Carhirewarehouse.com Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ)
What is included in the price?
Unless we advise otherwise, all prices that we quote are inclusive of:
- Collision damage and theft waivers
(CDW in the USA and Canada)
- Third party liability
- Airport/location/service fees
- Local taxes on the above
- Unlimited mileage
This simple arrangement means that the only extra payments when collecting your car are for optional services such as additional and young drivers, child seats, etc. Ssome deals may also include additional benefits such free additional driver(s), no excess/deductible.
What should I consider when booking my car and travel?
Car rental is a very flexible product but there are a few useful guidelines. If travelling to a secondary airport, as often used by low-cost airlines, check whether car rental offices will be open before confirming your travel dates. Similarly most offices in local towns will be closed on Saturday afternoons, all day Sunday and on national holidays as well.
Local offices, including secondary airports, often have only a small selection of the most popular cars rather than a choice from the entire fleet.
Be sensible about the climate of the country that you are visiting. For instance, convertibles won’t be available in cold countries (and, yes, there have been requests for convertibles in Canada in February!). 4x4s are lifestyle vehicles, even on holiday. They are not insured for off-road use and if you damage one using it in this way you may be personally responsible for the full cost of the repairs.
People-carriers do not have much luggage space if all of the seats are used. Equally, how much more do you want to spend just for luggage space, especially if the luggage will only be in the car for the journey from the airport to your accommodation and back again? However in most countries roof racks are no longer available. Try taking some soft bags instead of hard cases and the luggage may fit more easily into a smaller car.
Finally, book a car that is suitable for the number in your party. Carrying more passengers than the rental company advise will invalidate the insurance. It is also illegal.
Please contact info@carhirewarehouse.com or phone:
01233 500464 to discuss the best arrangements for you - preferably before you confirm your travel arrangements.
How soon should I book my car?
As soon as your travel arrangements are confirmed. Car rental companies do not offer ‘book late, get it cheaper’ deals so there is generally no benefit in waiting, especially at if travelling at peak times. Many classes of car, such as people-carriers, convertibles and 4x4s are in very limited supply and can be fully booked several weeks before collection date at almost any time of year. In many locations even the most popular and numerous cars can be fully booked at peak times.
What are the licence requirements for drivers?
All drivers must have held a full licence for at least 1 year and in some cases up to three years. Provisional licences are never accepted. Licences should ideally be clean and any driving offences or non-UK licences must be advised for the rental company to consider prior to booking although up to 6 points for minor speeding offences does not usually cause a problem. Failure to advise convictions may result in collection of the car being refused without refund. Most rental companies will accept licences from a wide range of countries but any not written in the Roman alphabet will require a translation. This is uaually an International Driving Permit which must always be accompanied by the national licence.
Questions (FAQ)
What is included in the price?
Unless we advise otherwise, all prices that we quote are inclusive of:
- Collision damage and theft waivers
(CDW in the USA and Canada)
- Third party liability
- Airport/location/service fees
- Local taxes on the above
- Unlimited mileage
This simple arrangement means that the only extra payments when collecting your car are for optional services such as additional and young drivers, child seats, etc. Ssome deals may also include additional benefits such free additional driver(s), no excess/deductible.
What should I consider when booking my car and travel?
Car rental is a very flexible product but there are a few useful guidelines. If travelling to a secondary airport, as often used by low-cost airlines, check whether car rental offices will be open before confirming your travel dates. Similarly most offices in local towns will be closed on Saturday afternoons, all day Sunday and on national holidays as well.
Local offices, including secondary airports, often have only a small selection of the most popular cars rather than a choice from the entire fleet.
Be sensible about the climate of the country that you are visiting. For instance, convertibles won’t be available in cold countries (and, yes, there have been requests for convertibles in Canada in February!). 4x4s are lifestyle vehicles, even on holiday. They are not insured for off-road use and if you damage one using it in this way you may be personally responsible for the full cost of the repairs.
