Rental Terms and Conditions

Appendix I

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.1          DEFINITIONS

1.2          The Company – Autohorn Fleet Services Limited, of Autohorn Fleet Services Limited, of ALFIE’s Barn, Whitehall Grange, Wigginton Road, York, YO32 2RJ

1.3          Hirer – You, the person named on page 1 as the “Hirer”

1.4          Actual Mileage – the mileage recorded upon collection and return of the vehicle

1.5          Basic Maintenance – costs incurred by the Company for reasonable wear and tear of the vehicle or a mechanical fault covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

1.6          Excess Mileage Penalty – Any excess mileage incurred will be charged as per the table shown on page 1 of the Master Hire Agreement. Excess mileage charges do not include other costs incurred by going over the agreed mileage such as tyres, servicing etc. All mileage allowances and charges are pro-rated daily.

PREREQUISITES: WHAT DO YOU NEED IN ORDER TO RENT A VEHICLE?

You must hold and produce a driving licence valid in the country where the rental takes place. The driving licence must have been issued by authorised authorities at least 12 months before the date of the commencement of the rental. In addition to the normal driving licence, an international driving licence is also mandatory if the driving licence is written in a language different to the one of the renting country and/or in characters that cannot be read in the renting country. Please note that the international driving licence is valid only if accompanied by the normal driving licence. When the rental is made outside your country of residence you must also present a valid identity card or a valid passport. These identification documents are generally not requested if you are a resident of a country belonging to the European Union and the rental takes place in another European Union country, except in some specific cases such as certain special or luxury vehicles.

In most countries, you must be aged 21 or over to rent a car and have held a driving licence for at least one year. However, the age requirements may vary according to the country and to the vehicle category considered (see section ‘Specific Terms’). A young driver surcharge may be applicable in some instances (see section 3 YOUNG DRIVER SURCHARGE). The above requirements are also applicable to all additional drivers if any.

In some countries, for luxury and special models two credit cards (including at least one major credit card: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club) are required and an authorisation will be requested on each. Details are available at a Reservation Service Centre or by selecting your country of destination in the “Specific Rental Terms”.

Please note that Autohorn accepts major credit cards such as American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard, and Visa. As certain credit card companies may not be represented in all countries, it is advisable to verify in advance the acceptance of a given card in a small or remote country (see section ‘Specific Rental Terms’). Credit cards are accepted to the limits authorised by the credit card company.

Only the lowest vehicle categories may be rented against cash or cheque payment (see section ‘Specific Rental Terms’).

YOUNG DRIVER SURCHARGE

When renting a vehicle, a driver qualified as a “young driver” pays a specific charge (according to the Terms and Conditions of the country of rental) – the “Young Driver Surcharge”. Terms and conditions of the applicable Young Driver Surcharge may vary from one country to another: it is therefore strongly recommended to consult the relevant terms and conditions either at time of booking online, via your local Autohorn Office or at time of rental.

Appendix II

THE VEHICLE: CONDITION, USE, BREAKDOWN ASSISTANCE AND MAINTENANCE/MECHANICAL PROBLEMS

4.1          Condition of the Vehicle

A description of the condition of the Vehicle will be given to you at the same time as the rental agreement. Before leaving the rental location, you are required to check the condition of the Vehicle. Where an apparent defect is found that is not already listed in the document, you must immediately inform the Autohorn employee at the counter to proceed with a joint examination of the Vehicle.

In such a case, amendments must be made to the document and duly countersigned by both parties.

If the amended document is not countersigned by both parties, the condition of the Vehicle will be as set out in the document given to you with the rental agreement and it will be considered that you received the Vehicle in proper working condition.

You will return the Vehicle in the same condition as it was provided at the start of the rental.  You are responsible for any repair or refurbishment costs, and these will be added to the cost of the rental, subject to the conditions of the section “Summary of Optional Guarantees” as set out below.

4.2          Use of the Vehicle

The Vehicle must not be driven by anyone other than you and then only under the condition that your ability to drive is not in any way impaired by mental or physical incapacity or restricted by the Law. If you wish to take the Vehicle outside the country of rental, you must obtain written permission from Autohorn Fleet Services.

Depending on the country of rental, some restrictions may apply with respect to:

  • loading the vehicle on trains, boats, ferries, or similar means of transportation
  • taking the vehicle from the mainland onto an island
  • taking certain types of vehicles across borders

You are advised to check at the time of reservation.

