Frequently asked questions, useful informations
Car Rental tipps
Here are some useful tips to help you get the most out of your car rental
Please check carefully the terms and conditions of your rental agreement
If possible, book your car as early as you can
Make sure you have all your documents and a valid credit card
Changing the details of your rental
Plan ahead
Return your car with a tank full of fuel
Credit Card Policy
Your Liabilities
Fines and Penalties
What if I don’t agree with the penalty?
Why is the penalty higher than I expected?
Can FOX AUTORENT (Rental Services Kft.) enter an appeal against the penalty on my behalf?
Does it make a difference that I live in another country outside the EU?
Final tip
Please check carefully the terms and conditions of your rental agreement
Many of our terms and conditions are common to all car rental companies. When you receive confirmation of your booking, a copy of our terms and conditions is usually attached to it. You can also download a copy from our website. You should check your rental agreement to ensure that you have all the services you need such as second driver, young driver, border crossing permit, child seats, etc. If not notify us as soon as possible and we will make the necessary adjustments.
If possible, book your car as early as you can
In common with other car rental providers, FOX AUTORENT often offers discounts for early booking.
Visit our website regularly and, if you know your rental dates well in advance, take advantage of our early booking discount prices. It is a fact that many people leave their booking until the last minute and often in the busiest season when rental prices are at their highest.
Tip: If you intend to travel during the first week in August when the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix and Sziget festival are taking place, it is sensible to make a reservation at least three weeks before the start of the rental! This will ensure that you can get the size category of car you need and any accessories you may require.
Make sure you have all your documents and a valid credit card
Remember, you will need to produce all the following documents when you come to collect your car. Your reservation document or voucher, a current driving license for all drivers during the rental and a valid credit card which should be valid for at least 90-days from the date the car is returned back to us.
At the start of the rental you will need to provide a credit card deposit of €400 or more depending on the size of your vehicle and the insurance option selected.s.
Changing the details of your rental
Please don't forget that the minimum period of car rental is for 24 hours even if you bring the car back at an earlier time the following day than when you picked it up. For example: If you pick up your rental car on Monday at 9 am and the car is returned any earlier than this time on the Tuesday, a one-day rental tariff is still charged. If you return the car later more than one hour later on the Tuesday (i.e. 10.05am) a second daily fee will be charged.
Therefore, we advise our renters that in the case of 1-2 days rentals you should carefully check your journey schedule to ensure that the car can be returned on time to avoid the extra day’s rental fee if returned late.
Plan ahead
Please make a note of our normal opening hours at the branch office where you will pick up and return your car. An extra fee is charged for collection and return of a car outside these hours so it is recommended to use this service only in cases where it is really necessary.
If it is more convenient, it may be possible to return your car to a FOX AUTORENT branch office which is nearer that the branch from which you collected the car. A little homework can save you time and money!
Return your car with a tank full of fuel
Fox Autorent provides a car which has a full of fuel at the start of the rental. When it is returned it must be the same so plan your journey to include a refill at the nearest petrol station to our depot.
If you do not, Fox Autorent, in common with many rental companies will charge you for the missing fuel plus an additional service charge and VAT. It makes sense to do this yourself to avoid these additional charges!
Credit Card Policy
To rent a car from FOX AUTORENT you will need a valid credit card with a minimum available amount of €400 (or more if your insurance excess or rental price is higher than this). Because of the Hungarian banking system, we are unable to accept debit cards. Also, we do not accept cash for deposits or rentals as a company policy. We ask for your credit card as a condition of your rental.
This is because we “block out” a sum of money from your card just in case you have an accident or your car is damaged and you incur an non-insurable charge. (See Insurances).
Please note: WE DO NOT TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF YOUR ACCOUNT FOR THE DEPOSIT!
To “Block Out” your credit card means that until this amount is unblocked, you will not be able to spend the money! When you return the car, your card is immediately unblocked by us but it may take a few days for your credit card company to completely unblock the sum involved. We have no control over this.
Your deposit is not the same as the rental fee. The rental fee is taken from your credit card at the end of the rental. This will either equal the amount shown on your invoice or, if you have extended the rental, the new rental fee. We may also debit from your credit card certain fixed charges for which you are responsible, e.g. stone chips in the windscreen or bodywork. You will always be informed about these charges and you will also be sent an invoice (normally by e-mail if living outside the country, by normal mail if in Hungary).
