5 tips for renting a car on holiday

Are you going on holiday abroad and do you want to rent a car on the spot? Then you obviously don't want to pay too much or be faced with surprises. Take advantage of our five tips.

1. Choose a local car rental company

With international car rental companies you can book your car in advance in the Netherlands. That seems easiest - you can usually communicate in English. However, as a local car rental company in South Limburg we of course recommend our local colleagues.

The great thing about the internet is that you can make a good comparison between different providers in advance. A quick search on the internet shows that you can often get excellent rates from a local car rental company. Just pay attention to the conditions, which I will discuss later.

2. Choose a car that is spacious enough

Just because you can get by in the Netherlands as a family of four with a compact car, doesn't mean you can do the same on holiday. Have you thought about the suitcases you'll be lugging around? Rent a car that is big enough and has sufficient luggage space.

3. Pay attention to fuel costs

Usually, fuel costs are not included in the rental price. You get a car with a full tank and return the car with a full tank.

Some car rental companies have a full/empty policy, where you can return the car with an empty (read: as empty as possible) tank. The first (full) tank is added to your rental rate. The disadvantage of this is that you sometimes have to pay a much too high price for fuel in advance and also pay for a full tank, while you don't drive it completely empty. Exciting for daredevils: will you manage to reach the car rental company on the last drop of petrol?

A third form that I have experienced is the empty/empty arrangement. You get a car with an empty tank (if you are lucky there is still some in it from the previous renter), and you can return it empty. The same challenge as with the full/empty arrangement.

4. Pay attention to the fine print

Pay attention to the small print in the rental contract. For example, about the insurances taken out and the amount of the deductible. Never sign anything you haven't read first. Otherwise you could be in for a surprise: the internet is full of reviews of rental companies where things went wrong.

5. Check the car upon collection

Check the vehicle for damage both when picking up and returning it. When picking up, make sure that all existing damage is noted on the rental agreement. When dropping off, take photos with your smartphone.

Have you ever rented a car while on holiday abroad? Did that cause any problems? Which tip above would have been beneficial to you? Preferably close to a rent a car in the Hoensbroek region? That's possible at Adrem!