# Booking a rental car on a comparison site: 7 things in the small print to check first > Comparison sites and brokers often have the lowest prices, but the real rental contract is signed with a local company at the desk. ECC-Net screened 78 online intermediaries in 2022 and found that 55% did not comply with EU consumer law, with unclear insurance information and pre-selected extras among the problems. Before you pay, check the name of the rental company, what the broker's cover pays and what it does not, the deposit, the fuel policy, extras payable at the desk and the cancellation terms. Updated: 2026-10-22 ยท Source: https://scratchfair.com/en/blog/comparison-site-car-rental-small-print The comparison site shows a car for 19 euros a day, with "full protection" for a few euros more. It looks simple. At the desk, there is a 1,500 euro deposit, an insurance offer, and a fuel charge you did not expect. ==A comparison site sells you a booking, while the rental contract itself is made with the company at the desk.== Seven checks before you pay make the difference. ## Why the small print matters here In July 2022, ECC-Net published a screening of 78 online car rental intermediaries. Only 45% complied with EU consumer law. About a third were unclear about how to contact them, nearly half gave unclear information about insurance, and 21% showed pre-selected extras. ECC Austria adds that the actual rental contract is usually signed on-site with the local company. So what you see on the booking page is only part of the deal. ## 1. Find the name of the real rental company The booking site may show a brand logo, but the rental is often run by a local franchise or a smaller company. Look for the supplier's name in the booking summary, and check reviews of that specific location. ECC Germany advises reading independent reviews of the rental company at your destination. ## 2. Read what "full protection" actually is Broker protection is usually excess reimbursement cover: you pay the rental company if there is damage, and the insurer behind the broker pays you back. It does not reduce what the desk can charge you on the spot. Check: - what is covered: tyres, glass, underbody, roof, keys; - what is excluded, and the maximum payout; - who the insurer is and how to claim. Read [how to claim your excess back](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/credit-card/claim-excess-back-from-insurance). ## 3. Check the deposit and the card it needs ECC Malta confirms that insurance bought through a platform does not remove the need for the rental company's pre-authorised deposit. The deposit is often equal to the excess, and many companies require a credit card in the main driver's name. Check the amount and make sure your card limit can carry it. See [how a rental car deposit works](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/credit-card/rental-car-deposit-hold-explained). > [!TIP] > Search the booking terms for "deposit", "excess" and "credit card". Those three words tell you how much will be blocked, how much you risk, and whether your card will be accepted. ## 4. Check the fuel policy ECC Austria calls full-to-full generally the fairest and cheapest policy. Full-to-empty often costs more through service fees or higher fuel prices. The fuel policy is usually listed in the booking details. See [fuel policies explained](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/pick-up/fuel-policy-full-to-full-explained). ## 5. Untick pre-selected extras Go through the booking pages slowly and untick anything you did not choose. ECC-Net found pre-selected extras on one in five screened sites. Look again at the final summary before you pay. ## 6. Find charges payable at the desk Some costs are not in the price you pay online but are payable on arrival: young driver fees, extra drivers, one-way and cross-border fees, out-of-hours fees. They should be listed in the booking terms. Add them up to see the real price. Read [why your rental car costs more than you booked](https://scratchfair.com/en/blog/why-rental-car-bill-is-higher). ## 7. Read the cancellation terms Car rental booked for specific dates has no 14-day withdrawal right under EU law, so the booking terms decide whether you can cancel for free. Note the deadline. See [cancelling a car rental booking](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/rules/cancel-car-rental-booking-rights). > [!WARNING] > Save the final booking page as a PDF before you pay. If the desk later charges for something the booking said was included, that page is your evidence against the broker. ## At the desk Bring the booking voucher, your licence and the card. ECC Austria advises asking for a copy of the contract at pick-up and checking that the insurance matches your online voucher. If the desk insists on extra insurance you already have, you can decline. See [extra insurance at the rental desk](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/pick-up/extra-insurance-at-rental-desk). ## If something goes wrong Split the problem: the broker answers for what it promised in the booking, the rental company for the rental itself. Read [who to complain to when you booked through a broker](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/ecc-and-disputes/booked-through-broker-who-to-complain-to). The [terms check](https://scratchfair.com/en/tools/terms-check) helps you spot unfair clauses before you book. ## FAQ **Is it safe to book through a comparison site?** Yes, many people do so without problems, and ECC Austria notes that comparison sites help you see the market. The key is knowing that the rental contract is signed with the local company, and checking what the broker's cover does and does not do. **Why does the desk still want a big deposit if I bought full protection?** Because the broker's protection usually reimburses you after the event; it does not cover the rental company directly. ECC Malta confirms that platform insurance does not remove the deposit requirement. **Who handles a damage claim if I booked through a broker?** Usually the rental company. Your Europe explains that the rental company is responsible for carrying out the rental contract, unless the contract says otherwise. ## Sources - [ECC-Net: 55% of screened online car rental intermediaries violate EU law (14 July 2022)](https://www.eccnet.eu/news/55-screened-online-car-rental-intermediaries-violate-eu-law) - [Your Europe: Hiring a car](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/driving-abroad/car-rental-abroad/index_en.htm) - [ECC Malta: Newsletter issue 3, 2025 (PDF)](https://eccnetmalta.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ECC-Malta-newsletter-issue-3-2025.pdf) - [ECC Germany: Rental car on holiday, press release (German)](https://www.evz.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/mietwagen-urlaub/) - [ECC Austria: Rental car tips, press release 30 June 2026 (PDF, German)](https://vki.at/system/files/2026-06/2026-06-30_PA_EVZ_Mietwagen.pdf)