Avoid rental car nightmares

  • Published
  • By Maj. Robert Chatham
  • 39th Air Base Wing Legal Office
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  As we are mid-stride into Permanent Change of Station season, many of Incirlik's finest rent cars in order to maintain a sense of mobility and avoid being out in the sweltering heat on base.

While most of us have good experiences renting cars here in Turkey, the experience has the potential to turn very bad if not approached with appropriate caution. The quickest way for the experience to turn sour is to get in an accident with a car you've rented or incur damage to it in some other way and be underinsured or not insured at all.

Most of the companies and individuals renting cars in the Incirlik area represent or give the impression that the automobile will be fully insured by the rental company. However, this isn't always the case. Some Airmen have made this assumption and then were stuck with the bill for damages - or even worse, sued in Turkish court for $10,000 or more.

Some of the most precarious rental situations occur when Airmen rent from a gardener, maid, nanny or some other "independent" contractor. Although they may offer a "sweet" deal, they are usually flying solo and may not have adequate or proper insurance on the vehicle to cover it in the case of damage. This can be very deceiving as the individual often uses a local rental car company's rental agreement to conduct the transaction.

Even when renting from a company, rather than an individual, it pays to be cautious about the amount of coverage actually provided. We recommend asking around and going with a reputable company. Make sure the person you rent from is an actual employee of the company. You should get a clear answer as to the amount of coverage the company will provide on the vehicle. You should also document the conversation and keep the paperwork - doing so allows legal to help you out in a dispute and highlight any bad business practices on the part of a rental car company.

Ultimately, the only sure way to guarantee you won't get stuck with a damage bill when renting a car in Turkey is to carry adequate insurance. Companies like United Services Automobile Association will usually cover their customers when driving rental cars - but check to be sure. The base legal office standing by to help and would be happy to review rental contracts before you sign on the dotted line. Call 676-6800 to make a legal assistance appointment.