I heard in one of Rick's classes that returning a car when the office is closed was not a good idea because the car rental company can add on charges for damages, even though there we none. Since we will not be in Europe, we can not fight the charges effectively. I have a 7:00 flight and no rental agency opens that early for car return. How can I protect myself against potential problems?
Has anyone had problems or am I just being a worry wort? Thanks in advance
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
You're a worry wart. Somebody could also hot wire it and take it home. Or fill it with dope. That's why they have the key boxes.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
How can I protect myself against potential problems? Take a pictures or a video of the car proving there is no damage and all is good.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
I'll give you one tip based on something that happened to me a few years ago: Save your boarding pass from that 7:00 flight. A few years ago I had an very early AM flight out of Edinburgh, Scotland, and I had to do a key-box dropoff of my rental car. When I got the rental car bill, they had charged me for an extra day. They had checked in the car not the next morning, but the day following. I disputed the charge and won my case because I could prove - with my boarding pass - when I had left Edinburgh. I should also say that I've done keybox dropoffs many times, and that's the only time I had a problem.
Posted by
Dallas
1022 posts
Rent from a reputable company and you shouldn't have a problem. I've used the key drop before with no difficulties. In Cyprus I left the keys on top of the driver side front tire in the airport parking lot as instructed. No problem.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
An alternative to consider are looking up for deals that are a bit more expensive but include no deductibles.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33840 posts
They put dope in the key boxes?
Posted by
OP
Casa Grande, AZ, USA
4 posts
Thanks for the advise.