Details of the restrictions which currently apply are displayed in the section ‘Specific Rental Terms’ and will be given to you at the same time as the rental agreement.

You must take care of the Vehicle, keep it in good repair and condition, pay any fines for which you may be liable, reimburse Autohorn for any damage to the Vehicle, and refund Autohorn for any costs it incurs.

The Vehicle will be provided to you with a full fuel tank. You must only refuel the Vehicle with the correct type of fuel. Costs of fuel and for the refuelling service will be at your expense if the Vehicle is not returned with a full tank.

Autohorn strongly recommends that you carefully read this information available at the Autohorn counter.

You are liable for all fees, taxes, fines, and penalties incurred in connection with the use of the Vehicle and for which Autohorn is charged, unless they have arisen through the fault of Autohorn.

During the rental period you must carry out the usual checks (engine oil level, tire pressure, etc.) as would any careful user and you must respect the maintenance cycle of the Vehicle as stated in the maintenance guide, if any.

When parking the Vehicle, even for a short period, you undertake to lock it and make use of the Vehicle’s alarm and/or immobilisation equipment. You must never leave the Vehicle unoccupied with the keys in the ignition. Non-return of the keys will lead to invalidation of the theft cover.

You undertake to use the Vehicle in a responsible manner and, only for the purposes for which it is intended. For a car, this means primarily carrying passengers other than for hire and reward.

You must not use the Vehicle under any of the following conditions or for any of the following purposes:

  • driving the Vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any other type of narcotic substances,
  • transportation of inflammable or dangerous goods, as well as toxic, corrosive, radioactive or other harmful substances,
  • carrying anything which, because of its smell or condition, harms the Vehicle or causes Autohorn to lose time or money before it can rent the Vehicle again,
  • transportation of live animals (except for domestic pets, subject to prior authorisation by Autohorn),
  • with a roof rack, luggage carrier or similar, unless supplied by Autohorn,
  • re-rental to or use by other persons,
  • carrying passengers for hire or reward,
  • participating in rallies, competitions or trials, wherever they may take place,
  • giving driving lessons,
  • pushing or towing another vehicle (except those vehicles equipped by Autohorn with a towing-hook; maximum load 1,000 kg) or exceeding the authorised load weight.
  • travelling on non-paved roads or on roads, the surface or state of repair of which could put the vehicle’s wheels, tires, or its under body mechanics at risk,
  • intentionally committing any offence.
  • none of the goods and baggage carried in the Vehicle, including their packing and stowage equipment, will be permitted to damage the Vehicle, nor put the occupants abnormally at risk,
  • in any way which breaks the highway Code, road traffic laws or any other laws.

You will be liable for any offence committed during the rental period which relates in any way to your use of the Vehicle, as if you were the owner of the Vehicle. Upon the request of the Police or any official body Autohorn may have to transfer your personal data. Such transfer will be done in accordance with the data protection Laws of the country of rental.

4.3          Maintenance / Mechanical Problems

The Vehicle has been provided to you with a full set of tyres in good condition. If any of them is damaged for any reason other than normal wear and tear, you undertake to replace it immediately at your own expense with a tire of the same dimensions, type, and wear characteristics. You must stop the vehicle if any of the instrument panel warning lights, which are intended to indicate the existence of a mechanical problem, light up, or if you become aware of anything else which may indicate the presence of a mechanical problem with the Vehicle.

If the odometer has stopped functioning for any reason other than a technical failure, you will be required to pay a distance charge according to the rates in force in the country of rental.

When the rental starts, the vehicle will be roadworthy and fit for normal use. If it is not, or if it becomes un-roadworthy or unfit for normal use during the rental because of mechanical breakdown or accident, you must inform an Autohorn station or telephone the emergency number shown on the wallet of the rental agreement.

Autohorn will have the choice between replacing the vehicle or accepting repairs to be done to the Vehicle. In the latter case, repairs can only be made after written or oral confirmation from, and instructions given by Autohorn as well as prior acceptation by Autohorn of the estimation of costs. You must be able to provide the name and station name of Autohorn accepting the repairs. Without prejudice to any question of liability, the expenses for the repairs may be charged directly to Autohorn. If not, Autohorn reserves the right to request from you the remittance of the defective pieces and the paid invoice.

The fees and expenses of any repair undertaken without the order of Autohorn will not be reimbursed to you.

You must inform Autohorn, or one of its agents, of all accidents, damage to or breakdowns of the car, even those which may already have been repaired, when you return the Vehicle. You will remain liable for any damages to Autohorn.

