Car hire FAQs

All you need to know about hiring a car abroad

• What are the rental charges?

  You can view all rental charges for the specific car rental providers on the terms and conditions which are shown through the booking journey.

• Is there an additional charge if the driver is under 25?

  Many car hire providers make additional charges for ‘“young-drivers”’ which will be made directly at the rental desk on collection of the vehicle. These details can be found on your rental conditions which can be viewed through the booking process or by clicking the link on your car rental voucher.

• How much does it cost to add an extra driver?

  Rates for adding additional drivers to car rentals vary by provider and depot and cannot be added prior to collection of the vehicle, it must be done locally.

• Do I need to pay extra to take a hire car across the border?

  Please check the rental conditions if you intend to do any cross border travelling as sometimes there are restrictions and/or surcharges applicable to these rentals which will need to be paid in advance.

• Do I need a credit card to pick up a hire car?

  Yes, we recommend the lead driver has a valid credit card in their name to collect the vehicle. In some cases a debit card or cash can be left as a security deposit. If you do not have a credit card please check the rental conditions for specific details, or contact our customer service team to check if your pick up location accept debit cards or cash.

• Can I use a debit card for car hire?

  In nearly all instances, a valid credit card is required by car rental companies on collection of a car hire. If a debit card option is available for collection, this will be detailed in the car rental conditions which are shown online during the booking journey.

• Will my credit card be charged with the excess on pick up?

  If there is an excess applicable to your car rental, this will be charged to your credit card on collection of the vehicle and refunded directly to you on completion of the rental, assuming there is no damage to the vehicle.

• Does the credit card need to be in the lead driver’s name to pick up my hire car?

  Yes, the credit card must be in the lead driver’s name.

• What is a facility fee?

  Facility fees are charges that car rental companies make that cover the cost of operating in specific locations. Most commonly those charges exist for collection at airport depots, as these fees are chargeable by the airport. If you would rather not pay this fee, simply select a rental desk at an alternative location. Please note that you will need to arrange your own transportation to the selected location you chose.

• What age do you have to be to hire a car in the US?

  If you are 70 or over, car hire companies may in some cases apply a surcharge, we ask that you contact us on 0203 139 7579 so that we can get you the best possible price. The minimum rental age with most car rental companies is 21 years old, however please be aware that young driver surcharges are payable locally for any driver under 25 years old. The specific age rental requirements can be found in the rental conditions which are available online when selecting your vehicle.

• Do I need an international driving licence to rent a car?

• I'm looking at booking car hire, do I put in the flight times or an estimated pick up / drop off time?

  When selecting pick up and drop off times for your car rental, this should be based on your estimated collection and return times. Please note that car rental firms often work within 24 hour rental periods, so please ensure the times selected are as accurate as possible, late collection can result in the car rental company releasing the reservation and late returns that exceed a 24 hour period could result in additional local charges.

• What does it mean by 'or similar' for car hire?

  The phrase 'or similar' means that car rental companies cannot always guarantee a particular make or model of car to be available to you on collection of your vehicle rental. This is common practice across all car rental firms.

  Car rental companies allocate car varieties into different bands such as economy, compact and full size. Should a particular model not be available, they reserve the right to provide you with an alternative model from within the same category.

• Does the lead passenger need to be the main driver?

  The lead passenger on a flight ot holiday booking does not need to be the main driver on the car rental. When making a booking, you are presented with the option to select who in the party you would like to be the main driver. The main driver will need to meet the rental conditions of the car provider such as full UK licence held, and a valid credit card in their name.

• How do I change the dates of my car hire?

  Car hire dates cannot be changed once booked. If you need to change your rental dates a new booking would be required and the existing reservation would have to be cancelled. Please contact our customer service. team on 01772 386367.

• How much does it cost to add an extra driver onto my car hire?

  The charge for adding additional drivers varies by car hire provider, and can only be done locally with the car hire provider

• What is your car hire cancellation policy?

  Cancellation is free of charge up to 48 hours prior to pick-up, any cancellations within 48 hours will be subject to a 100% cancellation fee.

• How do I upgrade my car hire vehicle?

  Should you wish to upgrade your rental vehicle, please contact our sales team who will be able to assist you further.

• How do I change my pick up / drop off times?

