Short answer: the 10 tips you should know before renting a car are: choose the right car for your needs, book early, check the age and licence requirement on the car card, read the damage covers, learn the fuel and mileage rules, request extras in advance, read the rental conditions, plan the rental period correctly, confirm the contact details, photograph the car at collection and know the cancellation rule. At Saw Rent A Car we have put these tips together, each with its counterpart in the rental conditions, so that you protect your budget and the rental goes smoothly.
Article numbers refer to the SAW Rent A Car rental conditions; the vehicle handover form and the contract you sign at rental are what count. For questions, contact our customer service (WhatsApp/phone 0850 304 94 30).
| Tip | What to do | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Tip 1 · Car choice | Choose the class by people, luggage and route | Car card |
| Tip 2 · Early booking | Book as soon as the dates are fixed | Booking screen |
| Tip 3 · Age and licence | Check the car's age and licence requirement | Car card |
| Tip 4 · Covers | Read what is covered and what is not | Rental conditions art. 6.2 |
| Tip 5 · Fuel and mileage | Learn the handover level and the km limit | Vehicle handover form |
| Tip 6 · Extras | Request a baby seat, extra driver and similar in advance | Customer service |
| Tip 7 · Conditions | Read the contract before you sign | Rental conditions |
| Tip 8 · Duration | Compare rates by number of days | Booking screen |
| Tip 9 · Contact | Save the number, add your flight details | Booking confirmation |
| Tip 10 · Handover and cancellation | Photograph the car, know the cancellation rule | Handover form · cancellation rules |
Before renting a car, decide what kind of car you need. Do you want a small economy car, a spacious family car or a luxury car? Choosing the right car with its purpose in mind avoids unnecessary costs.
Saw Rent A Car Tip: by comparing different cars side by side on the booking screen, you can easily find the car that suits your needs.
Booking early lets you rent at more favourable prices. Booking as soon as possible once your travel dates are set means you can choose the car you want and are not affected by prices rising in the busy season. During holidays, summer and the ski season, finding a car in the same class becomes hard at the last minute.
Saw Rent A Car Tip: book before your trip so you do not miss early-booking opportunities; if your plans change, remember the free cancellation rule (tip 10).
Minimum age and licence period depend on the car: some cars can be rented at 21 with a 2-year licence, while upper segments require 25–27 years of age and 5–7 years of licence. The requirement for the car you choose is shown on its card on the booking screen.
Everyone who will drive the car must be named on the handover form. Under article 6.10 of the rental conditions, covers become invalid if the car is driven by someone not named in the contract or by a driver who does not meet the age and licence requirement. For young driver conditions and fees, contact our customer service (WhatsApp/phone).
When renting a car, do not forget to review your cover options. Cover protects you in case of an accident, theft and damage, but every cover has a scope and items it excludes. Choosing the cover that suits you protects your budget when the unexpected happens.
At SAW Rent A Car, the extra damage covers are described in article 6.2 of the rental conditions. Read the scope and terms of the cover carefully, because some covers come at an extra charge. For what to do in an accident and who pays for damage, read the rental conditions; for scope and the excess amount, ask our customer service.
Car rental companies apply different fuel policies. In the most common one you return the car at the same fuel level you collected it at; returning it with less fuel can mean an extra fuel charge. Under article 4.10 of the rental conditions, the car's fuel, parking, HGS, OGS, motorway and bridge tolls and traffic fines are paid by the renter.
Saw Rent A Car Tip: check the fuel level and the mileage limit on the handover form before you collect the car, and top up to the same level before returning it. For tolls, our 2026 bridge and motorway tolls article helps you plan your road budget.
Services such as navigation, baby seats, an extra driver and delivery to an address are charged extra and can turn into an unexpected cost at the last minute. You can keep your budget under control by avoiding extras you do not need. Request the ones you do need during booking or from our customer service in advance.
Saw Rent A Car Tip: ask about the price of extra services in advance and request only what you need. For the list and rules of extras, see our guide to extra equipment in car rental; delivery to a hotel or address is charged, contact our customer service to arrange it.
Read the contract carefully before renting a car and do not sign without understanding the conditions. Knowing the rental period, extra fees, handover conditions and other details helps you avoid surprise charges. The deposit depends on the car; for the amount and the refund process, see our guide to the car rental deposit.
Saw Rent A Car Tip: review the contract terms carefully and contact the rental company about anything that is unclear. If you do not have a credit card, our car rental without a credit card page explains how to proceed through customer service.
The rental period directly affects your cost. A rental of a few days is charged at the daily rate; longer rentals are usually cheaper per day. At SAW Rent A Car, rentals of 8–29 days are charged at the weekly rate and rentals of 30 days and more at the monthly rate. Compare the rates for the length of your trip; planning the return a day too short can cost more than it saves if you then face an extra charge for a late return.
Saw Rent A Car Tip: for longer rentals, compare the weekly and monthly rates on the booking screen and weigh the price advantage against the length of your trip.
Before renting, confirm the car rental company's contact details. If something goes wrong during your trip, having the right contact channel is important for a quick solution. Add your flight number to the booking and let us know if you are delayed.
Saw Rent A Car Tip: you can easily reach Saw Rent A Car customer service by WhatsApp and phone (0850 304 94 30) and get support when you need it. All 16 of our pick-up points offer meet and greet at the terminal; in Istanbul you can start from our Sabiha Gokcen Airport car rental and Istanbul Airport car rental pages.
When collecting the car, check the outside and inside carefully. Look for scratches, dents, rim damage or missing equipment and have them written on the handover form; article 4.3 of the rental conditions states that the car is handed over with the handover form. That way you will not face an extra charge for damage that is not yours after you return the car.
Plans can change; knowing the cancellation rule in advance keeps you from losing out. Under article 4.2 of the rental conditions, the cancellation rules published on the site on the booking date apply. Saw Rent A Car Tip: at SAW Rent A Car you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before pick-up; this flexible cancellation rule gives our customers more peace of mind. For the airport handover and return steps, see our guide to vehicle delivery and return at the airport.
The opposite of the tips are the most common mistakes: a booking left to the last minute, a contract signed without reading, collecting the car without photos and a miscalculated rental period. We cover these mistakes with examples in our separate article on the most common mistakes when renting a car.
It depends on the car: some cars can be rented at 21 with a 2-year licence, while upper segments require 25–27 years of age and 5–7 years of licence. The requirement for the car you choose is shown on its card on the booking screen.
Look at the car class, the age and licence requirement, the cover scope, the fuel and mileage rules, the price of extras and the cancellation rule. When collecting the car, take photos and a video and have any damage written on the handover form.
Yes. At SAW Rent A Car you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before pick-up. Under article 4.2 of the rental conditions, the cancellation rules published on the site on the booking date apply.
Under article 4.10 of the rental conditions, fuel, parking, HGS, OGS, motorway and bridge tolls and traffic fines are paid by the renter.
Have the damage written on the handover form and photograph it. Article 4.3 of the rental conditions states that the car is handed over with the handover form; damage not on the form can lead to a dispute at return.
Yes. At SAW Rent A Car, rentals of 8–29 days are charged at the weekly rate and rentals of 30 days and more at the monthly rate; the cost per day usually falls compared with a short rental.
An extra driver and a baby seat are extras; request them during booking or from our customer service (WhatsApp/phone 0850 304 94 30) in advance. Everyone who will drive the car must be named on the handover form.
