Do I need to leave a deposit for the rental? The security deposit is standard with all the car rental companies in Cyprus which safeguard the car hire company for any additional costs that may arise during the car rental period. We recommend adding the deposit amount needed to your holiday budget as this is not included in the car rental cost. Have in mind that you will not be able to use this amount during your holidays as this will be kept until hire car return. The security deposit will be fully refunded on hire car return as soon as a member of our staff inspects the rental car and ensures that is returned in its original condition as provided on delivery. The time it takes for the amount to be shown to the renter's account will depend on their banking institution rules and regulations. Normally renters should be able to see the amount in their account in approximately 2 working days. The hire car security deposit can be settled either by cash or bank card (credit or debit) in € currency. The following credit or debit cards are accepted: MasterCard, Visa card, Euro card and Traveller card. A)Renters/drivers of the hire car that drive on the left side of the road (steering wheel on right side) in their country must present as a guarantee on delivery a €350 hire car security deposit until rental car return. B)Renters/drivers of the hire car that drive on the right side of the road (steering wheel on left side) in their country must present as a guarantee on delivery a €700 hire car security deposit as driving in Cyprus is on the left (steering wheel on right side), therefore an extra risk is added to the rental company. C)Renters/drivers of the hire car with driving experience less than 3 years or drivers between 21-24 years of age must present as a guarantee on delivery a €900 hire car security deposit as an extra risk is added to the car rental company.
What is my liability if i damage the car? Unexpected damages that may occur to the hire car without being involved in collision with another vehicle on the public road are NOT covered by the CDW full insurance protection therefore the driver/renter of the hire car becomes responsible with a damage liability up to €900. The charges will be dependent on the actual extent of the damages caused to the hire car or third party. A)Damages occurred to the hire car in car parks, hotel car park etc. B)Damages occurred to the hire car or third party by customers negligence. C)Damages occurred to the hire car by reversing in to a wall or stationary object, crash into a tree etc. D)Damages occurred to the hire car front/back bumpers, side skirts due to high kerbs/road humps. E)Damages occurred to the hire car while driven on unpaved road/no tarmac/trail/off road. Two-wheel drive hire cars are forbidden for off road driving. F)Damages occurred to the hire car interior, car seats, baby safety cars seats, upholstery. G)Damages occurred to the hire car keys which are chip coded and expensive to replace.
In the case that the rental car is returned with damage not recorded on the car rental condition diagram or on the hire car photos taken on delivery date by our representative will be considered as new damages to the rental car and the driver/renter will be held responsible. The photos taken on delivery date are to show the general condition of the rental car before the car rental period begins, which safeguards the customer firstly and the car rental company secondly. In this way the car rental company cannot claim any charges from the customer for any existing previous damages to the hire car. These photos will be forwarded to the customer by email. New damages to the rental car can be verified by comparing the photos taken on hire car delivery date and the photos taken on hire car return date. Most of the hire car damages can be determined by a visual check over the hire car body, hire car interior, hire car tools and accessories. The repairs to the hire car can be completed only by a licensed and authorised repairer (our company will select the repairer) who will carry out quality repairs to the hire car using only genuine parts. For minor damage that do not require the replacement of parts or a panel to the hire car, the repairer, will use a variety of repair tools in order to reinstate the rental car to its original contours. Repairs to the rental car will be carried out in a way to minimise your costs taking into account availability of parts and repairer workload. High customer service is crucial for our car hire company and we are committed to providing the same level of service to each and every one of our customers, therefore we are obliged to repair our hire cars when damaged to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
Can I reduce the damage liability? After various customer requests for an extra safety package our customers have the option to reduce their hire car damage liability and automatically shift a part of their responsibility back to the rental company. In actual fact when your damage liability is reduced it saves you from having to pay out the whole amount of a claim in case of unexpected damages that may occur to the hire car without the rental car being involved in an accident. It's difficult to know what is going to happen during your holidays but there is certainly a value to enjoying peace of mind while travelling. There are 2 options available for your hire car damage liability reduction which you can request on the 3rd step of your online booking. A)Reduce hire car damage liability from €900 to €500 at an extra charge of €5 per day. B)Reduce hire car damage liability from €900 to €350 at an extra charge of €10 per day.
