We go to Spain often on holidays. Normally we rent a car via Holiday Autos online.
They are Agents for a range of Car Rental companies such as - Gold Car, Firefly, Record and others.
These companies are always changing their Conditions of Rental - lots of small print in pages and pages of Conditions. They try every way to add costs to your Car Rental. We have been subjected to a lot of Hard Sell tactics by Rental Staff. We tell them that we have our own Insurance. They try to put fear into you suggesting that your Insurance Company will not pay up if there is an accident.
OK they then say, we must take a charge on your Credit Card for EUR 1200.
Currently, the Rental Staff at Malaga Airport for example try to inteminate you if you do not buy their extra Insurance.
The latest extra cost is for renters who are over the age of 70 years. The extra cost quoted to us recently was for over EUR 300 for a 17 day rental. I think that his is Age Discrimination.
Another item to watch out for is Misleading Terms and Conditions of Rental.
Example - For a Recent rental with Firefly, we filled in their Rental Form correctly - my wife was 71.
They then quoted a Price for rental which we accepted and paid for by Credit card.
However, when we printed off the Agreement, it said - People over the age of 70 must pay an extra EUR 330 at Pick Up.
This is a crazy excess payment. Our track record for driving is excellent. No claims for well over 10 years. Why should we pay such a high excess ?
We decided that if they try to charge this extra money at Pick Up, we will say - No rental. We will take the Bus !
Another charge that I dislike is the extra charge to have an extra driver. This can add more than EUROS 80 or more on your rental. You can only have one driver at a time !
Watch out if you return your car early morning or late at night. They tell you - " if someone damages your car after you have parked the car in one of our bays, you will be charged ! "
Also if you leave the fuel a tiny bit not full, we will charge you EUR 25 to fill it up.
There is a Fuel Station BP as you enter the Airport at Malaga. OK if you go there during the day. If you go there late evening, it is closed and you have to use the automatic pumps which is not so easy to understand.
Finally, when you collect the car from the car park, check all the minute damage. The lighting is poor in the car park bays and you may not notice a small scratch or two. You will be charged. I suggest you take photos of any damage.
Watch out if you return your car early morning or late at night. They tell you - " if someone damages your car after you have parked the car in one of our bays, you will be charged ! "
Also if you leave the fuel a tiny bit not full, we will charge you EUR 25 to fill it up.
There is a Fuel Station BP as you enter the Airport at Malaga. OK if you go there during the day. If you go there late evening, it is closed and you have to use the automatic pumps which is not so easy to understand.
Finally, when you collect the car from the car park, check all the minute damage. The lighting is poor in the car park bays and you may not notice a small scratch or two. You will be charged. I suggest you take photos of any damage.
However, Caviat Emptor.
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