The Complete Guide to Car Hire, Part Four: Collecting Your Hire Car

As we continue our series on The Auto Europe Car Rental Roadmap, your comprehensive online resource for all things related to car rentals, we previously discussed your Auto Europe Europe voucher in part 3 of our guide. This week, we’ll highlight the essential steps for picking up your rental car.

What documents to you need to pick up a car rental?

To get started, make sure you have the following items ready for when colleting your car hire:

• A valid and complete driver’s license
• Credit card in the name of the primary driver
• Auto Europe voucher.

What to do when picking up a car hire

Here’s an overview of what to anticipate and the steps you should take when you arrive to pick up your rental car at your selected location.

• Locate the collection desk: Keep in mind that if you rented your car through a broker like Auto Europe, it's essential to find out which supplier is providing your vehicle and head over to their desk. All details regarding the location of the car hire supplier desk will be stated on your reservation voucher under "Pick-Up Information".


• Sales at the desk: When you pick up your rental car, anticipate that the staff at the collection desk will attempt to sell you additional services. Typically, you might be offered options like refundable excess insurance, personal injury insurance, and breakdown coverage. Keep in mind that any insurance purchased at the rental location is generally pricier than what you could secure before your journey. Remember, you are not required to make any purchases. They may also suggest you buy a full tank of fuel, but be cautious, as this option can be a bit more costly than filling up at a gas station, even though it does offer greater convenience.


• Rental Agreement: You will need to sign a rental agreement. Take the time to review the agreement thoroughly, including any fine print! You will be obligated to follow the terms and conditions of this agreement, even if you obtained the rental through a brokerage.


• Credit Card Deposit: A credit card, in the name of the primary driver, is required to hold a deposit for the period of the rental. The credit card must have enough credit to block a security deposit which is usually a minimum of an insurance excess payment + VAT + fuel. Cash or debit cards are rarely, if ever, accepted.


• Fuel: Does your rental agreement specify an empty-to-empty fuel policy, or are you required to bring it back with a half or full tank? Also, are you aware if your vehicle runs on petrol or diesel?


• Vehicle Damage Checklist: We understand that the excitement of getting into your rental car and hitting the road is tempting, but hold on! Before you drive off, take a moment to thoroughly check your vehicle for any scratches or dents. Even the smallest blemish should be noted on your rental agreement and make sure you take photos or video as evidence.

What to do if you are late for pick-up?

If a customer fails to arrive at the designated pick-up time, the rental agency may assume the individual is not coming. After a brief grace period, they will be classified as a no-show. This classification results in the cancellation of the reservation without a refund, and the vehicle may be offered to another customer. To prevent this from happening or if you know in advance that you are going to be late for pick-up, please take the following steps:

• Contact Auto Europe per telephone
• Get in touch with the local rental company directly

Explore every section of our Complete Guide to Car Hire -

• Complete Car Hire Guide - Part 1: Choosing The Best Car
• Complete Car Hire Guide - Part 2: What car hire prices are made of
• Complete Car Hire Guide - Part 5: Returning your car hire
• Complete Car Hire Guide - Part 6: Car hire coverage explained