Quite often when we're on holiday abroad many families will want to go sightseeing and venture outside of the holiday resort they have been staying at. Whilst there are coach tours that go to many tourist destinations, some people may prefer to operate on their own time frames and hire a car to get around.
A recent survey carried out by the AA has found that a shockingly low number of car hire companies pass vital safety checks, so you should be careful when you choose a car and a company from which to hire one from. Some of the issues the inspectors found were overcharging on credit cards, but the more serious issues where, missing vehicle checks and faulty vehicles that could put you in serious danger if you were to hire from them.
The vehicle checks are done to make sure the car is safe to drive, if these checks are not done, not only may the car be unsafe but any pre-existing damage to the car before you drove it could be blamed on you, their own contracts can sometimes not be translated into English and leave you with little recourse against any accusations. Before you take the keys to any hire car you should inspect the vehicle yourself. You don't need a degree in mechanics to know what to look for. The type of damage shady car hire companies will be sticklers for is cosmetic, so make sure you note and point out any chips, scratches or dents to the owner first.
Reporting major faults such as the brakes or handbrake not working or dripping oil are also a must. In warmer weather the importance of coolant can be greater than back in the UK, tyres must be checked as you'll be driving on uneven surfaces and dirt tracks in many Mediterranean climates.
Another thing you can get charged for by unscrupulous car hire firms is not bringing the car back with petrol. Obviously you don't want to spend more than you have to and the thought of someone else driving round with the petrol you paid for may not be the nicest, but some hire firms can take a pretty strong stance on this, so make sure you check what level you should fill the tank when you return the car in most cases this will only be half or quarter a tank.
Insurance coverage is something you need to be sure of when you take out a hire car, you need to be clear that what you are covered against but also whether there are any surcharges that you may have to pay. Car hire firms are notorious for charging anything they want for adding a second driver to the agreement with costs being from nothing to only 31 Euros.
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