Hiring a car this summer? Beware of the small print, holidaymakers have been warned, or face being clobbered with a bill for thousands. From useless insurance to outrageous charges for “extras”, trips can be ruined by unexpected bills when you return your hire car.

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A family hiring a standard car in Malaga for a week in June could hand over an additional £346 at the rental desk when picking their car up, when the original hire charge was just £173.

Buying excess car-hire insurance, extra driver’s cover, a child’s car seat and a sat-nav from the rental desk will push the overall cost up by 100 per cent, according to recent research by Eye on Car Hire.

Excess insurance

Citizen’s Advice and Which? both warn that holidaymakers can be caught unawares by such sneaky exclusions.

A spokesman for Which? says: “Many people are surprised when they learn that even if they pay for extra insurance, say a ‘super collision damage waiver’, the windscreen, wheels, tyres, roof or undercarriage of the vehicle aren’t covered by the hire company’s policy.”

Most car-hire companies will offer you an add-on “super collision damage waiver”-style product. Bob Atkinson, at travelsupermarket.com, says: “Never take this from a car-hire company. On arrival at your pick-up point, the car-hire companies will point out the large excess you pay in case of any accident or damage and then try and sell you a daily cover to reduce the excess to nil. Protect yourself ahead of travelling by taking out a car hire excess insurance product — this can save up to 75 per cent on the charges made by the rental companies.”

Companies such as Insurance4CarHire and iCarHireinsurance sell standalone products which are not only cheaper, but often have better coverage.

Add-on charges

Another common bone of contention, says Which?, is the contents of the fuel tank. Some companies specify that you return your tank full, which is the easiest option and usually works out as the cheapest. But make sure it is full to the brim or there may be space for your car-hire company to top it up and charge you a hefty “refuelling” charge.

Some ask you to return your tank empty, which is difficult to do and you won’t be refunded for any petrol you did not use.

Many car-hire companies will also charge for extras such as a child booster seat or satnav. You are almost always better off bringing your own or buying one when on holiday.

Try searching for your hire car on http://cheapcarhirerates.co.uk/ to find cheap car hire rates where you should be able to filter the results to get value for money with no hidden extras or nasty surprises.

Resolving a dispute

Many readers complain that they only notice they have been unexpectedly charged for damage to their hire car after they have returned home. Most car-hire companies ask for a credit card up front, so check your statement carefully to ensure you haven’t been overcharged.

When you return your car, take photos and get a member of staff to check it over, too, in your presence, says Citizens Advice. If you return it out of hours, it can be hard to challenge unexpected bills, as the car-hire company regards you as responsible for your vehicle until it has been inspected by the company. If you are unhappy about the service or price you have received, first complain directly to your car-hire company. If you cannot resolve the situation, turn to an arbitrator.

Within the UK, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association may be able to help. The BVRLA says it aims to deal with complaints within 30 days. Its website also has a complaint form that you can download to help you gain redress directly from your car-hire company.

If you have hired a car within Europe you can take your complaint to the European Car Rental Conciliation Service.