What Happens If I Get A Flat Tyre In A Hire Car?

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Rental suppliers do pre-rental checks before the car will go on hire to the next customer. Included in the pre-check is ensuring the tyres are in good condition. If any damage is found on the tyre, car rental companies will replace with new tyres, they do not repair punctures.

This means if you do end up in a situation where you have a rental car and you have a flat tyre, this has happened while the car is on rent and is not covered under the standard breakdown assistance cover that is included in the rental, so a call out would be chargeable.

The best course of action is to use the spare wheel if the car has one, or use the puncture foam kit which will be provided should the car not have a spare wheel. You can then take to any tyre place and purchase a new tyre, however it Must be the exact same make / model of tyre.

If you have purchased the optional, additional insurance to cover the tyres. You can contact the rental company and they will advise you as to which garage to take the car to, the tyre will be replaced and billed back to the rental company. If you do not have any additional insurance cover the cost to replace the tyre then it is the responsibility of the driver or the person named on the rental agreement.

If you are unsure you can always call and query with the supplier or refer to your rental agreement which will confirm if any additional cover was opted for at the rental desk.

What Happens If I Get A Flat Tyre In A Hire Car? FAQs

How can I ensure I am not charged if getting a flat tyre in a hire car?

There are a few options open to you, firstly you need to understand that the rental company would hold your responsible and look to levy a charge for the replacement tyre. You can opt at the front end of the rental to take extra protection against the tyres thus meaning if you damage one you would not be left paying a fee, you pay for this peace of mind though. The alternative to this is you take our car hire excess coverage, if you were to get a flat tyre, the cost could be reclaimed through this policy, you are not left out of pocket for an unfortunate mishap. Indigo Car Hire promotes the use of excess refund polices and our team would be happy to point you in the direction of a trusted partner we would with.

Would I be changed a call out fee for a hire car if I got a flat

Again the answer to this all depends on the level coverage you have on the insurance, when renting with the basic level of cover, for anything that is non mechanical related a call out charge would be levied, there are always options to cover yourself in case of this eventuality, like most things insurance related it is a balance of risk and reward, pay the extra fee for full protection, get peace of mind, but balance that will the probabilities of you needing to use it.

If any advice is needed, you can always reach out to one of the team at Indigo

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09 July
Debit Card Car Booking

The help we received at Indigo car hire was the best we could have asked for. They were clear in what we needed to do to get the booking that we required and were very helpful and friendly. Everything was made clear to us from the start and we were left happy with what was booked.
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20 June
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20 June
Car hire

We booked a hire car. When we first contacted them about a month ago we didnt have final details but they did their best to give us the hire prices info at the time. We finally got all info together today and when we got in touch with the guys they still had our details so we didnt have to go through it all again. So big thanks to Matt, Cherie and Connor, they
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05 June
Easiest Car Hire Ever

Was looking to rent a car for a week but struggled due to not having a credit card. My friend recommended indigo as there one of the only companies that accept debit cards. Connor was amazing and arranged everything for me with in minutes. No extra charges for not having a credit card like other companies or need for proof of payslips ects. Such a easy process. Will definitely use again
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05 June
Car rental with a Debit Card

Very helpful and nice people to talk with!
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09 May
Outstanding Customer Care

I had an issue with a booking and called the care line and was connected to Cherie. From the moment she picked up the phone till my situation was sorted out a few weeks later, there wasn’t a single moment were I didn’t feel treated like a valued customer. She truly embodies what customer service is about. She gave me great advice, connected me to the WhatsApp chat for easier communication, and was always
Michael
15 April
Fast efficient service

Matt took my phone call and got back to me in short order with 3 quotes that gave me some options to consider. I went with his first option as it did tick all our boxes. We had a confirmation email very soon after that with the rental firm we had preferred and a suitable vehicle. Thanks Matt!
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14 April
Amazing Service

I had a unique situation which meant renting a car was difficult yet indigo made it happen and were at my beckon and call. Honestly blown away by the service and the prices. Was handled by Sam, who was amazing throughout. Thanks
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11 April
Dublin airport

Booked with indigos today hassle free and great service operator was so friendly and thorough

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Do I need to pass a credit check if using my debit card to hire?

If renting a car in the UK and you are a UK resident most of the large multinational suppliers will carry out an electronic address check to ensure you have strong enough links to the address provided. However most of the suppliers with the exception of 1 or 2, still carry out the same checks so not unique to when you need to hire via a debit card. Key indicator are if you are named on the Electoral Register and named on the council tax bill.

When renting a car overseas as an inbound client our suppliers do not carry out any checks.

Do I need to leave a deposit if hiring with a debit card?

Most suppliers do require a security deposit when renting a car, in the UK we have a range of options. The best value suppliers would request a £200.00 – £300.00 deposit. However we do have selected locations where our supplier does not require any deposit, so a full zero deposit.

In Europe we have options where you can just leave a fuel deposit of 110 EUR, and there is no mandatory requirement to take the Super Cover as this can be the case with some of the smaller budget suppliers.