Hiring a car is never the funniest part of going away. The process can be fraught with hassle, as rental companies love to use confusing language and throw hidden charges at you. But it doesn’t have to be such a chore. My guide on how to rent a car covers everything you need to know for a smooth, cost-effective rental.
And if you book your car on KAYAK, it’ll take you less than ten minutes.
The basics of how to rent a car
So you’ve decided to rent a car. You may be gearing up for a road trip with your family, touching down in a city for a short business trip, or just picking up a car to move some furniture. No matter your reason, getting familiar with the process will save time and stress, and help you get a great deal.
What do you need to hire a car?
Car rental documents
Requirements for renting a car in the UK include:
- Your driving licence – preferably a photocard licence, which must be full and valid
- A DVLA code – if you’re based in the UK, you’ll need to get DVLA code within 21 days of renting the car. Rental companies use this to check your driving record
- Proof of ID – a valid national ID card or your passport
- Proof of address – such as a bank statement or utility bill, usually from within the last three months. You can usually show this on your phone so don’t need a print out
If you’re renting overseas, you won’t need a DVLA code but you may need an International Driving Permit (IDP). In the case you only have a paper driving licence or your licence was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP to drive in certain EU countries, so check before you travel.
Car rental payment & deposit
Most car rental companies will require you to have a credit card to hire a car. They use it to charge a security deposit when you collect the car, which they refund in full when you return it – without damage!
Some (but not many) rental companies will accept a debit card for the security deposit. You’ll need enough funds in your account to cover the deposit in full. You may also find they charge extra to use a debit card, so it’s always easier with a credit card.
Car rental insurance
Usually the biggest stumbling block for how to rent a car is the insurance. Every rental comes with different options at different prices providing different levels of cover. It can be a bit of a lottery deciding what to do, although the most sensible option is to take out full insurance. Here are the different types:
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). Car rental companies almost always include CDW as part of the cost of your booking.
- Theft Protection (TP). This means if your rental car is stolen while you have it, you don’t need to pay for a new one.
- Loss Damage Waiver (LDW). This is an umbrella term that includes CDW and TP policies.
- Third Party Liability (TPL). This insures you for death, damage or injury to a third party – another person – in an accident that you’re liable for.
Whatever levels of car rental insurance you go for, remember that most come with an excess. This refers to the amount you’ll need to pay on top of the insurance in the event of a claim. These can vary wildly depending on the rental company, car and type of insurance so always, always check before you rent.
For the full insurance lowdown, read this KAYAK article on the different car hire insurance types.
Minimum age to rent a car
You must be at least 21 years old to hire a car in the UK, and you need to have held your full licence for at least a year. The minimum age requirement to rent a car in most European countries is also 21. Some allow car hire from the age of 18 though, including Germany, Austria and Sweden. For more, check out this article on age restrictions for car hire.
Which car rental company should you use?
Another thing to consider in these times of travel uncertainty is a flexible cancellation policy. This means you can cancel a rental at the last minute should your plans change. The last thing to think about is location, especially if you’re renting from an airport. The bigger agencies will have desks in the arrivals terminal. Smaller, budget rentals may be based off-site though – often a bus ride away that can take time and fray nerves after a long flight. Book at your discretion!
How to rent a car on KAYAK
KAYAK searches through hundreds of car hire companies at once. Use it to filter and compare all the results for your given destination and dates to find the best deal. You can shop around for hire cars and compare rates on one site without opening multiple tabs and browsing for hours. Here’s how to rent a car on KAYAK:
1. Choose your dates
Select your pick-up and drop-off dates. Try to be specific about the times you plan on picking up and dropping off, because it affects the price and availability of cars for hire. For example, if you pick up at 11am one day and drop off at 12pm another, you may be charged an extra day for that extra hour.
You can also select between “same drop-off” point and “different drop-off” point if you want to drop off at another location. Useful if you’re going on a road trip from A to B, but beware it usually comes with an added, often significant, fee.
2. Apply your filters
3. View deal
When you’ve found a rental you like the look of, select “View Deal” to continue. Depending on the deal, you’ll either be directed to a KAYAK page to book or to the hire company’s site. The price will be the same either way.
4. Complete booking
When it’s time to complete your booking, you’ll be able to review the details of your deal again and add any extras you’re interested in. Remember to read all the details to make sure you’re happy with everything, especially the insurance type and excess costs.
Car hire pick up
Before you collect, don’t forget the requirements to rent a car. Bring your driving licence and other required documents, and make sure you don’t need an international driving permit. If you’ve paid online, you’ll need the card you paid with. Don’t forget your credit card for the security deposit. And always remember to final check the terms and conditions!
