Rental Agreement
The rental agreement is the contract you sign before driving away. It records the exact car, the pickup and return details, the price and deposit, the insurance and excess, and the conditions you are agreeing to follow.
It is also the document that protects you. The agreed fuel policy, mileage terms and the car’s recorded condition all live here, so it is the reference point if any charge is later disputed.
Read it before you sign, even when there is a queue. Check the excess, the fuel policy, the mileage allowance and that any pre-existing scratches and dents are noted. Anything not written down is hard to argue later.
Keep your copy — increasingly a digital one — for the whole trip and a while after. Together with your pickup photos, it is your evidence if a question comes up about damage, fuel or the final bill.
Related terms
Security Deposit
A sum held on your card during the rental to cover the excess, fuel, fines or any damage — released when you return the car.
Fuel Policy
The rule that decides how much fuel should be in the car at pickup and return — and who pays for the difference.
Cancellation Policy
The rules that decide whether — and how much — you get back if you cancel a booking before pickup.