4 Car Hire Scams You Should Avoid

Holidays are such wonderful times that we use to relax, disconnect and recharge our batteries. An ideal vacation should be drama free, with no incidents or scams. However, there are countless cases of fraud when it comes to going abroad – and you should be aware of. In this article we are going to refer specifically to car hiring companies with deceptive practices, from extra charges to sneaky fine print. Let's take a look.

1. Switching Cars

Imagine this scenario. You book a vehicle online that seems to be perfect for what you need. You arrive at the hire desk and they say that the car you just reserved is no longer available. "So sorry about that", they say, "but we have good news – we just upgraded you for a better and bigger one". That sounds good, right? Wrong.

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This is where they will slide extra fees into the contract, as well as other excess taxes that you never asked for. It is a typical bait and switch scam. Do not be afraid to stand up to them – it is a well-known scam. If they refuse to take off the new fees from the contract then you can step away and go back online, check out companies such as EnjoyCarHire and grab yourself a new vehicle. Then you can leave a review about the situation.

2. Full to Empty

There are still a number of companies that run this underhanded deal. Check the gas before you leave, ensure you mark it off with the company and don't return it below what you got it with. There is always a gas station within a mile of the airport so you can refuel there right before you drop it off. Otherwise, the company will refuel it at an inflated price.

3. Added Extras

This trick should be a thing of the past but some companies will attempt to offer you, for example, a satellite navigation system without you knowing it. In case you don't remember, you have a GPS on your smartphone.

4. Last Minute Purchase

There are certain questionable rental companies that do not have their prices listed at the desk, so if you come as an urgent walk-in for a car hire the price will sky rocket accordingly. There is no reason to book a car on the ground while showing desperation, as you will be charged a premium. Book ahead of time to get the best deal and ensure you lock in a fair fuel policy. Again, this is not something that every car hire company does – in fact very few nowadays – but you don't want to be the one that is taken for a ride – no pun intended.

 

Car Hire Scams: How To Report Them

Warn your family and friends about these car rental deceptive practices by sharing this article on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:

Report To The FTC Here

 

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