Europcar SA educates consumers on car rental industry
24. Aug, 2009
3 Comments
CAR RENTAL EXPLAINED BY EUROPCAR SA
Conditions for renting a vehicle are often bewildering for renters and often lead to resentment when the invoice amount is reflected on the credit card. Europcar SA (formerly Imperial Car Rental) explains some of the most common areas of confusion.
WHO CAN RENT A VEHICLE?
Anyone who is 23 years and over and who has held a valid driver’s license for at least two years. A ‘young driver’ surcharge is levied for renters under the stipulated age.
ADDITIONAL DRIVERS?
Only the person who signed the rental agreement is authorised to drive the vehicle unless a second driver is listed on the rental agreement. An additional driver surcharge is levied to cover the waivers.
WHAT ARE WAIVERS?
Waivers are not insurance. It is a legal, compulsory agreement between the rental company and the renter which generally limits the claim against a renter in the event of loss of or damage to the vehicle.
The two waiver options are:
- Standard Waiver: the customer is responsible for an excess amount in case of damage or loss. As the cost for a daily standard waiver is lower the excess amount payable for any damage or loss is higher.
- Super Waiver: the customer will also be responsible for an excess amount for any damage or loss, but as the cost for a daily super waiver is higher, the excess amount payable for any damage or loss is lower.
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Waivers are not honoured by car rental companies in the case of negligence, meaning the customer would be held liable for the full amount of damage (and not just the excess). Examples of this would be to allow an unauthorised person to drive the vehicle, accident due to excess alcohol or the vehicle being stolen when it was left unlocked. It is advisable to treat a rented vehicle as if it is your own.
WHAT ARE THE PAYMENT OPTIONS?
All vehicle renters must have a credit card if they are not travelling on a company account. This enables a holding deposit by car rental companies in the event of any loss or damage to the vehicle. Once the vehicle is returned, without damage, the credit card is refunded within 72 hours, less the invoice amount.
CAN ONE PERSON DRIVE AND ANOTHER PERSON PAY?
The person who reserved the vehicle (primary driver) must sign the rental agreement and pay with their credit card.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A SUITABLE VEHICLE GROUP?
Vehicles are grouped by features and specifications. Choosing a vehicle group will vary according to the customer’s personal requirements. Here are some suggested considerations when making a choice:
- Price range – according to intended spend
- Climate – is an air conditioner required?
- Conditions – would the vehicle be entering rough terrain?
- Safety – are ABS brakes or airbags required?
- Size – how many people and how much luggage?
Rental vehicle groups consist of a number of vehicle brands that have models with similar features. Eg. Toyota Yaris sedan, Polo Playa, Toyota Auris or a Chevrolet Aveo.
WHAT IS PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) is optional. It is offered at a nominal fee and covers the driver and occupants collectively in the event of an accident.
HOW IS THE DAILY RENTAL CHARGED?
Daily rental charges are calculated in cycles of 24 hours. If a rental vehicle is collected at 9am on Monday and dropped back at 10am on Tuesday, the rental period is 2 days.
HOW IS FUEL / PETROL CHARGED?
Rental vehicles are supplied with a full tank of fuel which is topped up to the maximum. There are two options when returning the vehicle. The customer can fill it up or return it at any fuel level and Europcar will fill it. All refills are charged at the Government legislated fuel price.
HOW ARE ‘KILOMETERS DRIVEN’ CHARGED?
The rental rate you have chosen may include a specified amount of free kilometers per day. For example; if you get a rate with 200km’s free per day and you drive 250 kms, you will be charged the ‘per km rate’ for the extra 50km’s only. The per kilometer rate varies depending on the vehicle type.
WHAT IS THE AIRPORT SURCHARGE?
These charges are applicable to all car rental transactions in South Africa. An Airport Surcharge is levied on the daily rental rate of any rental vehicle collected and returned to any of South Africa’s state airports. This fee is paid over to the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA).
WHAT IS THE TOURISM LEVY?
A compulsory Tourism Levy of 1% on the daily rental rate is paid to TOMSA (Tourism Marketing Levy for South Africa). The funds are used to promote and develop tourism in South Africa.
CAN A VEHICLE BE TAKEN ACROSS THE BORDER?
Certain vehicles may enter neighbouring South African countries, but over-border rules do apply and fees are applicable. Cross-border travel intention must be reported prior to rental to ensure the required documentation is drawn up by the car rental company and submitted to the customer for display at the border.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES?
Generally, the contract fee is excluded from the daily rate and will be charged for separately. Some other additional charges to be aware of are:
- A one-way charge. This is levied for rentals terminating at a different branch to the collection branch if the two branches are over 150kms apart.
- Delivery and/or collection fee. This is levied if the vehicle must be delivered or collected to or from the customer.
- Child seat rentals – for children up to seven years old. Customers must specify the child’s age and weight so the correct seat can be provided.
- GPS navigation unit rentals – available at major airport locations.
- Hands-free car kit rentals which are available at Europcar’s major airport locations.
- A traffic fine administration fee. The traffic fine will be redirected to you with an admin fee.
WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED FROM THE RATE?
The customer’s reservation confirmation will detail the items that are included in the rate. It is important to always understand upfront what the rate includes and what you are further liable for.
VEHICLES INSPECTION
All Europcar vehicles are inspected prior to customer collection and then again when the vehicle is returned. An inspection form is filled out which documents kilometers travelled and any damage to the vehicle (if applicable). A copy of the inspection form is always left in the vehicle for the next customer to verify. Any additional damage found on the vehicle, on its return, will be invoiced to the renter.
EXTENDING THE RENTAL PERIOD
If a customer intends to extend the length of the rental period, it is imperative to advise the rental company to remain covered by the waivers.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
I have just rented a car through Budget Car Rental. The advertising on the many websites offering multiple companies gives rental rates as being a mere R200+ per day for economy cars. I rented a car for two days and received a confirmation that I would have to pay R490.50 for the rental. The confirmation form did not specify:
1.
Eish Christine, you didn’t finish your comment, what did the confirmation form not indicate?
Muzi Mohale´s last blog ..Eco-tourism a solution to unemployment in Eastern Cape – NDA
Lets start again. I have just rented a car through Budget Car Rental. The advertising on the many websites offering multiple companies gives rental rates as being a mere R200+ per day for economy cars. I rented a car for two days and received a confirmation that I would have to pay R490.50 for the rental. The confirmation form did not specify:
1. The amount of the waivers
2. The amount that would be held on my card.
3. What the airport levies were
Besides having to deal with the very rude and unobliging staff at the airport I was billed R680 for the car and when I queried the amount was told that in fact the option I had selected would have ended up having me pay R990.
I don’t think that it is the customer who has the problem. I think that the car rental industry in this country is out of control. There is such a price war going on that the rental companies are deliberately hiding costs away in order to entice the customer to choose their vehicles. Someone out there should be regulating this industry more closely. What a fiasco it will be when we have 1000’s of visitors next year all arriving with too little money in their bank accounts to cover their car rentals. What an impression we will make as being a friendly country!!!