Hiring a car in Europe with your Visa card? Here are our top tips

Hiring a car in Europe with your Visa card gives you extra protection:

• Reserving a car in Europe with your Visa card means the car hire company guarantees the vehicle for you. If they don’t have the right car when you arrive to collect it, they must provide an equivalent, or upgrade you.
• If you damage the car during your rental period, the car hire company must write, fax or e-mail you within at least ten working days before they charge you extra. This gives you the opportunity to contact them to discuss the situation.
• The car hire company must post, fax or e-mail you a copy of your reservation confirmation, with all your details, including cancellation options and no-show fees.
• If you cancel a car hire reservation, always get a cancellation code from your car hire company or its agent. If you have used an agent, they must inform the car hire company of your cancellation. You don’t have to do this.
• Remember – if you don’t cancel the reservation by the time specified in the company’s terms, they may charge you for one day’s rental plus taxes or the full cost of your rental, depending on their terms.
• If the car hire company charges your Visa card even though you have a cancellation code, contact your bank or card issuer. They may be able to reverse it.
• Always ensure you have the appropriate level of insurance before you hire a car, as you may be liable for the full cost of any damage to the vehicle. Always bring copies of your insurance details when you collect the car.
• If the car hire company credits your Visa card, this will appear on your card statement. In case of any discrepancies, contact the merchant first, to resolve the problem. Your bank or card issuer may also be able to assist you.
• If you have an accident in a hired car, call the local police to register the accident, or your insurance may become void.
• If you return the car during the car hire company’s normal business hours, you can get written confirmation of the status of the car if you have requested this as part of the reservation process. If there’s no damage to the car, they must provide this confirmation to you, on the spot. If you return the car outside of the car hire company’s normal business hours, you should record any damage done to the vehicle. High-quality photographs may serve as evidence.