People-carriers do not have much luggage space if all of the seats are used. Equally, how much more do you want to spend just for luggage space, especially if the luggage will only be in the car for the journey from the airport to your accommodation and back again? However in most countries roof racks are no longer available. Try taking some soft bags instead of hard cases and the luggage may fit more easily into a smaller car.
Finally, book a car that is suitable for the number in your party. Carrying more passengers than the rental company advise will invalidate the insurance. It is also illegal.
Please contact info@carhirewarehouse.com or phone:
01233 500464 to discuss the best arrangements for you - preferably before you confirm your travel arrangements.
How soon should I book my car?
As soon as your travel arrangements are confirmed. Car rental companies do not offer ‘book late, get it cheaper’ deals so there is generally no benefit in waiting, especially at if travelling at peak times. Many classes of car, such as people-carriers, convertibles and 4x4s are in very limited supply and can be fully booked several weeks before collection date at almost any time of year. In many locations even the most popular and numerous cars can be fully booked at peak times.
What are the licence requirements for drivers?
All drivers must have held a full licence for at least 1 year and in some cases up to three years. Provisional licences are never accepted. Licences should ideally be clean and any driving offences or non-UK licences must be advised for the rental company to consider prior to booking although up to 6 points for minor speeding offences does not usually cause a problem. Failure to advise convictions may result in collection of the car being refused without refund. Most rental companies will accept licences from a wide range of countries but any not written in the Roman alphabet will require a translation. This is uaually an International Driving Permit which must always be accompanied by the national licence.
Age limits for drivers?
Most rental companies will permit drivers from the age of 21 although some may have a minimum age of up to 25. For certain types of car there can be a minimum limit of up to 30 years. Some companies have a maximum age of 65 or 70 but usually there is no maximum. However drivers of all ages must appear fit and capable of driving safely in the opinion of the rental company.
Specification of cars?
In most countries, cars will have manual gearboxes unless an automatic is requested. The choice of automatics may be limited and they are often more expensive than the manual version of the same car. However, in America and Canada all cars are automatic and manuals are not available. Fuel is either petrol or diesel at the discretion of the rental company except in America and Canada where only petrol cars are available. Please also be aware that cars are provided by class, not make and model. If you would prefer a particular car a special request can be entered on your booking but this is not a guarantee.
What is excess?
Exactly the same as it is on the insurance on your own car in the UK. If you have an accident or the car is stolen, you pay the first part of the cost. The amount of excess varies between different companies and different locations. In some highly competitive areas like the Spanish Costas, some companies offer ‘no excess’ deals. Alternatively, you can often buy excess waiver direct from the supplier when collecting your car. A new product, a daily or annual Excess Refund insurance, is now available and further details can be found on:
www.insurance4carhire.com/carhirewarehouse
Can I make a special request?
Yes. The rental company will usually do their utmost to meet any reasonable request. However they do not form part of the rental contract and failure to meet your request does not constitute grounds for compensation, cancellation or refund.
Can other people drive the car?
Yes, subject to the driver(s) meeting the rental companies age and licence requirements. Additional drivers are usually added locally and a small additional charge may be payable.
Can I collect the car in one place and return somewhere else?
Usually yes providing that the car is returned in the same country as it was collected. Subject to a minimum hire of between 3 days and a week this service is often free. The return location must be specified when booking. One-way hires are becoming increasingly popular as they allow two-centre breaks, save wasted time returning to the collection point and allow maximum advantage of cheap air fares. International one-way rentals can sometimes be arranged - fees for this service can be high.
Can the car be taken out of the country of collection?
Very often, yes. It depends on he countries involved. In America, for instance, cars can usually be taken into Canada but never into Mexico. Similarly, cars can usually be driven between EU states but restrictions apply between the EU and other countries. Rental cars are usually not permitted on ferries. Local charges sometimes apply.
