Getting around
Make sure the named driver can actually collect the vehicle.
The short answer
A prepaid rental is not proof that you meet the collection conditions. Before comparing car prices, check the driver, documents, accepted payment card and deposit for the exact pickup location. Resolve a mismatch before paying for a non-refundable booking, not at the counter after your flight.
The rental price pays for using the vehicle. A deposit or card authorisation secures obligations under the agreement. The excess is the amount you may be responsible for under particular cover terms; it is not automatically the same as the deposit or your maximum liability in every situation. Ask the supplier to show each figure separately. Also check which currency it will use and which amounts are charged rather than temporarily held.
State the card type, issuing country and name of the main driver, without sending the full card number or security code. Ask whether a physical card is required and whether that card is accepted for your chosen vehicle group. Rules vary by supplier and location. SIXT, for example, checks payment and main-driver details and available funds; its general guidance is a starting point, not a substitute for the local rental conditions.
Imagine a card has $1,500 available and a rental supplier will hold $1,000. You have $500 left before any other authorisations or spending. This is only an arithmetic example, not a quoted deposit. Accommodation deposits may reduce the same balance. Ask the issuer how holds affect your account and the supplier when it releases an authorisation; do not treat release by the supplier as immediate availability at your bank.
If you buy separate excess-reimbursement cover, ask whether the rental company still takes its normal deposit and whether you must pay a damage bill before seeking reimbursement. Check exclusions relevant to your trip: unapproved drivers, roads, tyres, glass, keys or underbody damage. Do not assume a phrase such as “full cover” settles all of those questions. Keep the actual policy and rental conditions together.
Confirm the procedure if your flight is late, who to call and how long the booking is held. Bring the required original licence, identification, payment card and booking reference. At handover, record existing damage with staff and save the signed record. At return, ask how the vehicle and fuel level are checked, especially outside opening hours. These records help explain a later charge; they do not replace the contract.
Ask for a documented alternative before changing the main driver or booking another car. Compare the total price of a supplier whose conditions you can meet. A lower headline price has little value if the car cannot be handed over.
Sources reviewed on 10 October 2026. The references below support the factual details; trip suggestions are editorial choices. This is a desk-researched guide, not an on-site inspection. Conditions and provider terms can change.
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