Alquilar un coche en el sitio de destino (inglés)

I'm going to rent a car and because I don't have a credit card, they have asked me for a cash deposit of 500 euros. Is this usual?

In these cases we have to follow the specific conditions of the contract, and in this sector it is usual for the car rental company to demand a guarantee, because it is providing the client with a vehicle and there is a chance that there will be problems.

In general, the car rental companies ask for a credit card when drawing up the contract. In addition, before formalising the contract, they ask the card issuer to give authorisation for an amount that is higher than the cost of the contracted service, as a guarantee for the client's payment obligations. This amount is left available at the company's request when the reservation is made.

When the car is returned, the amount billed for the cost of the service is debited from the client's credit card, if he has not chosen any other form of payment.

In practice, when drawing up the contract, the car rental company will not usually accept cash (and when this does occasionally happen, the amount they ask for is huge, so the client is obliged to have a considerable sum frozen).

I've had an accident with the rented car. Am I insured?

When you rent a car, the hire rates include Compulsory Car Insurance and Complementary Public Liability Insurance with unlimited cover for third party damage caused by the use and movement of the vehicle.

This covers damage caused to the victims of a car accident for which the driver is responsible: the driver of the other vehicle, pedestrians, and all the car passengers, except the driver. It does not, however, cover loss or any other damage to baggage or to the actual vehicle caused by accident or theft.

If you want a wider cover, which is advisable, you should specifically contract it and of course pay the respective rate.

The rented car has had a breakdown. Can I claim another vehicle?

Get in touch with the car rental company or with the breakdown recovery service it has an arrangement with. If it is not possible to repair the breakdown immediately, the company should procure you another vehicle to travel around in as soon as possible.

The general terms of contract establish that only in an emergency, and when the car hire company has expressly authorised it, will charges be accepted for repairs that are not performed by the breakdown recovery service with which the company has an agreement.

The car I rented has been stolen. Am I liable?

When you rent a car, you are liable for any damage to or theft of all or part of the vehicle which is not covered by the compulsory insurance or by an optional insurance you have taken out. Neither the Compulsory Automobile Insurance nor the Unlimited Public Liability Insurance will cover damage for theft, and if you have not taken out an optional guarantee, you will in fact be held liable.

However, you should study the general terms of the contract because some car hire firms provide optional services and if these are contracted, the client will be exempt from liability (excluding a deductible amount) in certain cases, such as total or partial theft of the vehicle.

At the end of the rental period, the car had a small scratch mark. The company that rented it to me refused to give me back the deposit, although the amount is much higher than the cost of the damage. Is this usual?

If the insurance you have taken out is fully comprehensive, then this is not usual, because you are covered for this damage. However, if you do not have this cover and you are to blame, you can be asked to pay the estimated cost of the repair out of your deposit. . If the repair cost is more than the amount of the deposit, the company can claim the difference from you. And when the cost of the repair is clearly less than the deposit, the car rental company should reimburse you the difference, and normally it will not refuse to do so. If it does, however, and no agreement can be reached, you should submit a claim, using the company's Complaints Form, and send it to the Ground Transport Board of Arbitration, through the Consumer Information Municipal Office.