In any case, neither Autohorn nor its directors, officers or employees will be liable to you for any loss or damage (including but not limited to loss of profit or earnings…) nor, to the extent permitted by the Law, for indirect consequential damages whether your action is based on contract or in tort.

4.3          Breakdown Assistance

For the length of the rental, as agreed with Autohorn, you have the benefit, at no extra cost, of a Breakdown and Assistance Service. If required, this service can be contacted by calling the telephone number indicated on the wallet of the rental agreement or on the windscreen or on the key holder.

To benefit from this cover, you must contact the Breakdown and Assistance Service immediately after the occurrence of the incident. If you do not contact the Breakdown and Assistance Service and if you initiate steps or make any disbursements without the prior consent of Autohorn, you will not be able to claim for reimbursement of the expenses. The rule of prior approval does not apply in the event of breakdown on motorways and solely in this case. Consequently, the roadside repair or towing expenses will be reimbursed to you.

Appendix III

RENTAL PERIOD

5.1          Principle and Calculation

You undertake to return the vehicle to Autohorn at the agreed place, on the date and at the time indicated on the rental agreement. The maximum duration of a rental agreement may vary from one country to another. The rental duration is calculated based on indivisible periods of 24 hours, starting from the time the Vehicle is made available.

If you return the vehicle to any other rental location than the agreed location, repatriation costs will be charged to you.

Autohorn strongly recommends that you carefully read this information available at counter.

5.2          Extension of the Original Duration of the Rental

Should you wish to keep the Vehicle for a period longer than that originally set out in the rental agreement, you must first contact by your Autohorn rental location to extend the duration of the rental agreement.

The vehicle is insured for the period mentioned on the rental agreement. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by Autohorn, once this period is passed, the contracting party remains liable for any damages to Autohorn.

5.3          Delivery and Collection Terms

Where you ask Autohorn and Autohorn agrees in writing to deliver the vehicle or to collect the vehicle, you may have to pay additional charges and follow additional instructions. You must check at the time of reservation. When you return the vehicle, or if Autohorn has agreed you will do so, when you leave the Vehicle for collection by Autohorn, you must complete the details of the date and time of return, the mileage and fuel gauge reading, and other information shown on the rental document wallet. You must also do anything else, which Autohorn requests as a condition of agreeing to collect the Vehicle.

You must return the Vehicle immediately if Autohorn asks you to do so. If the vehicle is not delivered to Autohorn upon request, you hereby authorise Autohorn to enter your premises and to do all other things necessary to repossess the vehicle. You will be liable for any costs associated with such repossession. Autohorn may repossess any vehicle without notice or liability where Autohorn deems that such repossession is necessary for its own protection.

5.4          End of Rental

The end of the rental is defined by the return of the vehicle and of its keys to the rental counter at the agreed Autohorn location. This must be done to a uniformed Autohorn employee and under no circumstances should you give the keys to any person present at the Autohorn location and who you assume or who purports to be a Autohorn employee. If explicitly mentioned in writing in the rental agreement the keys may be returned to the reception desk of a hotel. If the Vehicle is returned without its keys, you will be invoiced for the cost of the replacement keys. Autohorn strongly recommends that you carefully read this information available at counter.

Under no circumstances will Autohorn accept any liability for articles that may have been left in the vehicle at the end of the rental.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Outside the normal opening hours, depositing the keys and documents in a letter box does not constitute the end of the rental. You remain liable for any damages until a Autohorn employee takes possession of the vehicle, documents, and keys when the Autohorn location opens.

5.5          In the event of confiscation, theft, or accident

In the event of measures by third parties, including attachment, confiscation or impounding of the vehicle, you must immediately inform Autohorn in writing. Autohorn will then be entitled to take all measures which it deems necessary to protect its rights. You will be liable for all damage, cost and/or expenses associated with the above measures and for any direct, indirect, consequential damages (such as loss…) to the vehicle unless it is demonstrated that Autohorn is directly responsible for such confiscation or impounding of the Vehicle. Furthermore, the rental agreement may be automatically terminated as soon as Autohorn is informed of such action by the legal authorities or by you.

Any use of the Vehicle which may be detrimental to Autohorn will entitle Autohorn to automatically terminate the rental agreement with immediate effect. You will then return the Vehicle immediately as soon as Autohorn so requests.

In the event of theft of the vehicle, the rental agreement will be terminated as soon as Autohorn has received a copy of the theft declaration made by you to the police authorities.

