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From The Times

March 24, 2007

Tread carefully over snow chain hire

Brian Lees paid £66 to Sixt for winter tyres he didn't need... the car hire company explains

Cath Urquhart

I recently returned from a ski trip to Austria where I hired a car through Sixt Car Rental at Munich airport. We arrived at 8.30pm and had a three-hour drive ahead of us. I was asked if I needed snow chains and declined, as I knew there was not much snow at the resort. I was then asked if I needed winter tyres. Coming from the UK where a tyre is a tyre, I was unsure, but thinking of my family’s safety I agreed and signed the documents. I was shocked when, some weeks later, I received an invoice with an additional charge of £66.15 for the winter tyres. Given the car hire was only £190 for six days, the tyre charges seems ridiculously high. Brian Lees, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire

Times Travel editor Cath Urquhart responds: This sounded harsh to me, as it did to Larry Dale Ursich, founder of insurance4carhire.com. He said that in ski resorts you are likely to be offered either snow chains or winter tyres — tyres with studs that make it easier to drive in snow — and, although you might not have needed them in Munich, the car hire firm should have “winterised” cars available and offered one to you at no extra charge.

However, Sixt told me that it made clear when Mr Lees booked that his contract did not include snow chains or winter tyres. At Munich airport, says Sixt, Mr Lees was offered winter tyres and “the additional charge was highlighted by the counter staff”, said a spokesman. “We have a note on our system to state that the cost of the winter tyres was explained to the customer.”

Mr Lees accepts that the charge was legitimate but, like many Times readers, he finds these “extras” an irritation. It would be good to know of car rental firms that offer all “extras” — such as child seats, snow chains, excess insurance — up front so there are no surprises when you collect the car.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association has a brief guide to car hire on its website (www.bvrla.co.uk), and there is more information in The Times Holiday Handbook (£11.50 from The Times BooksFirst, 0870 1608080, www.booksfirst.co.uk). What is your experience? Contact yoursay@thetimes.co.uk.

We almost just had a similar experience. We went to Andorra over Easter and looking at the snow forecast I thought it was possible we may need snow chains. Avis offered these at a cost of 61 Euros; I thought this excessive and declined. Whilst filling up with petrol I noticed the petrol station sold chains for 26 Euros. This is another example of car hire companies seeking to profit unreasonably from their customers.

I also note that some companies charge for driving in France and Andorra, Avis don't. Some companies charge 1.2 Euros per day for an additional driver, Avis charge 7 Euros. How can this be justified?

Alastair Somerville, Feltham, Middx