Rental car
A rental car (officially correct: Car for Self-Drive ) is a vehicle , usually a passenger car , more rarely, a delivery van , truck or a trailer , which for the purpose of renting the property to a company , the car hire stands and against payment of a fixed term is rented to a tenant. The respective rental price is based on the rental car classification .
In addition to rental cars, there are also rental motorcycles , rental trikes and many other types of vehicles ( boats , scooters , bicycles, etc.) that are rented out in a similar way.
Legal issues
The word “rental car” is legally incorrect, because the loan is free of charge ( § 598 BGB ). Only the rent is a transfer of use , for which the tenant has to pay a rent according to § 535 Paragraph 2 BGB. That is why the provisions of tenancy law apply accordingly to “rental cars”. They are also subject to special provisions. For example, they have to be insured according to their intended use at premiums that are higher than those usually payable by regular users for their own vehicles. They are subject to more stringent technical inspections : the period between two main technical inspections is usually halved. This means that a rental car usually has to be checked again after 12 months instead of 24 months. In addition, a rental car must be registered as a "self-drive rental vehicle".
The landlord is obliged to keep precise records that allow, e.g. B. to name the driver (s) in the event of traffic violations .
The federal law governing regulation for vehicle rental is the regulation on the supervision of commercial vehicles and trailers to be rented to self-drivers of July 21, 1969 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 875 ).
use
Accident and repair bridging
Damage to a vehicle borne by insurance companies is also often the trigger for the provision or use of rental cars: for example, one's own car can not be used due to an accident and the car driver uses a rental car during the repair period . As a rule, this may have the same vehicle class as your own car. However, since the insurance company of the person who caused the accident can object that the car that has not been used in the meantime represents an offsetting advantage (since it does not wear out), the injured party is well advised to choose the rental car one class smaller in order to avoid a share of unreimbursed costs having to pay yourself. It should also be noted that someone who drives very little may have to be advised, in the event of damage that is not their own fault, that driving a taxi is cheaper if only a few journeys are made than a rental car over the entire repair period. This is more and more a reason for the refusal of a complete rental car cost assumption on the part of the insurance company.
Repairs to one's own car can also trigger the desire to be mobile by renting a car during this time, whether it is simply one's own wish or whether it is a legal claim from one of the more and more common “ mobility guarantees ” of the vehicle manufacturers. Depending on usage behavior, rental cars can be cheaper than taxi rides.
Vacation travel
Today, distant countries are often visited by plane. In order to be mobile while on vacation, travelers seek out a local car rental company. The rent is either agreed for individual days or for several days, weeks or even the entire vacation period. The latter is particularly suitable for self-caterers with a vacation or holiday apartment. This enables you to buy groceries at any time and to drive to a remote house if necessary. A vehicle can also be included directly in a tour operator's arrangement .
business trips
International practice is to use airport-based car rental companies as the basis for many rental car deals. National and international business people who fly nationally and internationally pick up a rental car from a rental company on arrival at the airport, travel with this vehicle to their business partners, and return the rental car to the airport before their return flight.
Delimitation of the term
Differences to leasing
Rental cars must be differentiated from leasing vehicles , although the principle initially appears similar: a leasing company also purchases a vehicle in order to lend it for a fee . In the case of leased vehicles, the contract must also define precisely which part of the contract will cover the costs and expenses for insurance, maintenance and taxes. This is much easier with rental vehicles: these costs are always borne by the lending company. The user only has to pay a time-based flat-rate usage fee , usually a daily rate, to which, however, conditions and additional costs can be linked, such as not exceeding certain distances.
Privately rented vehicles
As a rule, one does not speak of a “rental car” if a vehicle is only loaned from private to private without incurring costs. On the other hand, it would be linguistically correct, because the word loan is a temporary, free lending of objects or the like.
Rental car with driver
Rental cars or “radio rental cars” must also be clearly separated from “rental cars” or rental cars for self-drivers. In the legal sense, rental cars are vehicles that are rented, including driver services.
Rent a car for self-drivers, on the other hand, the colloquially known "rental car", is an officially used term that is also used in insurance documents.
Important, customary market conditions
Full tank on delivery
It is common in Europe that rental cars are taken over with a full tank and returned with a full tank at the end of the rental period (full). If the tenant does not do this, the landlord usually charges an additional expense allowance in addition to the actual fuel costs, which is usually stated in the contract.
In some holiday countries it is customary to hand over the vehicles with an empty tank. If the landlord pumps the tank almost empty when it is returned, he earns additional money because the tenant usually leaves a certain safety reserve in the tank. The FF (Full / Full) option is therefore the best for the renter when renting a rental car.
