Before hiring a car

Things to consider before renting a car

• Who should I rent from?

  It is often cheaper to rent online than on-site at the rental company. You can choose to rent directly from a rental company or through a broker.

  The advantage of renting directly from a rental company is that you only have one contract. If you rent through a broker, you will have two contracts. One with the broker you book and pay with, and one with the rental company where you pick up the car.

  It is usually not a problem to rent from a broker. However, having two contracts can complicate things if something goes wrong.

• Renting a car abroad

  Are you planning to rent a car in another country? Read the rental agreement carefully and know what you are signing.

  You can rent from, for example, a branded rental company or a brokerage firm. The advantage of renting from a branded rental company is that they often have Swedish customer service. If you encounter any problems, you only need to deal with one contracting party.

• Cancel or reschedule

  You do not have a statutory right of withdrawal when renting a car. This applies regardless of how you enter into the agreement.

  However, you always have the right to cancel the rental car, but you may need to pay. How much you need to pay is regulated by your agreement. If you cannot cancel for free, you may have the right to modify your booking. Read the terms carefully to see what applies in your case.

  Report to ARN if you and the company do not agree

  Do you disagree with the cancellation fee? In some cases, you can have it reviewed by the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN). You must have complained to the company before reporting to ARN, preferably in writing. It costs 150 SEK to report to ARN.

  File a complaint on ARN’s website

  Cancellation insurance can cover cancellation costs

  If you have taken out cancellation insurance or travel insurance, it may cover the cancellation costs. This can be, for example, if you have to cancel your rental car due to sudden and unforeseen events.

• Inspect the car before you drive away

  Ask to inspect the hire car before you sign the agreement, preferably together with an employee from the car hire company. Ensure that the damages are noted in a record that you receive a copy of. Document any damage, such as scratches or scrapes in the paint by photographing or filming.

• Free mileage or limited mileage?

  Check if you can only drive a limited distance with the car or if you can drive as far as you want.

  If you are not planning to travel far, it might be cheaper to choose a contract with limited mileage.

• What happens if the car is damaged?

  If the car is damaged, the rental company’s insurance and deductible apply. However, you may be required to compensate the rental company for the costs if you are the one who caused the damage.

  The rental company cannot demand compensation from you if you can show that you have been careful with the car. Whether you have been careful or not is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

  Check how you should act if you are involved in an accident or if the car breaks down. Normally, you should immediately contact the rental company and find out what needs to be done. Often, the police must be called even if it is just a minor damage. Make sure to get a copy of the police report and the damage report.

• Insurance that reduces the excess

  When you hire a car within Europe, three basic kinds of protection are usually included:

  • damage protection
  • theft protection
  • third-party protection (if you injure somebody or damage something with your hire car).

  What can vary is the excess you must pay.

  Excess reduction and excess elimination

  An excess reduction is a protection that reduces the amount you have to pay if you damage the car, and it is often included when you hire a car in Sweden.

  An excess elimination means that you avoid the excess, but it is an expensive supplement, especially if you hire the car for a longer period of time since you often pay a daily fee.

  Supplemental insurance

  Many credit cards include additional insurance up to a certain amount if the vehicle is damaged or stolen. Therefore, check what coverage you already have, so you don’t pay twice. You can also check if your home insurance or car insurance covers damage to rental cars.

• Pay a deposit

  Regardless of insurance, the car hire operator will reserve an amount on your payment or credit card. The amount varies depending on the rules of the car hire company. Preferably check that the amount that is reserved on your card matches what is in the agreement.

• Number of drivers and age limits

  In most cases, only one primary driver is covered by the insurance so do not forget to add extra drivers if there are several of you who intend to share the driving.

  The age limits for hiring a car differ somewhat between different companies. In Sweden, one can usually hire a car from age 18, but with an extra fee if the driver is under 25. At some rental companies, it is not permitted to hire a car over the age of 69.

• Driving in other countries

  Always find out the traffic rules for the country you will be driving in. Also, keep in mind that there may be toll roads and zones where you are not allowed to drive.

  If you plan to use the rental car in multiple countries, you must ask if it is allowed to take the car across the border. Make sure to agree on this in writing.