Car Rental. Frequently Asked Questions.

A car rental broker (i.e. CarTrawler) is an intermediary between car rental companies and customers, offering cars from different car rental providers at the best possible rates. Normally, their deals are so much better than the ones you can get from car rental companies directly. Brokers usually cooperate with well-known car rental suppliers, such as Avis, Europcar, Alamo, Sixt, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, etc., as well as with local independent car rental companies, which are not so famous, but able to ensure high quality customer service and wide network of rental locations within their own country.

By booking a car with a broker you are entitled to the biggest possible discounts, offered by car rental companies.

No, InstantCars.eu is not a car rental broker. It is an online project, which offers you a possibility to book your rental car with CarTrawler - currently one of the most successful and reliable car rental brokers in the market.

InstantCars.eu - is a platform where I - Algirdas Chocianas - advise the visitors of this website on different car rental topics, and my aim is to introduce you with the aspects of the industry that are not so obvious as they might seem at the first glance. Your rental car should help you in enjoying your trip, not spoiling it. And that is the purpose of InstantCars.eu.

When choosing your rental vehicle keep in mind the number of passengers, travelling with you, as well as the number of possible pieces of luggage you will be carrying along.

A small, but overloaded car may not be as economical and comfortable as you might expect it to be. If you plan to have much luggage or the suitcases are big enough, you should consider an estate wagon.

If you are 5 people, I would recommend to rent a compact car instead of economy one - this way you will be more comfortable inside, and the boot in this category of rental vehicles is more spacious, too.

Yes, CarTrawler allows the possibility to book a diesel car. You will notice an addition "Diesel" next to the name of the vehicle, i.e., if the name says Ford Focus or similar - that is a petrol car, and Ford Focus Diesel or similar means a diesel car. In case you cannot find such offers for your particular location, then it means that only petrol cars are available there.

Rental price for diesel cars is usually way higher, than the one for the petrol vehicles, therefore you should weigh carefully the necessity of such a choice.

No. You can book only a rental car in a particular car category (i.e., economy, compact, 7-seater minivan, etc.), and not of a particular model. Locally you will be provided by a rental vehicle of any model, corresponding to the category booked.

The car models, provided by CarTrawler, are the most popular ones in the fleets of car rental companies and they are shown for example only. Particular models are not guaranteed neither by the broker, nor by car rental companies. Just a car category and the specifications, such as air conditioning, number of doors, transmission, etc., can be guaranteed.

Yes. The car rental companies, CarTrawler co-operates with, use only latest car models in their fleets and the fleets are renewed at least once in 2 years or even more often. Therefore all rental vehicles have low mileage and are in good order.

When renting a car, the customer takes on certain financial responsibilities related to possible damages not covered by the insurance company. This includes paying the insurance deductible (excess) and damages to the car's windows, tires, roof, undercarriage, and interior, compensating for damage in the event of an uninsured incident, and so on. To ensure that the customer will fulfill these responsibilities if needed, the rental company places a hold on their credit card, which is released once the rental is over.

In other words, the rental company holds a deposit on the client's card as a form of security in case of any damages or issues that may arise during the rental period. This ensures that the company is compensated for any potential costs incurred.

The frozen deposit amount is usually released by the rental company a few days after you return the vehicle, depending on the company's policy and your bank's processing time.

The amount of the deposit reserved on the credit card by the rental company can vary, typically depending on the rental terms and the vehicle type. Usually, the amount held is the insurance excess (CDW) for accidents. It's important to check this in your rental terms.

You can always find out the exact deposit amount by contacting the rental company specified in your voucher and providing them with your booking number.

No. In many cases, car rental companies do not accept cash deposits due to security and verification reasons. They often require a credit card to hold the deposit. It's essential to check with the specific rental company you are dealing with, as policies can vary.

If you want the rental company to lower the deposit they hold on your credit card, you need to buy extra insurance (complete cover package) directly from them when you pick up the car. The cost of this insurance is listed in the rental terms (see see Important information | Insurance).

