Beware of MACK Car Rental Tire Damage Scam and Unsafe Cars!

did you notice the worn tyres and different names when you walked around the car for issues when you rented it? Do you have photos from that inspection?

What did your rental contract state? What type of insurance did you have with the car? Did it cover things like tire damage etc?

I photographed the car exterior and windshield, Nigel. It had no damage. The wear on this 235/35/R19 very low profile tire was to the inside, concealed from view. Tread in the visible areas was acceptable. The photos show it may have rubbed badly on the inside sidewall, as well as having the edge of the tread scrubbed off. One of the four tire dealers I visited in Kotor said it appeared to have come off a car with very bad alignment – possibly a wreck. The photos show it may have rubbed badly on the inside sidewall, as well as having the inside edge of the tread scrubbed off.

Like any car rental contract, Ed, the renter is responsible for damage to the car, including tire damage. Fair enough. Croatian law, like the laws of most countries, requires cars to have a spare tire and jack, or Run Flat tires. This car had none of that. I pulled off the road as soon as it was safe, tried unsuccessfully to inflate the tire with the pump in the trunk, and contacted the local rental office. The insurance I have with my credit card does not cover this, since it is not damage, per se. I disputed the charge, and am awaiting a response.

Never heard of MACK car rentals but will avoid them since we rent often in Croatia.

It's obvious that the car you rented wasn't road worthy. Is there anything in the rental contract that states that they are giving you a road worthy car? I would use that as a basis to contest the charge on your credit card if that's the case.

Based on the size of the tire, it suggests that it was a high-end car. How did you end up renting from MACK?

One would think, MarkCW, that they would only rent roadworthy cars, if only to avoid legal liability should someone be injured as a result of their negligence. Croatia is every bit as advanced as the U.S. in many regards; you just don't see old cars or cars in poor condition on the road there, much less rent one, typically.

As for the low profile tire, MACK inexplicably gave me a 2022 BMW "1M," a sweet ride, even though I reserved a Volkswagen Golf "or equivalent." Two weeks prior, in Slovenia, the EuropCar I rented was a little Suzuki, after reserving a Golf, which is far more typical.

I rented from MACK for the day because they were just outside the Dubrovnik east gate, a five minute walk from the room we were renting. I have great insurance through my Visa Sapphire Reserve credit card to cover accidents, and am always careful to document any damage at time of rental, so "What could go wrong?"