EuropCar - Safaris direct Policies
Safaris direct / EuropCar only provides the newest, cleanest cars for your rentals.
At Safaris direct / EuropCar we take pride in our fleet and the variety and quality of vehicles that we offer our customers.
We ensure the best in quality and safety through the constant renewal of our fleet.
The average age of our vehicles is between four and eight months. Each vehicle is inspected and cleaned at the end of every rental whilst regular servicing follows manufacturer recommendations.
The above ensures the quality of our vehicles and the safety of our clients. To further ensure safe rentals, EuropCar / Safaris direct abides by the following policies and regulations, in accordance with safe driving principles and South African law.
Please take note of the following policies and regulations. All clients need to comply with these policies and regulations, to qualify for a Safaris direct vehicle hire.
1. Minimum age requirement for renters
• Vehicles are only rented to drivers over the age of 23, unless by special arrangement. Where a young driver (under the age of 23) wishes to rent a vehicle, or where a young driver will be driving the rented vehicle, that driver will be required to produce proof that he/she has been in possession of a valid, unendorsed driver's license for a minimum of two years.
• Where a young driver rents a vehicle, there will be a daily young driver's surcharge of R100 per young driver per day.
2. Driver's License
• The renter must be in possession of a valid, unendorsed driver's license.
• The renter's type of driver's license must match the type of vehicle rented. A driver qualified to drive automatic vehicles only, will not qualify to rent a vehicle with manual transmission.
• The renter's driver's license must be valid. Expired driver's licenses will not be accepted.
• Driver's licenses with endorsements will not be accepted. EuropCar / Safaris direct is obliged to ensure the safety of its vehicles by only accepting rentals from drivers whose licenses have not been endorsed with penalty points.
• Drivers under the age of 23 must be able to prove that they have been in possession of a valid, unendorsed driver's license for a minimum of two years.
• International driver's licenses must be in English.
3. Renter Identification
• All renters will be required to produce a valid form of identification. Local clients will be asked to produce their Identification Document. International clients will be asked to produce their passports.
• All forms of identification produced must be legal and valid. Expired forms of identification will not be accepted.
• EuropCar / Safaris direct staff are obliged, and reserve the right, to check/ question identification documents that appear inauthentic, fraudulent or suspicious in any way.
4. Payment Verification
Safaris direct is obliged, and reserves the right, to verify all methods of payment, and to ensure payment by renters. Prior to rental, the renter must give authorization that he/ she is liable for the following
costs:
• excess, should the car be damaged
• all rental costs
• fuel used.
4.1. Credit cards
• The signature on the renter's contract must match the signature on the reverse of the renter's credit card.
• The renter must supply Safaris direct with his/ her CVC number. This number will be captured in brackets next to the abovementioned authorization code.
• Credit card imprints must be clear.
• Credit card imprints must appear clearly on both the original Rental Agreement, and any copies issued.
• Handwritten credit card details will not be accepted.
• Credit cards must be valid. Where a renter's card is due to expire during the rental period, he/ she must produce his/ her new credit card.
4.2. Locally Issued Vouchers
• Locally issued vouchers must be valid. Validity will be checked by Safaris direct staff. Where a voucher is found to be invalid, the prospective renter will not be allowed to rent a EuropCar / Safaris direct vehicle.
• Where the client is unable to produce a locally issued voucher, Safaris direct will contact the relevant travel agent, company or tour operator. If the client is still unable to receive his/ her voucher, he/ she will not be able to pay by locally issued voucher and will be requested to provide alternative means of payment.
4.3. External Vouchers
• Renters wishing to pay by external voucher must be in possession of a valid account. EuropCar / Safaris direct staff reserve the right to check whether the renter has a valid account.
• Where the account is shown to pose a risk to EuropCar / Safaris direct, the client will not be allowed to rent a vehicle.
• If the renter is shown to be a bad debtor, or his/ her company is shown to be a bad debtor, or where his/ her company has gone into liquidation, the client will not be allowed to rent a vehicle. If the client is shown to have no credit facilities, he/ she will also not be allowed to rent a vehicle from EuropCar / Safaris direct.
4.4. EuropCar International Vouchers and Charge Cards
• Where a card or voucher is blacklisted, Safaris direct South Africa will be advised by EuropCar International, and the client will not be allowed to rent a vehicle.
• Where bookings have been made via the renter's country of origin, the voucher/ card will automatically be considered to be verified at the reservation stage.
• Where the client wishes to rent directly from Safaris direct Southern Africa, EuropCar International will be contacted for verification, or an alternative form of payment will be requested.
• Safaris direct staff are obliged, and reserve the right, to check the following:
• that the card/ voucher is still valid (has not expired)
• that the card/ voucher has been stamped by the issuer
• that the signature on the Rental Agreement matches the signature on the voucher/ card
• that the renter and card holder are the same person.
• The renter may be asked to provide his/ her credit card as additional security, even where the voucher is a full credit voucher.
5. Daily Rental Charges
• Daily rental charges are calculated on a 24 hour cycle.
• Should a renter exceed his/ her rental period, he/ she will be charged for an additional day.
• Should a renter extend his/ her rental period without permission, waivers will no longer apply.
• Fuel is not included in the rental fee. Renters will receive a vehicle with a full tank of fuel. Thereafter, the renter is liable for the cost of all refills. An alternative is presented in the fuel purchase option, which allows the renter to purchase fuel upon renting the vehicle. Should the renter choose this option, he/ she will not have to pay for a full tank of fuel upon returning the vehicle.
• Airport surcharges are calculated at 8% of the daily time and kilometre revenue in South Africa and at 7% of the daily time and kilometre revenue in Namibia.
• The tourism levy is is a government levy and the funds are used towards increasing tourism to South Africa. The levy is charged at 1% of the daily time and kilometre revenue.
• The contract fee for the Renter's Agreement is charged at R25.
• Our vehicles are pre-allocated and we are often forced to turn away a potential client due to a lack of availability. For this reason, if a client fails to cancel a booking, a no-show fee is charged at R250.
Should you agree to hire a vehicle from Safaris direct, this indicates compliance with the above policies and regulations. Our policies have been compiled in accordance with South African laws, and with the principles of safe driving in mind. We trust that you will have a safe, pleasant travel experience with Safaris direct.