Any other insurance purchased online (including Axa Assistance and Worldwide Insure) does not affect the rental company's frozen deposit amount and does not reduce it in any way.

No. Refundable Excess Insurance by Axa Assistance does not reduce the amount of the deposit.

No. Refundable Excess Insurance by Worldwide Insure does not reduce the amount of the deposit.

Yes, if you have a confirmed reservation, you can still pick up your rental car even if you arrive late at night. Rental counters at airports are open from early morning until late evening, but they have limited hours. If you arrive outside these hours, there might be an extra fee for your rental.

In the CarTrawler booking system, the fee for picking up the car outside of regular hours is usually already included in the total rental price they quote.

Yes. When you book a car, you must specify the exact return time because the system automatically rejects offers from companies that can't handle early returns. At airports, you can usually return the car early by dropping the keys and documents into a special box near the rental counter or parking area, and it's usually free.

Companies without an office at the airport may need to meet you early to collect the car, so you should let them know in advance. If their representative arrives outside of normal hours, there may be an extra charge for this service.

In the CarTrawler booking system, any fee for returning the car outside of regular hours (if applicable) is already included in the total rental price they quote.

When you book a car in the city center or another location, not at the airport, CarTrawler considers the rental points' operating hours there. If you search for a rental during holidays, weekends, or when they're closed, no options will appear. You should adjust your rental dates/times or look for options at the airport instead.

Yes. If you return the car to a different place than where you picked it up, there is usually an extra fee called a one-way rental fee. The amount depends on how far apart the pickup and return locations are.

In the CarTrawler booking system, this fee is typically included in the total rental price they give you.

Yes. You can rent a car in one country using the CarTrawler system and return it in another country. However, the fee for returning the car in a different country might be quite high.

Each rental company has its own rules about taking their cars to other countries. CarTrawler works with different companies, so these rules can vary depending on the car you pick. Details about traveling to another country with a rented car are in the rental conditions of the car you choose (see Important information | Car | Travel restrictions).

I suggest booking your car rental as soon as you have all your travel plans confirmed. Booking early is better, especially in summer. Here's why:

1. Cars become limited closer to July-August, peak tourist season worldwide. The cheapest cars get booked first, so waiting may mean only more expensive options are left.

2. Waiting too long to book might mean the rental company won't confirm your reservation if the car is in high demand. They can earn more by renting it out without a prior reservation.

3. Prices often go up as your rental date gets closer, especially in summer when demand is high.

It's best to book when your plans are set. While changes to your booking can usually be made at any time and without extra charge, any changes are subject to the current prices at the time of modification. That's the risk of early booking you need to keep in mind.

When CarTrawler shows you a list of available cars, it uses the latest information on their availability. However, because many people are searching at the same time worldwide, the availability of cars can change frequently. So, there's a chance the car you book may not be confirmed. Especially for certain types like automatics, luxury cars, SUVs, 7-seaters, or 9-seater minivans, which are in high demand and limited supply, your booking might be on request, and it could take up to 48 hours to confirm (or not).

In most cases, confirmation of your order is sent shortly after receiving payment, sometimes within a few hours. However, some rental companies may take longer to confirm. They are committed to accepting or rejecting the order within 48 hours.

Yes. You can make changes to your booking at any time before the rental starts by logging into your reservation. You can access it by clicking on Manage Booking on this website or in your voucher. Changing your booking is free of charge, if made more than 48 hours before pick up, but please note that rental prices can change frequently, so modifying your booking may affect the final price.

You can only cancel your booking before the rental start time specified in your voucher. Once the rental period begins, you cannot cancel the booking.

To cancel your booking, log in through Manage Booking on this website or in your voucher.

Before confirming the cancellation, make sure you fully understand the cancellation conditions of your booking.

