Car Rental Cancellation: Your Rights and Advice

Questioner

I reserved a rental car and later cancelled it. Cancellation within 7 days would be free. On 8 August I made the booking definitive and paid and cancelled it on 13 August. Now the rental company states that there are €55 costs because I already made the booking on 5 August. Indeed, I wanted to make a reservation on 5 August but did not confirm it. Then I received several emails from them that I could still confirm and pay the rental and that the car would then be rented for that price. On 8 August I did indeed do that and now they state that the reservation suddenly started on 5 August. In my opinion, the booking was definitively started on 8 August through my payment, I also received an email then that the booking was confirmed. After all, if I had not done anything more, the booking would never have been made. So it is strange that they now use an earlier date as the start date.

Lawyer

The general terms and conditions should indicate which date is used as the start date, but based on your explanation this seems to me to be 8 August. The cancellation period usually only starts when there is a definite booking. I advise you to notify in writing that you do not agree with the costs.

Lawyer

If the general terms and conditions refer to a period from the confirmation of the reservation, you can enforce a refund. If you wish, you can contact us without any obligation.

Questioner

Cancellation and no-show policy Free cancellation up to 7 days after booking, after that a cancellation fee of EUR55 will apply. Cancellation is not allowed after the pick-up date and time. They state that the day I chose that car, but did not make it final, the term starts. Strange of course because if I do nothing the so-called reservation will automatically cease to exist. Dear W, Thank you for renting your car with Holiday Autos at CarTrawler! Your booking was successful. Print the voucher below and present it at the rental desk when you want to pick up the car. This is stated in the email of August 8, so I also assume that the term starts from then on and not somewhere a few days ago when I was interested in that car.

Lawyer

If you have made the reservation and have confirmation of it, you are bound by the 7-day cancellation period from that moment on, otherwise this period runs from the booking date.

Lawyer

This does not prove that you did not make the reservation on August 5. It is likely that you owe the 55 euros. If you wish, please feel free to contact us.