Collecting and Returning a hire car.

Arrow in the Knee

So I'm going to Edinburgh next month and I am arriving late on Wednesday and departing early on Saturday morning.

Car Hire offices opening hours will be closed when I'm arriving and leaving so would they leave the car for me on the Wednesday night or do I have to wait until they open?

All comments will be very much appreciated.

keithclancy

Pickup usually isn't possible outside of opening hours.

Dropoff is usually fine as theres a letterbox you leave off the keys at.

Take pictures of the car from front, back, left, right after you drop if off as sometimes damage can occur in the car park after you leave it and drop off doesn't officially happen until they have time to inspect the car.

Best thing to do is ring the depot directly and ask what the story is.

coylemj

keithclancy wrote: »

Pickup usually isn't possible outside of opening hours.

In very busy locations like Heathrow with flights arriving at all hours, you can have a car booked and when you arrive at the compound there is an electronic display telling you which bay your car is parked in. You then go to the car which is unlocked with the keys on the seat, you drive out and show your driving licence to the security guy on the barrier, he will check off your name against the list of registration numbers to make sure you're in the correct car, all being well he will send you on your way.

So it is possible to pickup a rental outside of regular hours but you'll probably need to have already registered your details with that company or (better still) have hired a car previously from them.

keithclancy

coylemj wrote: »

In very busy locations like Heathrow with flights arriving at all hours, you can have a car booked and when you arrive at the compound there is an electronic display telling you which bay your car is parked in. You then go to the car which is unlocked with the keys on the seat, you drive out and show your driving licence to the security guy on the barrier, he will check off your name against the list of registration numbers to make sure you're in the correct car, all being well he will send you on your way.

So it is possible to pickup a rental outside of regular hours but you'll probably need to have already registered your details with that company or (better still) have hired a car previously from them.

Of course, but you need to check with the Depot, hence why I said usually.

E.G.
Automated pickup with Sixt at Dusseldorf is only possible with a Sixt Express card .

Pickup outside of hours with Hertz at Eindhoven airport incurs a surcharge as someone needs to wait in the office for you.

Pickup at Dusseldorf-Weeze with Hertz is not possible at all.

But in my experience most depots don't offer pickup outside normal hours.

shrapnel222

if it's possible to make the booking online, then that means you can pick up the car at that time, one way or another. Drop off is less of an issue as they usually have a key drop box.