The consumer association Which? Has said that car rental companies are often not declaring all charges clearly often leaving people with a bad taste for car rental companies and often being left stumped with “sneaky charges”.

Researchers from Which? Examined the websites of 10 companies which were offering a weeks car hire in Spain. The research found that some of the websites do not declare all of the additional costs like insurance or GPS until after the vehicle has been confirmed and your money has already been taken.

Which? Is in the process of asking these rental companies to disclose such information and charges upfront, prior to booking the vehicle. At the end of the booking process more than half of the Which? Researchers were unsure of what the total cost for their car hire in Spain would be.

There is often confusion about the additional costs like the payment for a tank of fuel which is often a mandatory charge in Spain. Also the insurance is a thing which is often overlooked when getting a quote.

Many rental companies will ask you to take out additional insurance to reduce your liability. Some rental companies often do not disclose these costs until after you have already prepaid for your rental, leaving you rather stumped by the time it comes to collecting your vehicle. This additional insurance is optional however if you do choose to opt in and take out the insurance just make sure that it covers for any damages, including tires, windscreens and undercarriage as some rental companies do not include these in their insurance reduction policies.

The executive director of Which?, Mr Richard Lloyd, explained that certain companies “were taking advantage of people looking for car hire as sneaky charges were not included in the rental cost. Car hire companies need to be more transparent and upfront about their fees so people can make an informed choice”

It says it is a principle of Both European and UK law that essential information must be clearly stated at the point of purchase.

Some of the things to look out for when booking a vehicle are as follows:

• the amount of the excess
• the cost of the excess waiver, and what it covers
• the cost of the deposit
• the cost of compulsory fuel
• the cost of additional extras, like sat navs and additional drivers.

Indigo Car Hire are always on hand to ensure that all prices and extras are clear and available for view prior to booking. If you have any questions about renting a vehicle or getting any extras then please don’t hesitate to speak to our reservations team directly who are always more than happy to guide you throughout  the car rental booking process.