Smarter Car Hire - Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions govern your use of the Smarter Car Hire service. By using our website and making a booking, you agree to be bound by these terms.

1. Our Role

Smarter Car Hire acts as a booking agent for major car hire providers in the USA. We facilitate your booking by providing quotes and securing your reservation. While we manage the booking, the car rental itself is a separate contract between you and the car hire provider. We are not liable for the actions, omissions, or the terms of the rental agreement of the car hire provider. However, under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, our service must be provided with reasonable care and skill.

2. Booking and Price Information

• Quote Accuracy: To receive a quote, you must provide accurate details, including your full name, age, driver's license details, pick-up and return locations, dates, and times. The prices we show are the total cost for the rental, including all compulsory charges such as taxes and location fees. Any optional extras, such as additional drivers or child seats, will be clearly itemized.
• **Price Monitoring:** Following a confirmed booking, Smarter Car Hire will automatically track the cost of your specific rental.
• Price Reduction Guarantee: If the rental rate for your exact booking reduces by £10 or more before the pick-up date, we will automatically alter your booking to the new, lower rate. This does not require any action from you, and you will be notified of the new price. The lower rate will be the final price you pay for the rental period itself. This guarantee does not apply to price increases, which will not affect your confirmed booking price, nor does it apply to the security deposit or the cost of optional extras.

3. Payments and Cancellations

• Payment: Smarter Car Hire will process your payment for the rental on behalf of the car hire provider. The full balance of any car rental is required to be settled no less than 6 weeks prior to the date of collection. A valid credit card in the lead driver’s name is required by the car hire provider for the security deposit and to cover any additional fees not included in the booking.
• Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel your booking, you must do so through Smarter Car Hire. The following cancellation fees apply:
  • More than 72 hours before pick-up: 0% cancellation fee.
  • Less than 72 hours before pick-up or 'no-show': 100% of the total car rental price.
  A 'no-show' includes failure to pick up the vehicle on the specified date and time, or failure to present the required documentation (e.g., valid driver's license, credit card).

4. Your Responsibilities

• You are responsible for ensuring all information provided during the booking is accurate.
• You must present the required documentation, including your driver's license and a credit card in the lead driver's name, at the car hire desk. Failure to do so may result in the car hire provider refusing the rental, for which we will not be liable.
• You must read and understand the rental agreement of the car hire provider before signing it at the pick-up desk. This agreement covers important details like insurance, fuel policy, and additional charges.
• You are responsible for any charges not included in the booking, such as traffic fines, tolls, and refueling charges.

5. Liability and Dispute Resolution

• Smarter Car Hire is liable for any loss or damage you suffer as a direct result of our failure to provide our booking service with reasonable care and skill. However, we are not liable for any issues arising from the rental car itself or the car hire provider's actions, such as vehicle condition, mechanical failure, or overbooking.
• If you have a complaint about our booking service, please contact us in writing. We will provide a formal response within a reasonable timeframe. If the dispute relates to the car hire provider, you must raise the issue with them directly.
• Nothing in these terms and conditions affects your statutory rights under UK consumer law.

6. Data Protection

We collect and process your personal information to facilitate your booking. This data is handled in accordance with UK data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We will only share your information with the car hire provider to complete your booking.