Published on : 15 August 20193 min reading time

Your holiday is coming to an end, the trip is coming to an end and you will soon return your rental car. In order for the restitution to be, as in most cases, a simple formality to be completed, we will give you some indications and 5 precious tips to follow.

Before returning a rental car: a few precautions

First of all, make sure you have your rental contract. It will be requested by the agency when the rental car is returned, even before carrying out the usual checks. So keep this precious document handy!

Where to return the rental vehicle?  You have the possibility to take the vehicle back to the agency where you borrowed it or to another one. In any case, this is indicated in the contract and therefore stipulated before the rental.

Be punctual! The return of your rental car must be done on time! If you are late or do not keep the appointment, you risk penalties. Please note that you generally have a 59-minute delay tolerance. Remember to allow a little margin in your planning to fill up with fuel. Check www.drivy.co.uk/ for further more information about car rental.

Our Advice: If you have an unforeseen situation and think you may be late for the return of the vehicle, do not hesitate to contact the rental agency.

To be noted: The car remains your responsibility until it is returned. The return is official once the keys have been handed over to the lessor and the inventory of fixtures has been completed.

5 tips for a proper return of a rental vehicle

Vehicle condition

You must return the vehicle without damage or loss, based on the notes and any photos taken when the keys were handed over. This will avoid any dispute with the landlord.

Cleanliness of the vehicle interior

Be sure to return the rental car in the same state of cleanliness inside as when the keys were handed over. This will prevent you from incurring any cleaning costs.

Tip: Before returning the vehicle, make a detour to an automatic car wash to quickly vacuum the passenger compartment (especially if you bring back some sand from your holiday).

Fuel

You must return the vehicle in the same condition as it was loaned to you, and the same applies to the fuel gauge. Additional costs will be charged if you return the car without refueling. They correspond to the fuel needed to reach the initial level, to which is often added a so-called filling charge.

Mileage

Check that the kilometers driven correspond to those included in your contract. If you have driven beyond the planned mileage, an additional mileage charge will be applied. It is on average around €0.20 to €0.40 per additional kilometer driven.

Return of additional equipment

These include a radio, GPS, child car seat or booster seat. Remember to return the rental vehicle with all the equipment lent or rented by the agency. And in the meantime, don’t forget to get your own things back! Returning a rental car is a relatively quick and easy step. It will be even more so if you prepare it by checking these 5 points and taking a little margin on your arrival time. Welcome back!