‘Hidden’ damage on hire cars costing drivers

MORE THAN one in three hire car users have found unreported damage on hired vehicles upon collection, according to new data.

A survey conducted by YouGov found that 37% of business travellers found damage to their hired vehicle which was not marked down on the documentation when they collected the car. This could lead to the user being charged for the damage and liable to lose any insurance excess amount – which could be as much as £2,000.

"When you pick up a hire car check it over as thoroughly as if you were buying it," said Ernesto Suarez, founder and CEO of iCarhireinsurance.com. "Most people expect the wheels, for example, to have minor scrapes from general wear and tear and don't imagine that this would be picked up as 'damage' on a pre-car check, however we see plenty of people getting charged for minor wheel or bumper damage which they're pretty sure they didn't cause but which weren't identified when they collected the vehicle."

Hire car users can avoid the whole excess charge by purchasing an insurance excess waiver, but most importantly users should take time to check the entire vehicle for damage and ensure that all damage is marked on the vehicle documentation and agreed with the car hire company before accepting responsibility.

By Press Association reporters