What is included in the price, and what additional charges may apply?
The price you receive in your quote or see online is an "all-inclusive" price that covers the mandatory costs required for your rental based on your booking details.
1. Mandatory Items Included in Your Price
Your quote generally includes the following required charges and protections:
Item/Fee | Description | |
Taxes | Value Added Tax (VAT) or any other local government tax. | |
Mileage | Unlimited Mileage, or the specific number of kilometers/miles included, along with the cost of each extra unit. | |
Location Surcharge | Premium location fees applicable at specific sites (e.g., Airports, Train Stations). | |
Vehicle Fees | Road Tax and Licence Fee Surcharge. | |
Third-Party Insurance | Third-party liability insurance. | |
Damage Protection | Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Waiver (TW), limiting your financial liability to the stated excess amount. (May be merged into Loss Damage Waiver "LDW" in some countries). |
2. Potential Additional Charges (Optional or Conditional)
These items are not automatically included in the base price and must be added separately, either during booking or at the counter.
Charge Category | When It Applies | |
Young Driver Surcharge | Applies to drivers under the age of 26. This is automatically added once you enter your age during booking. | |
Cross-Border Travel | Required if you plan to drive the vehicle outside the country of rental (e.g., the EuropDrive Pack for UK rentals traveling abroad). | |
Optional Extras | Any equipment or services added (e.g., GPS, child seats, additional drivers). | |
Refuelling Charges | Applied if the vehicle is not returned with the required fuel level. |
3. Understanding Your Liability (The Excess)
- Maximum Liability: The excess amount shown in your quote is the maximum amount you would be financially liable for if the vehicle is damaged or stolen.
- Protection Products: For extra peace of mind, you can reduce or completely remove your liability (and often lower the required security deposit) by adding optional protection products during your online booking or at the rental desk.
Crucial Note for Third-Party Bookings:
If you booked through a third-party website, always double-check your total price. If mandatory fees (like location surcharges or basic protection) were not included by the third party, they will be added at the counter when you collect your car.