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FAQsHere are some of the questions we are most frequently asked at Blue Valley Car Hire. Q: How can I pay for the booking?A: We accept Visa, Visa Delta, Visa Electron, Mastercard and Maestro/Laser for online payments. Please note at the time of pick up the local supplier will require a security deposit to be left for the vehicle. This takes the form of an amount (minimum: Excess + Fuel + VAT) being blocked on the primary drivers credit card. You must bring a credit card at the rental desk; Cash deposits, Maestro, Switch and debit cards such as Visa Electron are not generally accepted. Q: Are my credit card details safe if I book a car with you?A: Credit card transactions are performed over a secure internet connection using SSL Q: Do we pay for the vehicle in advance?A: Many of our bookings are part-paid - typically around 15% is paid in advance when you book, the remainder is paid when you collect the vehicle. Some suppliers require the full payment in advance, and this will be indicated when you get your quote. Q: Can I cancel my booking?A: Yes, but refer to the Terms and Conditions of the Rental Agreement as this varies depending on the vehicle supplier. Generally refunds are available if you cancel up until a few days before you travel. Q: What is the Fuel Policy?A: The fuel policy varies with different suppliers, but will be identified in the Terms and Conditions on the "Rate Details" link when you get a quote. Some suppliers offer "pick-up full, return empty" deals, which means that you pay for a full tank of fuel whether you use it or not. This type of rental can be worth considering if you are doing a lot of driving, and often has full CDW cover included. Q: Where can I find detailed terms and conditions for the vehicle rental?A: Car hire terms and conditions can differ from country to country, car rental agent to car rental agent and vehicle to vehicle, always consult the specific rental conditions relating to your rental quotation. On the quotation page of our booking process you can find the rental terms and conditions. Q: What is CDW Insurance?A: CDW Insurance covers the rental vehicle in the event of accidental damage to the rental vehicle. In most cases it will also cover theft of the vehicle. There may be an excess amount (i.e. a CDW excess) on the policy. The excess amount depends on the car type i.e. the group. Read more about CDW Insurance here. Go to this page to change your pick-up or drop-off times and dates. Please note we cannot guarantee you will receive the same rate as your original booking. Rates change frequently and are set by the car rental agents. Q: What is the Allianz Insurance?A: Allianz Insurance is available with some of our quotes. This is a separate insurance which covers CDW excess as well as other items such as tyre damage, window damage, theft of items from the vehicle. If you have chosen an "Inclusive No Excess" deal, you still may wish to insure the additional items with Allianz. If you wish to purchase the Allianz Insurance, please read the Allianz Insurance Terms and Conditions (a link is available when you get your quote). Q: Is it better to book early?A: For busy periods it is always advisable to book early. There are usually rental car shortages in Portugal and Spain during busy periods, and demand and supply means that prices tend to increase the later the vehicle is booked. Q: Can we pay by cash (we don't have a credit card)?A: No. A valid credit card is needed to act as a deposit in case of accident (this is standard practice with all rental car companies). Q: What happens when I book a vehicle?A: You should receive an email shortly after making your booking. If you do not receive an email please contact us as there may be a problem with the email address. You will receive a Reservation Number with the email. Depending on vehicle availability, it may take up to 48 hours for your booking to be confirmed (it can be up to 72 for larger vehicles in very busy periods). When your booking is confirmed you will receive an email containing information about the supplier and how to collect the vehicle. Please print this information which includes the Reservation Number and take it with you when you travel. In some cases where there is limited availability e.g. for 7/9 seaters in peak times, if a vehicle is unavailable from the original supplier, we may be able to offer an alternative with a different supplier. You can choose to accept or decline the vehicle. Prepaid Rentals (when the entire rental amount has been prepaid): If the booking is cancelled within 7 days of the car rental booking date and at least 48 hours before pick up time, all funds will be reimbursed. If the booking is cancelled outside 7 days of the car rental booking date and at least 48 hours before the pickup time, all funds except a cancellation fee of EUR 25.00 and the card processing fee (where applicable), will be reimbursed. If the booking is cancelled less than 48 hours before the pickup time, we will retain 3 days rental and the card processing fee (where applicable). Post-paid Rentals (when the entire rental amount is due on arrival at the rental desk): There is no cancellation fee. In the event that you cancel or amend a credit/debit card booking CarTrawler will not be liable for any monetary losses suffered by you as a result of a change in monetary exchange rates between the time of your original booking and its subsequent cancellation or amendment (as applicable). How do I cancel my booking?Please use the link provided in your confirmation email or cancel your booking here Your VoucherWhat is a voucher and why do I need one?Your rental voucher is a document which will be emailed to you and must be printed and produced at the rental desk when you pick-up your vehicle. If you do not produce your voucher at the time of collection of the vehicle, the car rental supplier may apply a different rate than quoted or refuse to rent the vehicle. We cannot accept any appeal for a refund if you do not produce your voucher at the rental desk. I can't find my voucher. Could you please send the voucher again?Please go to this page to view and print your voucher. Remember to take this to the rental counter with your driving licence and the credit card. What happens if I do not take my voucher with me?If you do not produce your voucher at the time of collection of the vehicle, the car rental supplier may apply a different rate than quoted or refuse to rent the vehicle. We cannot accept any appeal for a refund if you do not produce your voucher at the rental desk. What documentation do I need to take with me to the rental desk?You will typically need to bring
