Hiring a car while on holidays is a great way to save time and money. It allows you to explore your holiday destination without the restrictions of timetables, bus routes or expensive taxi fees. When public transport is limited and taxis are expensive hiring a car is a great alternative. However, what should you do when returning your hire car?

One thing that many people ask is whether the car needs to be refuelled. Most don’t want to pay for fuel that they aren’t going to use, and many think that giving a car back empty is cheap and won’t have any repercussions. However, most companies will charge for refuelling if the vehicle returned empty, and this is often a lot more expensive than if you fill it up yourself. So, fill up your car on your way to the company, so you don’t have any looming bills in the mail when you get home.

Another thing to do before returning the car is to make sure the vehicle is in the same condition as it was when you hired it out. If there is a new defect that was not listed when you hired the car, it is essential to inform the car hire company for joint examination. This saves you getting having to pay a large sum for something that may not be your fault.

Other things to do before returning your hire car is to make sure the vehicle is clean, and everything is back in place. Remove any dirt or sand that may have come from dirty feet, putting cup holders and seats in their rightful place. You can do this yourself just with a small brush or by going to a car wash and using their cleaning facilities.

If you’re looking for cheap car rental on your next trip to Queensland, one company that does car hire in Brisbane is Alpha Car Hire. They can give you advice on what to do when hiring a car, from making a reservation to returning the vehicle. For more information, take a look at our FAQ’s page or call 1300 227 473.