Overview of fuel regulations
- FF (Full / Full) = The vehicle is handed over with a full tank. Returns are also made with a full tank.
- FE (Full / Empty) = The first tank of fuel is not included and must be paid on site when the vehicle is handed over. Remaining petrol is not reimbursed.
- FP (Full Paid) = The first tank of fuel is included in the rental price. The return takes place with an empty tank.
Minimum age to drive a rental car
The minimum age for renting a rental car depends on the rental car category, the car rental company and the rental country and is often between 21 and 25 years. For luxury cars , the minimum age can be even higher. Small and compact vehicles can often be rented from the age of 18 on payment of a young driver fee (per day) . A maximum age is also common for some car rental companies.
In addition, the rental conditions of many landlords specify a minimum period for the renter to hold a driver's license. This is often set at a year or two.
These regulations apply not only to the main driver, but also to all additional drivers registered on site.
Additional driver
In principle, every driver, not just the main driver, must be registered with the rental company when picking up the rental car. Additional drivers must identify themselves on site just like the main driver, present a driver's license and have reached the minimum age or pay a corresponding young driver fee. While some providers include one or more additional drivers, many rental companies charge a daily fee for each additional driver.
If the renter lets an unregistered driver behind the wheel of the rental car, the previously booked insurance cover does not apply. In the event of damage, the tenant is left with the costs.
Deposit and credit card
Most of the car rental companies charge a deposit to collect a rental car . The most common means of payment for this is the credit card . Debit cards , EC cards, cash payments or payments by direct debit are only accepted in exceptional cases. For very high-quality vehicle classes, especially sports cars , two credit cards are often required to deposit the deposit.
For insurance reasons, the credit card must be written out to the main driver. You must also have a sufficiently large credit line to be able to deposit the deposit. Otherwise, the car rental company can refuse to hand over the booked rental car.
If defects are found when the rental car is returned, the deposit can be partially or fully retained by the car rental company, for example to cover costs for damage (in the amount of the excess), fines and missing fuel.
Direct provider, organizer, price comparison
A rental car can be booked directly at the rental location or in most cases online in advance.
As a rule, a distinction is made between three provider types:
Direct supplier / car rental company
Direct providers have one or more of their own rental stations and their own vehicle fleet. There are landlords who belong to large, international chains ( e.g. Avis , Hertz and Alamo ) as well as smaller, locally and independently operating landlords.
Rental car broker / organizer
In contrast to direct providers, rental car brokers such as Auto Europe , CarDelMar and Sunny Cars do not have their own rental fleet, but only pass on the vehicles. They often work with tour operators and take a large contingent of vehicles from direct providers. In return, rental car brokers usually receive a volume discount , which is often also reflected in a lower final price for the customer.
Rental car price comparisons
Comparison portals such as check24 and billiger-mietwagen.de also do not have their own vehicle fleet, but are not among the rental car brokers. Rather, they compare the offers and prices of several landlords and / or brokers. In most cases, however, it is also possible to book directly on the price comparison page.
Differences for tenants
When booking online, the tenant receives a so-called rental car voucher. This is a pick-up slip that proves that the rental car has been paid for and must be presented to the rental company when it is picked up on site.
In many cases, booking directly on site can be more expensive than making a reservation from home. Online bookings also have other advantages for the customer. If a rental car for a foreign travel destination is booked in advance via a German provider, a German contract is concluded. The sometimes very comprehensive and complicated rental conditions of the landlord or organizer are more transparent for the tenant. If you want to book a rental car on site, you risk low vehicle availability, especially in the main travel season .
Recommended insurance and excess
Many rental car offers are supposedly cheap, but turn out to be a risky cost trap for the consumer. A frequent reason for this is inadequate insurance benefits that do not effectively protect the tenant in the event of damage. In some countries, for example, liability insurance coverage is too low.
Serious tour operators and car rental companies therefore recommend at least the following insurance policies:
- Comprehensive insurance with no excess
- Theft insurance with no excess
- Liability coverage at least 1,000,000 euros
- Glass and tire insurance
If insurance is booked with the organizer without a deductible , the car rental company usually withholds the deposit in the event of damage. However, the amount will be refunded to the renter by the organizer after the vehicle has been returned. In the event of an accident with the rental car, however, it is recommended to notify the police, as the excess is often not reimbursed without a corresponding police report.
