These are the ones that catch owners out, because each is a conversation you will have badly if
you have not decided the answer beforehand:
- Security deposit. What it is, and what it covers. Remember it is not income.
- Late return. A grace period, then a rate, usually hourly up to a point, then a full extra
day. Say which.
- Fuel policy. Return it as found, or return it full? What do you charge if they do not?
- Mileage cap, if you have one, and the rate beyond it. Common for self drive.
- Out-of-town or out-of-region travel. Whether it is allowed, and whether it costs more.
Worth being specific about which destinations.
- Cleaning, if the vehicle comes back in a state beyond normal use.
- Additional driver, if you permit one.
- Delivery and collection, if you offer it. This is real work and should be priced.
- Toll and parking: who pays.
- Overnight and meal allowance for drivers on with driver bookings.
Write these into your published rates and your rental agreement. The point is not to nickel and
dime the customer. It is that a charge the customer knew about is collectable, and a charge
that appears at the end is an argument.