In the event of an accident, the rental agreement will be terminated as soon as Autohorn has received a copy of the accident report completed by you and, where applicable, the third party. If Autohorn provides a new vehicle, the rental agreement will be amended accordingly.

Furthermore, Autohorn will have no responsibility for loss, theft, robbery, or damage of whatever nature relating to objects and/or utensils transported, or which are found in the Vehicle including baggage and/or goods.

Appendix IV

RATES AND TERMS OF PAYMENT

6.1          Rates

The total charges for each rental will be determined according to the price list applicable at the time of rental. If you do not meet the preconditions for a contractual rate, then the standard rate is to be paid.

In the event of one-way rental, the one-way rate is applicable.

6.2          Terms of Payment

When payment is made by means of a credit card, an authorisation will be requested prior to the start of the rental. The minimum amount of the authorisation will be determined by multiplying the rate by the rental period reserved by you and other relevant charges. This amount is not debited. It is held on cardholder’s bank account until the final rental charge amount is debited.

When the Vehicle is returned, the invoiced amount will be charged to the credit card provided, unless you present another means of payment.

In some countries and for some credit card types, Autohorn offers a dynamic currency conversion (DCC) option to be selected at pick up time only. In such a case, you have the choice at the start date of rental to elect to pay either in the currency of the country of rental (Rental Currency) or to pay in your own credit card billing currency.

If the payment is made in the Cardholder’s Billing Currency the invoiced amount will be converted by Autohorn, from the Rental Currency to the Cardholder’s Billing Currency.

If for whatever reason the conversion cannot be processed by Autohorn or is declined by the cardholder at time of rental or when this DCC option is not available in the country, the transaction will be submitted in the Rental Currency and then converted afterwards according to the cardholder’s bank conditions.

In the event of non-payment by the due date shown on the invoice, you will be liable, for payment of interest on the due amount in accordance with the details on the invoice, if any.

Non-payment by due date of any invoice or any other non-payment will render all outstanding invoices due immediately and will authorise Autohorn to require immediate return of any vehicles still on rent and to terminate the agreements relating to such rentals.

The tariffs applicable to the rental, to the additional services and to the optional covers or insurances are those which are in force on the date of issue of the rental agreement and correspond to the characteristics you originally indicated at the time of reservation (Vehicle type rental, duration, return station…). Any modification in the characteristics will entail the use of an appropriate alternative tariff.

Should the vehicle not be returned with a full fuel tank, you will be charged for the missing quantity of fuel and for the refuelling service according to the tariffs in force in the country of rental, unless you have subscribed to the full tank option.

Autohorn strongly recommends that you carefully read this information available at counter.

Appendix V

INSURANCE

All the vehicles in Autohorn’s fleet are insured against Bodily Injury and/or Property Damage that you might inflict on a third party because of an accident involving the Vehicle. The amounts for such liability cover are available on request in the country of rental.

You must comply with the rule concerning permitted destinations, as set out in Article “use of the vehicle” above, to have the full benefit of the insurance provisions.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Damage to the under bodywork and/or roof due to collision with bridges, tunnels, overhanging structures etc., is excluded from the damage cover, unless force majeure can be proved. Exceptions to this regulation may apply in some countries.

7.1          Liability in the Event of Damage to the Rental Vehicle or Theft or Conversion thereof

7.1.1 You will be liable for any damages to Autohorn when renting a Vehicle that has been entrusted to you.

Therefore, in the event of theft of the vehicle or damages caused to it, you must fully indemnify Autohorn (the indemnification will include the amounts corresponding to the repair costs, resale value of the Vehicle, loss of use, administration charges…). The amount will not exceed the market value of the rented vehicle at the time of the event.

This liability may be reduced if you opted for the “reduced liability” plan as defined in Article above.

Therefore, at the end of the Rental, IN THE EVENT OF DAMAGE OR THEFT, YOU WILL BE DEBITED with an amount equal to the non-waivable excess charge according to the tariffs in force in the rental country. IN THE EVENT OF LIGHT DAMAGE, YOU WILL BE DEBITED according to the provisions of section 7.1.2.

You are advised that any waivers you may have chosen will be invalidated if you fail to take reasonable measures for the safety of the Vehicle, its parts, or accessories, or fail to comply with all restrictions on the use of the Vehicle or otherwise abuse or misuse it.

You will not be exempt from liability towards Autohorn in the case of breach of contract. Therefore, you will be responsible for any financial loss Autohorn suffers because of such breach and for any relevant claims made by other people. You agree to pay any amounts Autohorn spends in enforcing these terms.

