After years of campaigning, naming and shaming, most rental car suppliers are cleaning up their act. Whilst there are certainly some Spanish car hire scams to aware of, they can usually be avoided by using your common sense and reading the paperwork (or just booking with us as we only work with trusted, reputable firms!)
Here, we’ve put together some of the most common and current Spanish car hire scams so you know what to look out for. Also, make sure you’re up to date with the latest travel scams before you go.
Photo by: Comugnero Silvana/Fotolia
Car Hire Scam 1 – Read the Small Print
Yes I know it’s as horrific as Fifty Shades but all the information you need is in the small print. By signing a contract you’re effectively stating you’ve read the Terms & Conditions and agree with them. It’s very difficult to argue you’ve been scammed when the info was in the T&C’s all along.
Car Hire Scam 2 – Too Good to be True Headline Price
Remember the adage, “If it seems to good to be true, then it probably is.” Next time you’re comparing prices in Spain and see a week’s car hire for £10.00 or a week, stop and think. Do you really think you’re getting a good deal? What do you actually get for your money? The answer usually is not a lot.
We ran the numbers recently on deals such as this. We were able to quote £52 plus £17.50 Top up insurance for a grand total of £69.50 for a week in Alicante. This included a free additional driver, unlimited mileage, a full-full fuel policy and excess reimbursement insurance. All of our competitors’ vehicles came with an excess of between €950 and €1,500. If you wanted to protect yourself and the excess, you had to pay for it. Fuel admin fee? that was €30. You also had to pay for additional drivers, in one case this was an extra €45.50 per week
By the time we’d finished adding up all their additional charges the £10 car hire had turned into £86.39. Another quote rose from £28.26 per week to £122.27!*
Photo by: JSB31/Fotolia
Don’t be swayed by a ridiculously cheap price. Make sure you’re not going to be hit with extra fees upon collection or a huge bill if you have an accident.
Solution: Double check exactly what you’re getting for your money and what you actually need.
Car Hire Scam 3 – The Excess
We mentioned this above, but nobody ever pays enough attention to the excess. If you have an accident in a hire car or it’s stolen, you (normally) have to pay an excess. That’s fair enough, it’s the same as if you prang your own car – you pay a small fee and everything is fixed, right?
Well that’s certainly true in the world of car hire if your idea of a small fee is up to €3,000. You can be certain there will be some people out there who will make sure you pay full excess. Make sure you check if there’s an excess and how much it is.
Solution: Book with Economy Car Hire. All our quotes include either No Insurance Excess or Excess Reimbursement Insurance in the event of collision damage or theft for free! This way you don’t lose out should the worst happen.**
Car Hire Scam 4 – The Upgrade
You arrive at the rental desk only to be told the category you booked is unavailable. But Señor / Señorita is in luck! You can have a bigger, more luxurious car.
This may be a genuine upgrade, but it may also be a scam. Be aware of the following so you don’t get caught out:
- Are you paying for the upgrade? If you’re not happy to pay it, request that you are provided with the category of vehicle that you booked.
- Tank of fuel cost – If you have booked a car where a fuel admin fee is payable or collect full, return empty, the cost of a tank of fuel and the admin fee will increase the larger the car you hire. (All of our prices include a fair fuel policy).
- The amount of the security deposit will increase for larger vehicles.
If the right sized vehicle is not available and the supplier says you must take a larger car, don’t be afraid to give us a call and we’ll try and resolve this for you.
Our Managing Director, Rory Sexton says “If you’re given an upgrade on collection, ask if this is free of charge – or if a fee is required and check the rental contract before signing it. Issues such as this are very difficult to resolve retrospectively.”
Solution: Double check the vehicle you’re being given. Contact us before signing anything if something’s not right.
Car Hire Scam 5 – Extra Insurance Hard Sell
If a supplier in Spain tells you the car hire insurance policy you bought in the UK is not valid, they are incorrect. It doesn’t matter who you bought it from. It’s illegal to sell insurance that isn’t.
Our prices in Spain include excess reimbursement insurance. You may also (hopefully) have also chosen to take out our top-up insurance. These are both reimbursement policies, so you would pay the car rental provider for the damage, then submit a claim upon your return home. The supplier will still require a security deposit to be authorised on your credit card to ensure safe return of the vehicle.
On the other hand, the car rental supplier’s own insurance works slightly differently. Taking this out means that if damage occurs (which is covered by their insurance policy) you will not have to pay them any extra. They may opt to authorise a smaller security deposit or sometimes no deposit at all. The only problem is, this comes at a high cost, sometimes up to €20 per rental day!
The most cost effective solution is to buy top-up insurance when you book your hire car (at the bargain price of £2.50 per rental day!)
Avoid being pushed into buying something you don’t want/need by:
- Understanding the terms and conditions of the rental that you have paid for.
- Checking the insurances you have bought and know what you are covered for.
- Be prepared for the car rental provider to authorise a security deposit upon collection.
If you’re not sure what to do, call us (+441362 852299) or email us. It is always best to contact us at the time, as this issues are difficult to resolve retrospectively.
Solution: Don’t ever buy two insurance policies that cover the same/ similar things.
Car Hire Scam 6 – Fuel Policy
Whilst the days of the Full-Empty scam are coming to an end, there are some suppliers who still offer it. More important these days is to check if an admin fee is payable or what the charge will be if you’ve not completely topped the tank up.
Photo by: maurogrigollo/Fotolia
In Spain, all the suppliers we work with offer either a Full-Full policy or return with same amount. Bear in mind however that Autos Aguirre in Gibraltar currently offer ¼ Full – Empty.
Solution: Double check the fuel policy before making your booking. Make sure you abide by the terms. Take a photo of the fuel gauge upon collection and return just in case any issues arise.
Car Hire Scam 7 – The Diesel Surcharge
Most hire cars fall under the category of unspecified when it comes to fuel. This means, that (unless specifically stated as diesel) you are likely to get either a petrol or diesel. Some suppliers will add on a Diesel surcharge of around €12 for the privilege of driving a car powered by diesel. This scam works because you don’t actually see what’s on the agreement. You sign on a computer screen where you don’t feel comfortable reading the terms and conditions in full before signing. The printed copy is then folded carefully and sealed in an envelope.
Solution: Always read the terms and conditions in full before signing anything, whether on a screen or on paper. Don’t be pushed into signing something until you are ready to do so.
Other Things to Remember
- Always ensure you’re charged in the local currency and NOT Sterling.
- Take your own Sat Nav if you have European maps – you’ll save a fortune.
Round Up
Now you know what car hire scams to look out for, it’s up to you to stay safe. If you’re ever in doubt, get in touch with us there and then and don’t sign anything unless you know exactly what you’re agreeing to.
In the meantime, don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter below and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest travel tips and news.
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*Prices correct as of 03/03/2016.
**Please note, damage caused through negligence is not covered.
