Tempted by a better model

Lately, I've been asked a lot about what to do when car rental companies tempt you with additional insurance coverage and higher categories of cars. In most cases, the right model and the right insurance coverage was arranged during the booking process.

This can put travellers in a tricky situation, as most people aren't aware of the details of their agreements and tend to err on the side of caution. So what’s the best way to handle situations like these?

Dare to say no

Part of the revenue model of car rental companies is selling extra insurance or offering cars in a higher category to travellers at the information desk. While it can be hard to say 'no' in situations like these, the necessary arrangements have most likely already been made, which makes additional insurance unnecessary. This is certainly the case when booking through a travel management company (TMC).

Trust is the key word

To improve this process in the future, good coordination between the TMC and the traveller is essential. The TMC will specify what is and what is not included in the travel booking in accordance with the travel policy. The traveller will receive an overview of their trip and can trust that everything has been arranged properly. In most cases, the rental car is included in the existing contract with full insurance coverage. This means travellers have nothing to worry about.

Making clear agreements in advance will help travellers avoid unexpected costs in the future. If you have any questions about car rentals or about the agreements that have been made, feel free to contact your travel management company. I look forward to hearing about your own experiences.