Hi Dave This is something that I worried about when I had a hire car for 2 weeks last February after having my own car rear ended. The hire car was exactly the same model and trim as my own car down to the same hoist so did not have that problem of getting used to something else but I was wary of catching supermarket dinks or giving the bumper a knock while loading my scooter as the hirer went over the car with a fine tooth brush before I signed for it. That said I can’t remember them asking for credit card details like they normally do or maybe being in dire straights at the time, just forgot about it, but yes, it’s an unknown worry.
Thanks Chris,
Yes it is a bit of a worry.
As Motability did explain, Europcar would need to take a £1 ‘fuel desposit’ on a card, Europcar did thus take a £1.00 fuel deposit on my credit card. I believe this should only be for ‘fuel’ and they shouldn’t use my card for any other purpose – well that is my thought, but open to interpretation no doubt.
Europecar did not have a direct ‘like for like’ replacement for my car so sent a similar car, which is higher and a different shape at the boot entry. Hence the problem loading the manual wheelchair (I don’t need a hoist normally).
I can sort of see that Europcar will expect the vehicle back as it left them. But as wheelchair/mobility equipment ‘scars’ are covered as part of the Motability conditions on Motability cars – and as I believe hire vehicles are covered by Motability’s t&c’s for such as insurance and useage etc, I don’t believe I should have to pay, or put in an insurance claim (and pay an excess)!
However, Europecar would only let me have the car after I signed for everything (even one slight almost unnoticeable scratch you can hardly see was noted on their paperwork). I have tried to be exceedingly careful with this hire car (and have driven it ultra cautiously), but I just don’t know how this sort of thing is sorted.
Dave