The car hire company will give you a short report on the condition of the car – check it’s accurate. Also, take pictures and/or a video of the car before leaving to cover against any small dents and scratches that may have been missed.
Car hire drop-off
When dropping off your rental car, make sure to get it back by the allocated time. Most rental companies offer a little leeway, but if you’re more than an hour late you’ll likely end up paying a surcharge.
Make sure to read your contract so you meet all the stipulations before returning your rental car, or you could face yet more charges. Typically these include:
- Making sure there’s as much fuel in the car as there was when you collected the car. Your contract will say if it’s like for like, or full tank. If you leave it to the hire company to refill, you guessed it – you’ll pay a fee on top.
- Take photos and/or video of the car when you drop it off so you can contest it should the rental company try and charge for damages.
Double check everywhere to make sure you’ve taken out all your belongings and don’t leave rubbish in the car. If you return it really dirty, especially inside, the rental company may charge you for a professional clean.
Conclusion
Hire cars are handy. If you need to transport family, friends or luggage, hiring a car will massively reduce the hassle involved in your holiday. That’s especially true if you’re going somewhere without decent transport connections. The key is to do your research and read the small print – and always book your insurance beforehand with an independent insurer.
Beyond hire car insurance, there are plenty of things to think about when renting a car. From choosing the best way to pay to dealing with an accident, KAYAK has dedicated car rental guides to help.
Learn more
How to rent a car FAQs
Car hire days are calculated on a 24-hour daily basis. So hiring a car for 25 hours will cost the same as two full days. Our payment guide has tips on how to save money on a hire car.
Some car hire companies offer a pickup service from your home and hotel including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and Sixt. Availability and price will depend on the rental car and your distance from the rental company.
If you arrive at your scheduled pick-up time and the car type initially agreed-upon is not available, you have a few options. The hire company might offer you a larger or smaller car. If you get a bigger car than the one you’ve booked, the counter staff should not ask you to pay for the upgrade. However, If you receive a smaller car, or a cheaper car group, ask for a refund of the price difference from what you originally paid.
If the replacement cars offered don’t work for you or there aren’t any replacement cars available, call the company you booked with and see if they can help you. They might be able to help find you another hire car as well as help you get a refund for your original booking.
You can usually get an upgrade at the counter – if you pay for it! You’re more likely to get a free upgrade if you’re a member of the car hire company’s loyalty scheme. This article on how to get the best deal on a hire car will help.
You may be able to cancel and rebook or make changes to your hire dates free, depending on the company. But you may not get the same price you originally booked. If you’ve already got the car, contact the rental company, but expect to pay a fee and a higher daily rate.
You can return your hire car earlier than planned, but you may not receive any money back – in fact, some car hire companies might even charge you extra for an early return. Some companies charge a flat fee for any changes made to the hire agreement.
Most car hire locations at airports are open year round, including Sundays and national holidays. Non-airport locations may run different schedules though, so check before you book. Some agencies may also charge an out-of-hours fee for an early or late pick-up or drop-off time outside of usual operating hours.
It depends on the rental company and location. Most collections demand a face to face at a counter to sign documents and get the keys, so check for the open hours. Sometimes airport car hire counters will stay open to accommodate passengers whose flights have been delayed. This sometimes incurs an after-hours charge, though. Non-airport locations may also offer out-of-hours pick-ups at specific times of the day, however, this could cost more than a pick-up during regular hours.
Most car rental companies let you drop off a car at any time, usually using a key dropbox. Park in the preapproved place, drop your keys and off you go. The agency will check the car when the office opens in the morning, so you may be liable for any damage to the car until that point. So always park in a brightly lit spot if you can, and take photos of the car.
And just because it’s remote, doesn’t mean you can return the car late. You’re usually on CCTV and drop offs will be time stamped! As always, check before you rent to make sure there are no additional fees included.
Returning a hire car doesn’t have to take long. In most large airports and other locations it will take around five to ten minutes unless it’s very busy. Just pull into the return lot, flag down an agent to check the car and off you go.
Certain companies are more flexible when it comes to adding a second driver. In the US, rules vary by state and company with charges ranging from $5 to $15 a day. If the second driver is a spouse or domestic partner, companies like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Fox, Payless, and Silvercar don’t charge a second driver fee. Some companies like Hertz and National will also waive second driver fees if you join their rewards scheme.
In the UK and Europe, most companies charge a second driver fee of around £10-£14 per day.
No, If your driving licence has expired or will expire during the hire period, the car hire agency will not allow you to pick up your car. Your driving licence must be valid for the entire duration of your hire period.