  Pick up and drop off times cannot be changed once booked. If you need to change your rental times, a new booking would be required and the existing reservation would have to be cancelled. Please contact our customer service team on 01772 386367.

• Where can I drop off my car?

  When searching for car hire on the Netflights.com website we show all the available pick up and drop off locations available to us with our suppliers allowing you to make your preferred choice to fully meet your rental requirements.

• Why does car hire only need a lead driver?

  Car rental reservations only require the lead driver's name to be entered at the time of booking. Anyone within your party that would also wish to drive can be added by the car rental company when you collect the vehicle. Please ensure that all drivers hold the required documentation needed to rent the vehicle, details of which can be found in the rental conditions applicable to your rental.

• Can I prebook a sat nav?

  Some car hire providers will allow sat nav to be pre-purchased at the time of booking and you can select the option when making your booking. If no option is available during your booking, this can be requested from the depot on collection of the vehicle with an additional fee payable on collection. Charges can be found in the terms and conditions of your rental.

• Can you explain the car hire insurance?

  Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
  Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), also known as Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), protects the driver from any claim (minus the excess amount) in the event of any damage occurring to the rental vehicle, except where negligence is proved.

  Note: Collision Damage Waiver is NOT insurance.

  Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)
  This is an additional extra that you may be offered when you pick up your hire vehicle. PAI is an additional insurance which covers the authorised driver(s) and passengers in the hire vehicle for death, disability and medical expenses. Each hire company will have a different PAI policy so always be sure to check what is being offered when you actually pick your vehicle up.

  Theft Protection (THP)
  In case of theft of the vehicle or its parts, you are only responsible up to the excess charge.

  Insurance Excess
  In the event of an accident or damage to the vehicle, you will be expected to pay a certain amount towards the total repair cost. This is your car insurance excess. The excess on your hire will depend on the local supplier and they will be able to give you more information when you collect your car.

• I have been banned from driving in the UK, can I hire a car abroad?

  You are not permitted to hire a vehicle whilst banned from driving as you are required to hold a full, valid UK licence. All car rental requires a DVLA code to be provided to the rental company prior to collection of the vehicle and will refuse rental for any suspended licences. No refunds will be applicable in such instances where rental is refused.

• How do I get a DVLA code for hiring car hire outside of the UK?

  You can obtain a DVLA code by using the following link and entering your information as described below. Please note the code is valid for 21 days from issue only https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.

  1. Enter your driver number and postcode, as they appear on your driving licence, and your National Insurance number.
  2. Click on the ‘Share your licence information’ tab – then the ‘Create a code’ button.
  3. You will now be shown a code that you can pass on to your hire company. You’ll also have the option to print out your licence information.

• What is the excess on my car hire insurance policy?

  Each car hire provider, depot and car group have different excess amounts based on the size of the vehicle rented. These details can be found on your rental conditions which can be viewed through the booking process or by clicking the link on your car rental voucher.

• How can I reduce the excess on my car insurance?

  Some car hire providers offer the option to reduce the excess on rentals either at the time of booking as an additional option, or by purchasing a waiver locally directly from the provider. Please note that not all providers allow for this.

• Is the car hire package I have purchased fully insured?

  Each car hire provider, depot and car group have different inclusions/exclusions. Please check the rental conditions for more information. It is important to fully understand the inclusions before confirming the rental.

• How do I request roof rack / ski rack / winter tyres?

  Please email [email protected]

• Will I be charged a one-way drop-off fee?

  Most companies charge a one-way fee where the pick-up and drop-off locations differ. These vary by car type, distance and time of year. Full details of all one way fees can be found in the car rental conditions which can be viewed during the booking process or by clicking the link on your car rental voucher.

• How do I request child seats with my hire car?

  Please email [email protected]

• I have points on my driving licence, will I be able to hire a car?

  As different suppliers have some restrictions in place, please contact our customer services team before booking, with the endorsement code on your licence so we can check this.

• What driving licence do I need to hire a car?

  You will need a full UK driving licence to hire a vehicle. In most instances this will need to have been valid for 12 months but please check the rental conditions for specific details.

• What documents do I need to collect my car?

  You will need, a copy of your pre-paid rental voucher, your driving licence, a credit card in the lead drivers name and the DVLA driving licence code to allow the depot access to your driving licence report. Please check the rental conditions for specific details.