Automobile Law. Avoid pitfalls when renting a car abroad and getting in an accident or getting fined

What happens if you have an accident abroad? Will you receive a PV? We asked these questions to Maître Le Dall, a motor vehicle lawyer.

“The first thing you must do is to read the contract carefully. You need to know what exactly is covered or not covered by the insurance contract included in the rental. A simple example. If you rent a recreational vehicle such as a van or camper and drive under a bridge with a limit of 2 meters 20, tearing off the entire upper part of the vehicle, the cost of repairs will be very high. However, in this specific case, most insurance contracts provided by the rental company do not cover such events.“Warning Master Redal” You most often find it when an accident occurs”.

What franchise?

“Often, the price of insurance can be adjusted based on the deductible in the event of a claim. Obviously, very affordable insurance can hide very high excess amounts.“Master Ledahl warned.Ask questions before you drive off. Also remember that local regulations apply. Speeding, alcohol, and mandatory vehicle equipment are useful to know before renting a vehicle on the road”.

Who will receive the report?

“Obviously, the rental company will receive your possible fine.“Warning Master Redal”The rental company will designate you as the driver at the time of the accident. They may also charge you an application fee for each violation. We will also check if we have the right to take the vehicle across the border. If I rent a car in Sweden, can I drive it to Denmark? Here, too, you must ask the rental company to get an answer before you hit the road.”.

Your bank card is your best ally

“The first rule when it comes to car rentals, whether in France or abroad, is to be careful about the payment method used. If you have a high-end bank card such as Gold, Platinum or even American Express, you can use it to pay for the rental or the deposit. These cards entitle you to several services, first of all travel insurance. They will cover the excess in the event of an accident, but will also cover theft of your rental car, damage caused by the accident, administration costs, fixed costs, repatriation costs, medical expenses or vandalism. The only condition: you must have paid for the rental using this payment method”.