Worried about car rental? Tips from Zest

For many, the thought of renting a car brings emotions of anxiety due to countless horror stories you hear within the travel industry. From car rental scams to unfamiliar driving rules, we break our tips on how to not be worried about car rental! 

Driving on an alternative side of the road 

This can be a scary one for anyone who has never driven abroad before! Roundabouts and left/right turns will be the most difficult. 

Our best advice is to stay calm, stay spatially aware, and don’t rush into any potentially dangerous situations. It may be a good idea to plan a route with easy driving in mind, for instance you could avoid rush hour or busier/larger roads that could invoke stress.  

Different road laws 

There can be laws that catch tourists out, in Cyprus drivers are forbidden to eat or drink while driving. This one is simple to avoid, do your research! Road laws can easily be found via government websites or holiday guides. For bitesize handy information, we have a range of Driving guides for the extensive list of locations we operate in. 

Different driving etiquette and conditions 

There can be some strange driving etiquettes in different countries… For example, in Polish drivers tend to have dipped headlights turned on at all points within the day! 

For this issue, we again recommend you do a bit of online research. Consider reaching out on the TripAdvisor travel forums or on Facebook travel groups to ask for advice on what its like to drive in your chosen destination! For conditions, consider the environmental conditions area you’re staying and plan an alternative route if you feel unsafe taking the quickest route. Also check weather reports for any upcoming dangerous weather before a long drive! 

Enormous costs after an accident 

You’ve all heard the horror stories about the car rental accidents that land customers with a hefty fine or a downsized security deposit for minor damages… If this worries you, it may be a good idea to take out additional car rental insurance (see below).  

As aforementioned, it may be wise to avoid any potentially dangerous or busy routes where damage could occur. Furthermore, parking in safe spaces instead of on busy streets could help prevent unwanted collisions from passing drivers. 

Car hire insurance 

These massive repair costs are often used as a fear-mongering tactic when pushing customers into buying their equally expensive added insurance. Despite the pushing, remember that additional insurance is, in most cases, not mandatory for a rental to take place. 

However, if you’re worried about renting a car it may be a good idea to get additional insurance. Third party car insurance may be the cheaper option than buying provider insurance at the desk. If booking with Zest, we can offer an industry-leading Top-up insurance to cover you for areas that aren’t cover by the standard CDW.  

Car Rental scams 

Getting charged for damage you created is one thing, let alone getting charged for damages that didn’t exist! Unreputable car rental providers may state the rental vehicle is damaged after the car is returned to the depot. This could be an intentional swindle but it’s probably that previous damages were forgotten and not recorded. Afterwards, a fine is given or the repair costs are taken from the security deposit. 

Our best advice is to take lots of photographs of the vehicle on collection! These can be used as proof if you get charged damages that weren’t caused by you. If you spot any pre-existing damages, make sure the provider has documented it, meaning it’s covered in future inspections. If you’ve booked with a broker, you may even be able to contact them to help support your case if you believe you’ve been unfairly charged. 

 For more pitfalls, read our blog on the scariest car rental scams and how to avoid them. 

Stress at the airport 

Many travellers are often unprepared for the added stress that may come at the airport! Some travellers can be tripped up by the rental pick up times when creating a booking. It’s easy to miss or pick the wrong time during the booking process which can lead to you being labelled as a no show and your rental being given away. Furthermore, if your flight is delayed it could again lead to a no show or an out of hours charge if your arrival time exceeds the closing time of the rental provider office. 

Don’t worry! If your flight is delayed, make sure to immediately call your car rental provider to let them know. Alternatively, if you’ve booked with us, give us a call and we’ll liaise with the provider for you to come to the best possible solution. Remember to always check what time your flight lands, account for any travel time, and assign a realistic collection time for your rental! 

Pitfalls when booking 

Beware of an overly simple booking process with a cheap price tag! Unreputable companies may hide any extra fees in order to advertise a more desirable price. You may find that you’ll need to read in between the lines to the find local fees or the security deposit amount. At Zest, we always show any fees or local charges that you’ll receive on top of the rental cost.  

If you’re worried about car rental, be sure to read through all the details carefully, especially if you’re booking with the cheapest option! Make sure you’re aware of any local fees that may incur when you arrive at the car rental desk. 

Car rental terminology 

CDW – Standing for Collision Damage Waiver, acts as a way to reduce your liability for the full cost of vehicle in the event of damage or theft. CDW waivers your responsibility for the vehicle you’re hiring to a determined excess. 

OOH fee – Standing for out of hours, this fee comes from using the car rental office/desk outside its opening hours. This fee isn’t ideal but it’s there to cover the costs of staff overtime when handling any vehicle arrangements. 

Zero Excess liability – This means you won’t be liable for your car hire excess providing you haven’t been negligent. This means if you get into an accident, you won’t need to pay for the excess on the repairs! Keep in mind that Zero Excess (and ERI) won’t cover all parts of the vehicle such as wheels, tyres, glass, etc.  Additional insurance will be needed for the complete coverage. 

ERI – Standing for excess reimbursement insurance. This essentially works the same as Zero excess with the exception that you claim back the damage costs after the rental finishes.  Any rentals with us will include ERI if Zero Excess Liability isn’t provided as standard meaning your excess is always protected! 

We have you covered on all the best car rental content on our blogs: 

• Why car hire isn’t that stressful 
• How flight cancellations and delays can affect your car hire 
• Top tips for a stress-free car hire collection 
• Hidden fees: What are the real car rental costs? 

As the only Which? Recommended Car Hire Broker, you can trust us to take away any stress you may feel about renting. Still worried about car rental? Get in touch with any enquiries and we’ll do our best to make sure you’re comfortable upon collection! 

About the author: Jake

Jake loves to dream of his next adventure, whether that's sunny beaches, snowy escapes, or finding hidden gems in popular locations, he's all about the love of travel!