Our tips for a peaceful rental

Every year, nearly 4 million people rent a vehicle. To ensure a smooth rental experience, there are precautions to take before picking up the car, during the rental period, and after returning it. Here’s our advice.

Before

Check prices and extras (insurance, second driver, GPS, returning the vehicle to a different agency, etc.). If you book well in advance, you can benefit from a 15 to 20% discount. The amount of the security deposit or the fees applied in the event of late return of the vehicle must be displayed and included on websites and brochures. Some rental companies require an advance on rental. Read the contract carefully before signing it (information on the driver(s), type of vehicle, cost, excess amount, date and place of departure, etc.). Planning to go abroad? Ask if this is allowed. Walk around the vehicle before signing its condition sheet, report any scratches, dents, damaged tires, missing spare tire, faulty air conditioning, etc. It is advisable to take out insurance to reduce the amount of the excess you will have to pay in the event of a problem, but check whether your credit card already provides this guarantee.

Good to know

When renting a vehicle online, the withdrawal period does not apply (Article L. 221-28 of the French Consumer Code). Check the cancellation options offered by the rental company, if applicable, and the conditions.

Carefully read the rental company’s general rental conditions to understand the subscription and payment terms (e.g., requirement of a “credit” card; the payer, therefore the bank card holder, must be the driver).

If your contract requires the use of a “credit” card, contact your bank to find out your situation and the options they may offer. Immediate debit cards are debit cards. Deferred debit cards or revolving credit cards, in particular, are credit cards.

Check what insurance is included with your bank card (damage, vehicle theft, etc.).

During

Take photos, ideally dated or even time-stamped.

Carefully read the rental agreement to verify the vehicle’s condition and specifications. This will allow you to see if there are any apparent defects not listed in the agreement (a broken light, a scratch, etc.), or if there are any errors in mileage or fuel level, for example. You can then request a modification to the rental agreement or mention it on the vehicle’s handover inventory.

The contract may include other guarantees. These may vary depending on the rental company and the country. To avoid purchasing unnecessary insurance, find out in advance what guarantees or insurance you are personally covered by.

If the reserved vehicle is unavailable, you can request another model at no extra cost, even if it is a higher category. In the event of a mechanical problem, you can request a replacement vehicle and claim any repair or breakdown costs.

Caution: Never have any repairs carried out without consulting the rental company, who will explain how to proceed; an assistance service is available outside of opening hours.

After

The car must be returned in good condition, with a full tank of gas, as the rental company often charges more for fuel than gas stations. If the agency is closed, it is sometimes possible to put the keys and papers in a box provided for this purpose, indicating the mileage on the odometer. The general rental conditions may stipulate that if the keys are returned in the agency’s mailbox, you remain “guardian” of the vehicle until the agency opens. This means that you are liable for any damage that may occur to the vehicle between the time of its return and the time of said opening. Be aware that this clause has been deemed abusive on several occasions, whether by the commission for abusive clauses or by the courts at the initiative of UFC-Que Choisir . Do not hesitate to contest it.

Insist on a joint inventory. This will allow you to effectively contest the situation in the event of a dispute. If the vehicle cannot be subject to a joint inventory because the agency is closed, take photos, ideally dated or even time-stamped, of the vehicle.

In the event of a dispute (amount debited greater than that stipulated in the contract, damage to your name, etc.), contact one of the local UFC-Que Choisir associations .