IMPORTANT NOTE

In any case, neither Autohorn nor its officers, directors, employees will be liable to the contracting party for any amounts nor for any actions, lawsuits or claims related to any direct, indirect, consequential, punitive damages (such as loss of business, loss of profit) arising out of or in connection with the rental or the use of any vehicle whether the action is based on contract or in tort. You will indemnify and hold Autohorn harmless from all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses arising out of the rental and/or the use of the vehicle.

If the loss suffered by Autohorn is subsequently reduced (recovery of the vehicle within 60 days, partial or total liability on the part of the third party), you will receive the corresponding reimbursement.

7.1.2      Light damage (valid only if applicable)

Both at check-out and check-in Autohorn will, together with you, record in the rental agreement all visible light damage to a vehicle in compliance with the detailed list of light damages and repair costs displayed at the counter which you hereby acknowledge. At check-out unrepaired damage must appear on the rental agreement with the appropriate signatures by you and Autohorn. At the end of the rental i.e., at check-in, the identification of any new light damage must be added to the rental agreement. Any new light damage will be immediately pointed out to Autohorn, mentioned in the rental agreement, and signed by you and Autohorn. This damage will be charged to you at the repair price mentioned in the list displayed at the counter. Where this option is available, you will approve by signing electronically or by signing the relevant paper document.

These repair costs will be directly billed to you by Autohorn and will include the cost of the damage repair as well as administration charges, immobilisation costs, spare parts, and labour costs. The above-mentioned invoiced repair costs are payable under the same conditions as for the payment of the rental agreement.

Autohorn strongly recommends that you carefully read this information available at counter.

7.2          Summary of the Optional Contractual Guarantees Offered by Autohorn

All the following guarantees are only applicable for the duration of the rental agreement and subject to compliance with the requirements of the terms of section 4.

You acknowledge that you have read and understood the following summary of the terms relating to optional Exoneration and/or Limitation of Liability (“ELL”) guarantees and that you may elect to choose any of the optional ELL guarantees by so indicating on the rental agreement.

7.2.1      CDW (Collision / Damage Waiver):

If chosen and indicated in the rental agreement or if included in the rate, this facility will limit your liability for any damage to the Vehicle which is not otherwise recovered from a third party, subject to the Non-Waivable Charge. Exceptions to this regulation may apply in some countries.

7.2.2      NWC (Non-Waivable Charge):

Fixed amount charged for every rental for which CDW has been taken out and where the Vehicle is returned damaged, and the repair costs are not recovered from a third party. The amount of Non-Waivable charge may vary from time to time. Details are available at time of rental.

7.2.3      P.A.I (PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE):

If chosen and indicated in the rental agreement or if included in the rate, this option provides a financial indemnity for you and passengers (subject to permitted number of occupants in the vehicle) in the event of death or permanent disability. The amounts vary from country to country and may also vary depending on whether an adult or a child is involved. Similarly, Partial Disability may lead to lower payment or to no payment at all if disability percentage is below a certain threshold.

Some countries may also provide reimbursement of medical costs under this option.

The PAI coverage is provided by Insurance Company. The terms and conditions of this coverage are contained in a master policy, a copy of which is available upon request. By accepting the PAI coverage you agree to the terms and conditions of the master policy.

7.2.4      TW / TP (Theft Waiver / Theft Protection):

If chosen and indicated in the enrolment form or if included in the rate, this relieves you of your financial liability in the event of the Vehicle being stolen, except were incurred through negligence and/or breach of contract.

Subscribing to the CDW option alone does not necessarily provide this cover. TW may be mandatory in some countries and is strongly recommended in many countries. It may be subject to a non-waivable charge.

Appendix VI

DATA PROTECTION LAW

Please note that during the performance of the booking as well as the rental process, Autohorn collects some personal data. It is mandatory to provide all the information requested; in the absence of such information, Autohorn will not be able to correctly ensure the booking and/or the rental. Under the French Data Protection Act, you have the right to access, update, correct or delete personal data collected by us. You may correct factual errors in that data by sending a request to us pointing out the error. You should contact our main office in the country in which you reside for information about how to exercise these rights.

To allow us to provide you with effective services, Autohorn may from time-to-time transfer data collected to other companies in the EU or outside the EU. This transfer does not imply any restriction and our privacy policy will be fully applicable. By accepting these General Rental Terms, you hereby authorize Autohorn International to proceed with such a transfer.