We conducted an Opinium* survey of over 1,000 car hire drivers and it revealed that two in five hire car drivers (41%) have discovered damage on their rental vehicle at pick-up which is not marked on the check-out sheet.
Moreover, almost a third (30%) of drivers have been informed by rental companies that minor damage doesn’t need to be recorded, which could be risky especially when drivers can be charged for minor damage such as scuffs and scratches. Only 15% of car hirers trust rental companies to accurately note existing damage on their vehicles.
Almost a fifth (20%) of car hirers have had a dispute with a rental company, rising to over half (51%) of 18-34 year-olds. Concerns about being falsely charged for damage affect many drivers during their trips, with 43% worrying about this.
To prevent disputes, the majority (61%) of car hirers mark existing damage on the check-out sheet, although this figure drops to around a third (32%) among 18-34 year-olds. Nearly half of all hirers take photographs at pick-up (48%) and drop-off (44%), and a fifth (21%) take video evidence.
When it comes to returning the vehicle, nearly half of the drivers have either returned a vehicle without it being checked by the rental company (44%), or found that there was no one available to inspect the car (42%).
iCarhireinsurance.com’s free travel app for travellers, called ‘iCarhire’, can be used to take date and time stamped photographs at pick up and drop off, which can then be used as evidence in the event of a dispute or claim.
Rental companies often sell two types of excess protection policies—super damage waiver and tyre and windscreen cover—which protect drivers from excess liability. In Faro, Portugal, this summer excess waiver cover costs on average £257** (£214 for super damage waiver and £44 for tyre and windscreen waiver cover). In contrast, a policy from a specialist insurance provider, like iCarhireinsurance.com, starts at just £33.15*** per week for European coverage. These stand-alone policies are not only cheaper, but they also usually provide more cover as standard, including cover for damage, theft, and also tyre and windscreen cover. Annual policies start from £41.99***.
Ben Wooltorton of iCarhireinsurance.com advises, “Always check the hire vehicle thoroughly at pick-up and ensure all damage is documented. Consumers can get charged even for minor damage like scratches or wheel scuffs, so make sure you can prove that they were there from the start.”
He continues, “To enjoy your holiday without worrying about additional costs, consider a stand-alone excess insurance policy from an independent provider like iCarhireinsurance.com. These policies can offer much better value than those from rental companies.”
* Opinium online survey with 1,000 adults who have hired a car in the UK or abroad took place between 2 – 8 April 2024.
** iCarhireinsurance.com looked at car hire prices for a medium rental car, e.g., a VW Golf or Ford Focus, for a week from 27 July to 3 August 2024 in seven European destinations with six rental companies (Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt) when booked in May 2024.
***£33.15 based on a 30-year-old UK resident buying an 8-day single-trip car hire excess policy from iCarhireinsurance.com for use in Europe. £41.99 annual price is based on a UK resident aged between 30-80 purchasing an excess Europe annual policy excluding in-country (UK) cover.
