Travellers who have had experience dealing with car rental companies all have their horror stories to relate with regards to bad experiences.

 

Having travelled to more than 40 countries, and hundreds of different cities, many of them dozens of times, I have had some very pleasant experiences, but also my fair share of really bad ones. I have used the top global rental companies as well as some small local firms. My overall experience is that, with few exceptions, paying more with the big global companies does not necessarily guarantee you better quality of rental experience.

​

We offer on this page some general trips and a few positive experiences in relation to vehicle rental. The tips are based on years of personal experience with various rental firms. BUT PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR ACTUAL EXPERIENCE WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE COUNTRY, CITY, ACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND SITUATIONS. HENCE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT WHAT WAS EXPERIENCED BY US IN A CERTAIN LOCATION IN OUR RENTAL WILL BE THE SAME FOR YOU WHEN AND WHERE YOU TRAVEL.

​

1. Type of Vehicle

Depending on your group size, if you have children, duration of rental and trip intentions, the first decision is the type of vehicle you need. A few examples:

* Campervan

If you plans are for a camping road trip, this would be a clear choice for saving on accommodation and have the flexibility on where to stop for the night(s) as long as there is a safe place to camp with access to clean water, toilets and maybe showers, except when you are roughing it in the wilderness. In any case, some proper advanced research and planning would be useful so you know the overnight options. 

Think about the actual size of the camper van you need. The bigger it is, the harder it would be to find parking in a city if you need to make an errand stop.

* A small car

If there is only 1 or 2 of you and you are on a really tight budget, or if you are only on a 2-3 day trip, this could be a lost cost option.

If your trip is in the South of Europe including driving in the older cities in France, and Italy, a small car will make it easier to get through some very narrow streets and tiny parking spaces.

In my hikes, I have met a very young lady from USA on a tiny budget who was travelling around Australia in a very small car and sleeping in the back seat.

* A small to medium SUV

​For a small family or 3 to 4 adults, I would preferred a small to medium SUV to a saloon car for the bigger and more versatile boot space.

* A large SUV or 7-seater people mover 

​For bigger families or groups of more than 4 adults, a 7-seater SUV or people mover would make for more comfortable space and storage.

* A Convertible

If your budget allows, once in your life, you have to rent a convertible, if you do not own one. Choosing the right destination and season to do that would also be key. I rented a Chrysler Sebring for a road trip in Florida with my daughter in 2010. Absolutely loved the experience!​

 

​2. Rental Firms available at Destination

​The available car rental firms vary according to your destination. While most big global firms are present in major cities worldwide, they usually are much more expensive and don't necessarily offer the best deals. I have been disappointed multiple times by the big global firms in terms of not having the car I booked and being pushed to pay for the next grade of car which which they invariably make into an unpleasant conversation; or sending me random unknown charges weeks after the car was returned in original condition and tank full. 

In recent years, I found that rentalcars.com does a good job of finding a suitable car for me at my chosen destination across the available rental firms.

​

3. One-Way Rentals

​A good rental firm with a reasonable network of presence would usually allow you to drop off the car in a different city or different location as pick up - eg city vs airport. Check that any surcharge for doing that is commensurate with the distance between the two locations, for them to take on a fair cost of relocating the car back to the original location. 

​

4. Insurance

​Check that your basic rental should include CDW (usually there is an excess that you need to pay in the event of damage), and third party liability. Most rental companies would offer optional additional coverage to either reduce the excess amount or to bring the excess down to zero. The optional bundle may or may not include cover for damage to windscreen or roadside assistance for such incidents like lost of keys or running out of petrol. 

Personally I prefer to take up the option to reduce or bring to zero the amount of excess. This is because rental companies usually charge a disproportionate amount even for minor damages that exposes you to thousands of dollars of unexpected expense.

However, rental companies tend to charge a very high premium for the additional coverage, especially if you take it up at the time of car pick up, vs getting it online at the time of booking the car.

There are alternatives for getting the additional cover to reduce the excess:

(1) Travel Insurance - check the details of your travel insurance - most now offer protection on car rental excess - check that the amount covered is more than or at least close to the excess amount. Also check that your travel insurance also cover you for third party liability and that the amount covered is adequate.

(2) Cover by intermediaries - like rentalcars.com besides providing a service to help search for a suitable car across multiple car rental firms, they also offer to cover the excess for a premium. Check that this premium is more competitive than that offered by the car rental company. Always check the cover details vs the premium charged. The main difference is that you need to make the claim to the intermediary company after paying any excess to the rental firm. Hence, make sure you keep proper records including photos, receipts etc. I have used this service several times and found them to cost significantly less than what the rental firm would charge.

​

5. Cancellation Refund Policy

​Most car rental firms allow free cancellation up to 24 hours prior to booked pick up date and time. I would not go with a firm that does not offer this condition.

​

6. Pick up and drop off

Car rentals are usually charged by the day, ie. per 24-hour block or part thereof. That means, if you picked up the car at 09.00am and returned it at 10.00am the next day, you will likely be charged for 2 days - unless you have pre-agreed concession from them to give you an one-hour grace period which does not happen often.! Hence, wherever your circumstances allow, plan the pick up time such that you you have ample time to return the car by the same time of day or before.

​

As for petrol, it's best to take the full to full policy. And be sure to fill up just before you return as their cost per litre to top up is always VERY high. 

​

Some firms offer "same out same in" fuel policy. Really try to avoid that. Chances are you do not remember exactly where the gauge was pointing at time of pick up. Even if you took a photo of the fuel gauge on pick up, good luck trying to stop the bowser at exactly the same amount that you had at the start. You then end up topping it up more than needed just to be sure.

​

These days the rental companies do not give you a written receipt of car returned in good original condition. Most times you are asked to park the car and drop the keys in a box and 'leave it to them' to determine the rest... Be sure to take photos of the car's condition at time of pick up and after you have parked it on return. The date stamps on the photos could be used as proof in case they send you a subsequent bill.

​

7. A few Positive Rental Experiences

​I shall refrain from naming rental firms with whom I had poor experiences. Hopefully they have improved after feedback. 

Based on recent years' experiences, the following are firms and locations where I felt I had a good deal, a positive end to end experience with no troubles: (hopefully they have not changed negatively)

Australia - Europcar

New Zealand - ACE Car rental

France - Alamo

Italy - Locauto

Switzerland - Europcar

USA - Alamo; Dollar

Booking Intermediaries - rentalcars.com; booking.com

​

​I shall mention just one rental firms with whom I had a terrible experience in multiple ways from pick up to drop off and post rental. Hopefully they have changed and improved after feedback. 

Germany - Munich Airport 2023 - SIXT. I would never rent from them again.