We have heard a lot concerning car rental, but we should watch out! Alongside facts we can run into some car rental myths as well.
We pay the same amount of money if we make a booking in advance, as without reservation – partly myth
Well, it is highly advisable to make a reservation in advance. Not only because this way we spare some money, but also because we have the car ready by the time we arrive at the renting office. In the high season generally the prices increase, and we might pay even more if we don’t have a booking. Moreover, without reservation we might not find a suitable car for our needs, since we can choose from fewer options.
The company will charge for every damage, including very small ones – myth
This is a very common myth, but in fact we don’ have to pay for small damages, such as stone chips, or tiny scratches. Of course it depends on the rental company, so we should always check their terms and conditions.
The offices of car rental companies work 24/7 – partly myth
We assume that all car rental companies work 24/7 just as the airport, which is non-stop. In order to avoid unnecessary gaps, long hours of waiting during our stay, we should check the opening hours of the rental company. Moreover, if we arrive at an irregular time (out of the office hours), we should check the extra price we have to pay for not regular pick-up time.
There’s no difference between the conditions of car rental companies – clearly a myth
It is faulty to assume that all companies work with the same conditions. Each rental company has its own Terms and Conditions, which are similar, but we might find crucial differences in them.
It is not necessary to inform the rental company about the delay of our flight – partly myth
Usually, car rental companies set a period of 4 hours after expected pick-up (we set it during our booking) within which we have to go for the vehicle. If we miss this 4 hours, our booking might be cancelled, and our ready car will be given to someone else. Thus, in case of flight schedule change, we should inform the car rental company, or give them the details of our flight so they will see the delay.
We’ll get the same car we booked – myth
The size will be the same for sure, as the number of seats and doors, but the model, and the color might differ. There might be some smaller differences as well, but one is for sure: we can’t get a smaller vehicle than what we booked.