Please be aware that our car rental company will not try to scare any customer into purchasing any extra insurance coverage. Our customers have the right to purchase their own independent car rental excess/damage/travel insurance from any insurance company of their choice. Where the rental company will charge costs as appropriate the renter may reclaim these costs via their individual insurance. A detailed receipt will be given if requested with these costs for the reclaim. You should always have in mind that even if you reduce the hire car damage liability the hire car security deposit is still needed, as there are insurance limitations.
What are the insurance limitations? No insurance cover is provided in the case of: A)If the rental car is driven into the occupied Northern part of Cyprus. B)If the rental car is driven under the influence of alcohol, medication or any other substances. C)If the rental car is driven on unpaved road/non-tarmac/trail/off road which can be unfit for its purpose. Two-wheel drive hire cars are forbidden for off road driving. D)If intentionally trying to damage the hire car. E)If failed to take in mind traffic regulations. F)For lost or total damaged hire car keys which are chip coded and expensive to replace. In this case the customer will be charged for the replacement car key which can cost from €150 to €300 plus any associated transport costs. The charges will be dependent on the actual car key/device. G)For unauthorised hire car driving (drivers not stated on the rental agreement). H)For any unreported accidents or theft to/of the rental car. I)For damages caused to the hire car engine/gearbox/electronics due to customer negligence.
How can I contact you if I need assistance? Our contact details will be given in print on the rental agreement.
In the event that you are disappointed with the hire car provided or service or have any other reason to complain, we will attempt to assist you in order to reach an acceptable resolution before the end of your car rental period. You must immediately contact our car rental company in writing by email on info@elephantrentacar.com and give us the opportunity to deal with your complaint in order to reach a satisfactory settlement for all justifiable complaints regarding your car rental that you may have. Complaints received at the end of your car rental period will not be accepted as you deprive our car rental company of the opportunity to attempt to rectify the complaint, you will therefore forfeit your right to compensation. If you have any complaint regarding any service, we provide you must inform us immediately in writing and in any event within 2 days of the provision of the service in question. We regret we cannot accept any liability if we are not so notified.
Can I have the car delivered to the hotel/villa that I am staying? We are able to deliver 24/7 all over Cyprus as long as you have booked your rental car in advance. If we are delivering at the hotel that you are staying our representative will meet you at the hotel reception hall holding the Elephant rent a car sign and escort you to your hire car. If we are delivering at your holiday villa/apartment our representative will meet you at the street address that you will provide to us on booking.
Our car rental company provides hire cars without damage, however when unforeseen circumstances prevent this and a hire car is rented out with existing damage, this damage will be recorded either on the hire car condition diagram given in print on the car rental agreement or by photos taken from our representative on delivery in the customer presence. The photos taken on delivery are to show the general condition of the rental car before the car rental period begins, which safeguards the customer firstly and the car rental company secondly. In this way the car rental company cannot claim any charges from the customer for any existing previous damages to the hire car. These photos will be forwarded to the customer by email. When a customer signs up for a car rental, they should have all the facts at their fingertips with the exact condition of the hire car on delivery given by photos. Our car rental company will not rent out cars with damage that in anyway causes the rental car unsafe to drive or unfit for its purpose. The driver/renter has the right to refuse to conclude the car rental agreement if the rental car is considered to be unsafe to drive.
How old do I have to be to rent a car? All drivers, main or additional regardless of age are obliged to hold a full valid driving license for at least 3 years. The maximum driver’s age for rental cars in Cyprus is 75 years old and the minimum driver's age is 25 years old. A)Drivers with driving experience less than 3 years are required to pay an extra insurance premium of €10 per day in order to obtain the right to drive the rental car. B)Drivers between 75-90 years old are required to pay an extra insurance premium of €5 per day in order to obtain the right to drive the rental car. C)Drivers between 21-24 years old are required to pay an extra insurance premium of €10 per day in order to obtain the right to drive the rental car.
Can a friend or family member drive my hire car? Additional drivers may obtain the right to drive the rental vehicle at an extra charge of €3 per day. This charge may change according to the driver age and driving experience.
Where will I find you when arriving at the airport? We are able to deliver 24/7 as long as you have booked for your car hire in advance. If we are delivering at the airport our representative will be waiting for you outside the airport arrival hall holding the Elephant rent a car sign and escort you to your hire car.