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What are subsequent charges?

Several complaints concerning car rental are related to subsequent charges.

Many consumers will be surprised to notice that the car company will retrospectively charge the credit card account for extra charges. These types of fees are usually the repair cost of a car that the rental company considers to have been incurred because of damage caused by the renter. It is therefore a good idea to check the credit card balance regularly after the rental period.

How do I avoid subsequent charges?

  • To avoid additional charges after the rental period, it is very important to inspect the car before taking it into use. If possible, carry out the inspection together with a representative of the rental company. Even the smallest scratches and dents should be recorded on the vehicle condition report, and you should ask for a copy of the form for your own records. When returning the car, it is advisable to ensure that the rental company notes in the report that the vehicle was returned undamaged.

    Returning the car outside the rental company’s opening hours may involve a risk of additional charges being made afterwards. A good precaution is to take photographs and videos of the car when collecting it and when returning it.

  • Additional charges often also consist of administrative fees that the car rental company charges as a result of fines incurred by the consumer.

    Since surveillance is carried out by automatic cameras, many people will only notice their mistake after the car company has charged their credit card account for administrative costs incurred by the person who wrote the fine for requesting the driver’s contact details from the company. If the agency has invoiced several administrative fees, for example in connection with fines received during the same day, it is advisable to ask the agency to make the invoice more reasonable. In some EU Member States, the charging of administrative fees has been considered unlawful or an unfair contract term in case law.

    In Italy, penalties are often caused by restricted traffic zones in city centres and historically significant areas. Drivers can easily overlook the Italian ZTL (Zone Traffico Limitato) signs indicating these restricted zones.

    Please note that the European Consumer Centre cannot assist with disputes concerning fines or parking penalties imposed by public authorities abroad.