Rental car on vacation: What you absolutely have to consider when booking

Booking a rental car is child's play - and often sensationally cheap. But be careful because many hidden additional costs lurk here in particular. We will show you what you absolutely have to consider when booking.

• If you book rent a car in Karachi early, you will save a lot of money in most cases.
• Always read contracts carefully, as they often contain hidden clauses.
• Vacationers shouldn't be stingy when it comes to choosing insurance, and it is best to take fully comprehensive insurance.

Whether a day trip, a round trip, or a road trip through cities: a rental car is a great thing. But travelers should consider several things when booking so that the supposed bargain does not turn out to be a rip-off in the end.

1. Book in good time

Book last minute or early? Opinions are divided on this: While some vacationers swear by the early bird discount, others speculate on a super bargain until shortly before. But just as with flights, it is worth booking the rental car as far in advance as possible.

If you travel in the primary season, you will otherwise pay significantly higher prices.

2. Take a close look at additional costs

If you are under 25 and need accessories such as a GPS or a child seat, you should further the extra costs. Even if the offer seems cheap, additional services such as accessories may cost significantly more than those of the competition. Price comparison of all the services you need is therefore worthwhile.

3. Do not book a "full-empty offer."

Some car rental companies offer so-called "full empty options." That means: The renter takes over the car with a full tank and returns it empty. That sounds tempting at first because it saves the annoying trip to the gas station at the end of the vacation.

But vacationers are giving away money because hardly anyone empties the tank into the red reserve area.

So much better for consumers: the "full-full version," in other words: receiving a full tank in the automobile and returning it with a full tank.

4. Read the rental agreement carefully

Vacationers should never blindly sign the rental agreement, but read it carefully beforehand. Especially in different countries, additional costs are often hidden in the contract that is not mentioned in the conversation with the customer.

These include mileage limits, breakdown service, or unnecessary additional insurance. The problem: Anyone who has signed the contract once declares that they agree to the clauses - and can no longer get out of the number. Therefore, the rule applies: Read the agreement carefully before signing it.

5. Clarify insurance coverage

One of the most important things about a rental car: insurance. Consumer experts advise against a deductible and recommend fully comprehensive insurance that covers all costs in the event of damage. Such insurances are priced a little higher, but the sum is, in most cases, very manageable.

Also important: pay attention to what benefits the insurance covers. Any damage to the sub-floor or from falling rocks should also be insured.

6. Carefully inspect the car when you pick it up

Many pick up their rental car, throw their luggage in the trunk, and jet off as quickly as possible. But that could have fatal consequences: If the vehicle is damaged or extremely dirty, there are problems when it is returned. The costs for this vary depending on the defects and provider.

However, all of this can be safe if you take a few minutes and take a close look at the car when you pick it up. If you notice any defects, you should report them to the landlord immediately.

7. Plan your return carefully

Pick up the rental car at 10 a.m., go on a day trip, and return the car the next day at midnight. It sounds good, but it is unnecessarily expensive. Because a rental day always corresponds to exactly 24 hours for car rental companies.

That means you pay the total daily rate. Therefore, you should always arrange the car's return so that you do not have to pay a total daily rate unnecessarily.