Please check your rental conditions for further details. Cross Border Travel PolicyWhat are cross border or territorial restrictions?Cross border or territorial restrictions mean that you may not be permitted to travel to another country from the country you rented the vehicle. Please read the Terms and Conditions of your rental to confirm which countries you will be allowed to travel to during your rental. For further information, we would advise you to ring your rental agent. Cross border travel typically entails additional fees. Please call your rental agent to confirm the exact fee. Age RestrictionsWhat are age restrictions?Age restrictions are set by the car rental agent. Due to insurance restrictions, the car rental agent may have a minimum or maximum age of the driver they can rent to. You may find any age restriction applying to your rental in the rental conditions Some car rental agents also have a young or senior driver's fee for specific age groups. Extras/ Special EquipmentI have booked a baby/booster for my child. Where can I see this confirmed in my booking?We unfortunately cannot confirm or guarantee you will receive the baby seat or booster seat you booked, or any other optional extras or special equipment. If you requested any of these optional extras during the booking process, they will appear on your confirmation voucher once your booking has been confirmed. These extras are not included in the price quoted and they must be paid for on arrival. We would advise you to ring the car rental agent ahead of your arrival to confirm they will be able to provide you with the optional extras you requested. I have booked additional drivers. Where can I see if this is confirmed in my booking?Once the vehicle is confirmed please check your booking voucher. The voucher has a section which shows the addition extras you have booked for example baby seats, booster seats or additional drivers. These extras are not included in the price quoted and must be paid for on arrival. We recommend that if you book an inclusive deal with a CDW excess, that you purchase CDW cover either with Allianz or with the rental vehicle supplier What is Vehicle Theft Waiver?It is an insurance limiting your liability to the excess amount in case of theft of the vehicle. This insurance is included in most of our rates, however, please check it is so in your rental conditions before you arrive at the rental desk. SAFETY TIP: CarTrawler recommends that you remove the identifying tag that is usually on the key ring of the vehicle and store it safely elsewhere. Please note if the vehicle is stolen and you cannot return the key i.e. you were negligent and left the key in a prominent and vulnerable location, you may be liable for the full cost of the vehicle. Can you explain what the Liability Insurance is?It is an insurance limiting your liability for any damage caused to other people and/or other people's property. It is usually limited to a maximum of 1,000,000 Euros. The insurance is limited and there may be excess which means that you may be liable for any amount over and above the value of the insurance.
TIP: Excess Insurance can be purchased at the time of booking in order to reduce the excess to zero (Service provided in partnership with Allianz Assistance) Is Break Down Assistance included?Most of our rates include Breakdown assistance; we would advise you to read your rental conditions to check it is included in your rate. All car rental agents have national assistance should the renter require it. Please ask at your local desk for the number and contact details at the time of rental. How do I reduce the excess on the vehicle? Can I take out additional insurances to reduce it?You can purchase additional insurances to reduce the excess on the vehicle. This can be done online at the time of booking (service provided in association with Allianz Assistance) or at the car rental agent's office on arrival. A pre-authorisation may be required, even if you have purchased additional insurances. This pre- authorisation is taken from your credit card. Please see your rental conditions for further details. LicenceWhat is an international driver's licence and why do I need one?The International Driving Licence (IDL) is recognised worldwide as a valuable document that identifies its holder as a licensed driver when your licence is not in the same language as the country in which you are driving. You must also produce a National Driver's Licence with this licence; otherwise it will not be accepted. Do I need both parts of my British licence to rent a vehicle?If you have the new photo ID licence you must take the paper counterpart as well. If you do not present both the card and the counterpart you may not get the vehicle. If your licence is not written in Roman characters (e.g. Russian, Chinese, etc.), you will need to obtain an international driver's permit before you travel from your country of residence. What Is Included in the PriceWhat is included in my rental?Most of our rates are fully inclusive, however some countries do not provide inclusive rates. All-inclusive offers do not apply to North American residents or domestic bookings made within North American Countries. Click 'rate details' on the quotation page to see what your rate includes. What taxes are included in my rental?The prices quoted on the website are normally tax inclusive. However some optional extras that are listed on the voucher or in the rental conditions may not include tax (VAT). In this case it will be indicated. Please check the rental conditions online or on the rental voucher if you have already made your booking for what taxes are included. What type of licence is needed for larger vehicles such as minibuses?Usually 9 seats is the maximum permitted, but some European countries only allow 7. We have more minibus rental information here |