DeborahAnn

One of the things I like about using Economycarrentals is that all the fees are up front and I know what to expect. It also helps that they are much less expensive than other companies While looking for a rental this time there is a fee of 60 euros if I want to drive our rental car on a day trip into France from Spain Three years ago we drove from Spain into France and there wasn't an additional charge. Is this a fee I should expect with other rental companies as well? Thanks, Deborah

WomBatt

The last time - did you tell them?

Alec

If you don't tell them and you have an accident or theft of vehicle in another country, presumably your insurance may be invalid, except for the minimum level of cover required by law. Often the extra charge is to cover recovery when you break down, as a separate policy must be taken.

DeborahAnn

Wombatt, That time we used kemwel and we would have stated we were going to France, if we had been asked. I don't remember even being asked about it. This time the question was included in the quote and the crossing border card must be requested at the time of making a reservation. Reading the terms and conditions for Spain it states that if you take a car across a border and don't have authorization your car insurance is invalid. Deborah

DeborahAnn

Alec, I wondered if this is something recent between Spain and France borders. We have driven from France into surrounding countries on many trips and never had to pay any additional fees. Deborah

Alec

Depends on the rental company. Some give you freedom to drive into all neighbouring countries, viz France, Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra (but not North Africa), while others make a charge for cross border card, i.e. permission to take your car out of Spain. Many companies don't allow taking expensive cars into Italy for theft risk, and there are further restrictions in Central and Eastern Europe's former Communist countries, at least for some of them.
I have come across restrictions imposed by Spanish rental companies, esp smaller local outfits. I suppose it's to do with the kind of insurance policy they have and level of risk they are prepared to accept.

DeborahAnn

Thanks for that information Alec. I did a comparison of renting a car out of Madrid vs Barcelona with Economy Car Rentals and there is no charge for a border crossing card with a Madrid rental but there is with a Barcelona rental. Deborah

Christina

That sounds like it's just because they don't think it likely at all for people renting in Madrid to be doing border crossing to France. Of course some could, but it would be really likely from Barcelona.

DeborahAnn

Christina, I'm sure that is why we didn't see an additional charge or question when picking our car up in Madrid the last time.

Economy wants us to pay upfront for the border card but whatever company accepts our contract may not charge for crossing borders so I'm just going to ask the company directly once we know who has our contract. I thought the fee was just another way to get additional revenue by the rental companies in Spain!! Deborah