow the agreed fuel policy rather than assuming that every hire requires a full tank on return.
With the car parked, adjust your seat and mirrors and locate the lights, indicators, wipers and parking brake. Check dashboard warnings and ask about controls you do not recognise. As you move off, pay attention to the brakes, steering and unusual noises. Report a concern straight away and stop if the car seems unsafe. Have the issue recorded and resolved before continuing.
Choose where to park before entering a busy centre. Check pedestrian areas, restricted-traffic zones and any permit or vehicle-registration requirements, even if your navigation suggests driving through. Read parking signs for payment, operating hours and time limits. If your accommodation is within a restricted area, ask how to reach it and where you may unload before moving the car to a permitted parking place.
For an electric hire car, check compatible chargers on your route and at your accommodation, the payment process and the charge level required on return. Include charging stops in your plans. Whatever car you choose, use the correct fuel or charging equipment and avoid unnecessary detours. An electric or hybrid model is not automatically the least expensive option for every journey.
Save the hire company's assistance number and reporting instructions before your journey. Following a breakdown or accident, put safety first, call the appropriate emergency service if needed and notify the hire company. Follow its reporting procedure and retain relevant photographs and documents. Seek authorisation before arranging repairs or recovery yourself, unless immediate action is needed to keep people safe.
Include rest stops, parking and the return deadline when planning your driving time. Check the weather and road conditions before a longer journey and allow more time for unfamiliar roads. Download useful maps and set the navigation while parked. Stop for a break if you become tired rather than pressing on to meet a schedule, and contact the hire company promptly if your return plans change.
Arrive at the agreed return point on time with the required fuel or battery level. Before handing back the keys, photograph the car's condition, odometer and fuel or charge reading. Complete a joint inspection where possible and keep a receipt. If returning outside opening hours, follow the written instructions and retain evidence of when and where you left the car.
Compare the total price for identical dates, collection and return arrangements, mileage and chosen services. Consider the security deposit separately and read the cancellation conditions.
Booking earlier may give you a wider choice, but it does not guarantee the cheapest price. Keep a copy of the terms attached to your chosen offer.
Read the requirements for your chosen car before booking. Check the driving licence and identity documents accepted, minimum age and driving experience, any international driving permit requirement, and how payment and the deposit are handled.
Ask whether a payment card must be in the lead driver's name. Bring the required originals and your booking confirmation.
Show your confirmation to the representative and explain the difference before leaving. Ask for a written correction or a clearly stated solution, with any changes to the price or terms.
Photograph relevant damage and retain the paperwork and messages. If the matter remains unresolved, contact the hire company and the booking support channel while still at the collection point.