If the damage cannot be estimated at the time of returning your car, our Customer Services department will prepare an invoice and send it to you (normally by e-mail if living outside the country, by normal mail if in Hungary) and at the same time deduct the amount from your credit card up to the limit of your excess (unless it is an uninsurable amount for which you are completely liable). If your credit limit does not allow the amount you owe to be deducted, then we will raise an invoice which must be paid by bank transfer within 8 days.
Whichever currency you choose to order your rental in, this has to be converted to the Hungarian Forint for banking purposes and accordingly there might be a small difference between the rate you expect to pay and the amount paid. Your bank also may make a charge for the currency conversion.
Your Liabilities
As with all insurance there are limits to what is covered and normally an excess amount you have to pay. This is the same with FOX AUTORENT car rental insurance. So let’s start at the beginning!
- All our rented cars have a basic third party insurance which covers any claims made by a third party (e.g. the other driver in an accident situation)
- If you are responsible for an accident or the car is damaged while you are renting it, you are liable for all the damage and repair costs unless you have purchased an insurance option to reduce your risk. (This includes vehicle recovery costs and additional hire of an alternative car).
- If you have purchased an insurance option, then your liability is limited up to the excess level stipulated in your insurance option.
- Drivers aged 24 years or less cannot opt for high risk cover and their excess payments will be doubled on all other options.
- If you do not comply with the terms and conditions in our rental agreement, you risk losing your optional insurance cover and in certain extreme cases, your third party insurance will no longer apply.
- If you contribute to the theft of the car, or its radio/CD player, car papers and keys, or, if damage occurs to your windscreen, or windows (e.g. smashed) then you are not covered by insurance and will responsible for the cost of the replacement and repair.
- If you leave your car papers or keys in the car, your insurance is invalid.
- If you drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs or use the car for illegal purposes, your insurance is void and you will be responsible for all loss and damage.
- If you enter into a country either without a cross border permit or into a country into which you are not permitted to drive you are liable for all loss and damage that may arise including claims made by a third party.
- At the beginning and end of your rental a vehicle inspection will be carried out by a FOX AUTORENTcolleague (employee). Any marks or damage from a previous rental will be clearly marked on the form. You should carry out your own inspection to see if you agree with the damage report. You will be asked to sign the damage report if you agree with what is written on it. If you do not do this, you are responsible for any damage that is on the report even if you think that you did not cause the damage.
- The agreement you sign allows us to take payments from your credit card for any damage or loss without seeking your consent. We will, however, send you an invoice on every occasion.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
If you lose the car papers, the car cannot be used until the documents are returned or replaced. You will be charged the normal car rental fee until that time. Please do not put them into your luggage but keep them with you at all times!
Fines and Penalties
As in all countries there are a number of ways in which you can incur a fine or penalty when driving a car rented from FOX AUTORENT. As we are the registered owner of the car, we receive notice of fines and penalties and, under the terms and conditions of your agreement with us, we are entitled to make an additional deduction from your Credit Card without further consent from you. (This is standard practice in the motor rental industry).
In addition, we make a small administrative charge, normally HUF 4.000 Ft (or its Euro equivalent) + VAT (áfa). We are also obliged to send details of the driver, e.g. name, address, contact details, etc. to an authorized body such as the Highway Authority, the Police or local parking authority, etc. We have no choice but to give this information so please understand our position when you receive such a penalty and find that your credit card has been debited.
What if I don’t agree with the penalty?
Once we have notified the authorized body of your contact details, and pay the penalty they have requested, you are entitled to contact the relevant authority to dispute their claim. The penalty notice will give details of how to do this although naturally, most of this information is in Hungarian
Why is the penalty higher than I expected?
Many of the penalties imposed in Hungary are „time-sensitive” which means that the longer you take to pay, the more you will pay. That is why we take the penalty from your credit card as soon as possible to avoid higher penalties in the future.
Can FOX AUTORENT (Rental Services Kft.) enter an appeal against the penalty on my behalf?
Unfortunately not.
Does it make a difference that I live in another country outside the EU?
As we are entitled to make the deduction from your credit card, it makes no difference where you live
One final tip:
If you have received a penalty notice which indicates how much you should pay, the best advice we can give is to pay it as soon as possible. Many of our clients receive a parking penalty which, if paid promptly, amounts only to a few thousand forints. Leave it and the amount payable grows exponentially!