It's better to book a car online and in advance. Here's why:
You can plan your expenses ahead of time - you'll know in advance how much the car rental will cost, and you won't risk overpaying if the rental company doesn't have the car you need when you arrive.
You'll definitely get a car - even if the car you booked isn't available for some reason, you'll usually get an upgrade to a higher class car at the same price.
You'll save time - there are multiple rental companies at the airport, each with its own prices and rental conditions. It's unlikely you'll be able to compare everything calmly and choose the best option while lugging your luggage around.
Lastly, standing in front of a rental agent and asking for a car here and now doesn't guarantee the best price.

Brokers like CarTrawler have already negotiated the best prices for their customers. They allow you to sit comfortably at home, review the rental conditions, and book online without any hassle. Trust me, it's worth taking advantage of this.

CarTrawler rentals are always much cheaper than booking directly with any rental company. This is because your booking is part of a large volume of bookings that CarTrawler sends to rental companies daily, allowing them to negotiate significant discounts. Eventually, these discounts are used by all CarTrawler customers, including you.

Yes, it's possible. However, at the rental desk, the driver will need to present their own credit card. This is because as the main renter, they sign the rental agreement and take on all financial responsibilities according to it.

When booking a car through the CarTrawler system, you can pay for the rental online with a debit card (e.g., Visa Debit). However, at the rental location, the driver must present their own credit card to pick up the car.

While there are exceptions, the vast majority of rental companies require the driver to present their own credit card. So, make sure that the person booking the car not only meets the rental company's requirements for age and driving experience but can also provide their own credit card during the rental.

The rental price should include these insurances:
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW),
Theft Protection (TP), and
Third Party Liability Insurance (TPL).

The first two usually come with an excess (part of the customer's liability). When choosing a car, make sure all three types of insurance are included in the quoted rental price. I don't recommend choosing options that don't include at least one of these insurances, as you might have to pay extra for them separately.

An insurance deductible (excess) is the amount of money that an insured person must pay out of pocket before their insurance coverage kicks in to cover the remaining costs. In the context of car rental, the deductible (excess) is typically a specified amount agreed upon in the insurance policy. For example, if a car rental agreement has a deductible of $500 for damages, the renter would need to pay the first $500 of any repair costs resulting from damage to the rental vehicle, and the insurance would cover costs exceeding that amount.

No. Windshields, tires, interior, roof and bottom of the car are not included in standard rental car insurance. Therefore, I recommend purchasing additional insurance, which covers these items in addition to the excess itself. Consider the following:
Premium insurance from Axa Assistance when booking the car,
Refundable Excess Insurance from iš Worldwide Insure,
Complete Cover Package, purchased at the rental desk (see Important information | Insurance).

You can purchase refundable excess insurance exclusively through Worldwide Insure's website. The policy will be sent to you via email. It's not necessary to have this insurance while you're renting the car, because it covers you directly, not the rental vehicle or the rental company. You'll only need to refer to the policy if you need to claim reimbursement for expenses related to the excess.

If you wish for the rental company to lower the deposit held on your credit card, you must purchase additional insurance (Complete Cover Package) directly from the rental company upon arrival at the location. The price for this insurance is detailed in the rental terms (refer to Insurance).

Any other insurance bought online (including Axa Assistance and Worldwide Insure) does not impact the amount of the rental company's deposit and will not decrease it in any manner.

No, fuel is never included in the standard rental price. In some countries like the USA, there are special pricing packages that may include a full tank of fuel, but this is clearly stated separately in the rental terms.

The best and fairest fuel policy for customers is 'pick up full, return full.' This way, you only pay for the fuel you actually use.

If you return the car with less fuel than originally supplied, the rental company charges significantly more than the usual gas station prices for the missing fuel. Additionally, a refueling fee may apply. Check the car rental agreement for exact rates when you pick up the car.

Most rental options include unlimited mileage, but there are increasingly cheaper choices with limits (around 100-250 km/day). Be sure to check the rental conditions for mileage restrictions (see Important information | Car | Mileage policy).