One-way rentals and trips abroad
Since many car rental companies operate internationally and also have more than one rental station within a country or city, one-way rentals are often possible. The rental car is picked up at a rental station and returned to another location of the same rental company. Usually the tenant has to accept a fee for this. Many providers restrict one-way offers to routes within a country, international one-way routes are offered less often. Some companies save the costs of repatriating these vehicles by offering their customers cheap so-called one-way rentals.
Trips abroad with a rental car may be excluded or subject to restrictions depending on the rental company or operator. For example, trips to crisis and war zones are generally not permitted. Cross-border journeys can also be restricted to certain vehicle classes.
Mileage limit
Usually the renter can drive as much as he wants with his rental car. However, there are also offers with a fixed mileage limit. Mileage limits play a subordinate role in direct journeys. However, if the rental car is used to travel, the limit is often reached quickly. Each kilometer that is driven too much will then be billed separately when the vehicle is returned.
Pick up and return
When picking up the rental car, the following documents must usually be presented to the lessor:
- one (or two, depending on the offer) issued to the main driver
- Valid driving license, possibly in combination with an international driving license
- valid identity card or passport
- Rental car vouchers in printed form, unless booked directly with the landlord
In the case of reputable providers, a log is created both when it is picked up and when it is returned, in which the condition of the rental car is recorded. Tenants are also recommended to take easily recognizable photos of the vehicle for their own security.
Depending on the location and provider, the rental car can also be picked up and returned outside the opening hours of a rental station. The landlord usually charges an additional fee for this.
For the return there is a dropbox at some stations, in which the renter can drop the vehicle key after parking the vehicle. However, this is associated with a higher risk for the renter, as he can be prosecuted for damage that occurs between the return and the inspection by an employee of the car rental company.
Fines with the rental car
Costs for traffic offenses that are committed during the rental period and result in fines or parking tickets are generally borne by the renter of the rental car. If the tenant does not pay the fees on site, the landlord receives a request for payment, which he forwards to the tenant. An additional processing fee is usually charged for this. The general recommendation therefore applies to pay fines on site.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Car rental companies are careful: Rental cars in Germany are usually from 21 years of age. In: rp-online.de. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ a b The most expensive rental cars in the world for luxury vacations. In: welt.de. November 8, 2012, accessed July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ a b Oliver Kauer-Berk: Rental cars - insure yourself properly abroad. In: derwesten.de. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Janina Müller: Don't forget to add a second driver! In: mietwagen24.de/blog. September 10, 2014, accessed July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Stefan Reinbold: The joy of renting a car: You should pay attention to this when booking. In: augsburger-allgemeine.de. June 29, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Jürgen Polzin: Book Correctly on the Internet - This is how car rental companies trick. In: derwesten.de. May 12, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ The ten biggest mistakes in renting a car. In: derstandard.at. April 21, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ a b Mobile on vacation: 3 × 3 tips for a relaxed rental car trip - Business Traveler. In: business-traveler.eu. June 10, 2016, accessed July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Rental cars: contractual conditions should be checked carefully | Autosieger.de - Auto-Magazin. In: autosieger.de. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Car rental company, broker, product comparison? | billiger-mietwagen.de. In: billiger-mietwagen.de/magazin/faq/. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Berrit Gräber: Car rental costs trap: You should pay attention to this when booking. In: augsburger-allgemeine.de. June 14, 2015, accessed July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ a b c Berrit Gräber: This mistake in rental cars can be really expensive. In: welt.de. May 31, 2016, accessed July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Uwe Schmidt-Kasparek: Car rental guide - be careful with cheap bargains. (No longer available online.) In: ace-online.de. ACE Auto Club Europa eV, March 11, 2016, archived from the original on July 25, 2016 ; Retrieved July 25, 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Ankea Janssen: Where are extra costs or exorbitant prices lurking? Tips for renting a car on vacation. In: mopo.de. May 28, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ How to identify good rental car providers in comparison. In: welt.de. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Crossing the border rental car: What to do! | FAQ. In: billiger-mietwagen.de/magazin/faq/. March 13, 2015, accessed July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Pay attention to the mileage limit for rental cars. In: morgenpost.de. November 28, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Marion Helmes: Do not take out any additional insurance. In: derwesten.de. February 24, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ First aid in case of trouble with rental cars. In: ndr.de. January 11, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Beware of the trap! In: focus.de. April 7, 2011, accessed July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ False recourse claims - what customers should pay attention to. In: wdr.de. September 21, 2015, archived from the original on July 25, 2016 ; Retrieved July 25, 2016 .
- ↑ Checklist: You have to pay attention to this when renting a car. In: focus.de. March 12, 2015, accessed July 25, 2016 .
