9. FAQ

9.1. Driver Age

Why is it important to send the driver age in the getVehAvailRate request?

The majority of car rental suppliers apply a fee (Young Driver – or Senior Driver Surcharge) to young drivers (mostly under the age of 25) and senior drivers (mostly older than 65). This can vary depending on country and car rental supplier. The amount of the fee will be returned in the getVehAvailRate response per car rental supplier offer but ONLY if the age of the driver is sent in the getVehAvailRate request before.

If the driver age is not sent no young or senior driver surcharge can be returned which can lead to the situation that the customer (in case he is a young or senior driver) has to pay a fee at the rental location he was not made aware about.

Please find more details here: Setting Driver’s Age (mandatory)

9.2. Rate Details

What is the sense of sending the point of sale in getVehAvailRate request?

Some car rental companies provide different rates for different point of sales. Thus, it is essential to send the POS (source market) of the customer in the getVehAvailRate request so that the correct rates will be returned. As per API documentation you will need to send the node ISOCountry twice, as first instance sends the language and second instance sends the point of sale (source market).

Please find more details here: Setting Source Country (mandatory)

How do I read out the different rate packages correctly and what is the best way to display them?

Car rental companies are sending us different rate inclusions and we differentiate them in 3 different packages which we name as „Bronze“, „Silver“ and „Gold“ in the API. You are not obliged to adopt these names from our API – just use them as an identifier for the rate packages and name them like you think it’s best for you.

Please find more details here: Different rate packages

How can net and gross rates be differentiated in the API?

The majority of our car rental suppliers are providing us net rates but some are only working with gross rates. Gross rates are fixed rates from the car rental company which are not allowed to be modified as they have to be sold like they are received from the car rental company. If a client partner is working with a mixed model (net rates and gross rates) it is essential to differentiate between them.

Please find detailed information here: Net Rates vs. Gross Rates

9.3. Reservation

What data is mandatory to finalize the reservation?

Not all our car rental suppliers work the same way. Some need more detailed and some need less detailed customer data to confirm the car rental reservation. To guarantee that all bookings get confirmed several values need to be filled before sending the reservation request to the car rental company. If you are generally not asking your customers about all these data it would be enough to fill all fields apart from gender, first name, last name, email address and birth date with random data as they will not be used.

Please find detailed information here: Request

What is the procedure of test reservations?

All test reservations shall have the surname „test“ and a lead time of 2 weeks prior to pick-up. Test reservations in the staging as well as in the production environment are sent to car rental company’s reservation system. If the name „test“ is used as surname and the email address testcheck@carnect.com the reservations will automatically get cancelled every 24 hours.

Please find detailed information here: Test reservations

Is it mandatory to enter a flight number for completing a reservation?

No, it is not mandatory but recommend. In case the customer arrives by plane it is preferred to enter the flight number so that the car rental company knows when exactly the flight shall arrive. In case of any delay they will wait for the customer with the reserved car at the rental station. Please find detailed information here: Reservation

9.4. Cancellation

What is the cancellation policy that we display and where do we get the information from?

The general Carnect cancellation fee is as follows: Up to 48hours before pick-up, cancellation free of charge. Within 48hours prior to pick-up and in the event of a no-show 100% of the sales price will be charged.

Please keep in mind that this is the agreed cancellation policy between us (Carnect) and you (client partner). If you wish to display another policy towards your customer you are welcome to do so.

Please find detailed information here: Cancellation Fee

9.5. Terms & Conditions

Where do I receive information about terms and conditions and what formats do you support?

For every offer from every car rental company a product information will be returned in the getVehAvailRate response. This document is available in pdf or json format and it includes the following information:

  • Rental price inclusions

  • Additional features / extras

  • Damage, Collision and theft protection

  • Full protection (if applicable)

  • Security deposit for the car

  • Minimum and maximum driver age

  • Compulsory documentation

  • Driving license

  • Additional driver

  • Cancellation policy

  • Fuel information

  • Grace period

  • Location opening hours

  • After hour fee

  • Cross border travel

The product information is sent in the getVehicleAvailrate response.

Please find an example here: Product Information

9.6. Insurance

What does the ancillary insurance (full protection) cover?

Our partner RentalCover.com will cover for out of pocket expenses when things go wrong.

Full details on the insurance can be found here: Insurance

9.7. Extras

How do I calculate the prices for the additional services/extras?

Calculations for additional services like baby seats, GPS etc can differ per car rental supplier. Prices can be per day or per rental. Thus, please pay special attention to the description and values returned in the raterule response. Please find more details here: PricedEquip