Consumer protection is inconsistenT. Some companies are fair and transparent; others are less so—rules aren’t standardised.

THE CURRENT SITUATION  ON HOW CAR RENTALS WORKS

  • No national age or total mileage limit for rental cars → Companies decide for themselves how old a car can be or how many kilometres it has.
  • Mileage limits are contractual, not legal → Many rentals have daily or monthly km caps (e.g. 250–300 km/day), and you pay extra if you exceed them.
  • Deposits, cancellations, and extras vary by company→ Deposit amounts, return times, free cancellation, and charges for child seats/GPS depend on company policy.
  • Licensing is general, not sector-specific→ Rental companies operate with standard business licences; there’s no unified national rental registry.

NEW RULES WILL COME INTO FORCE ON 1 JANUARY 2027

New requirements for age, mileage, deposits, and authorisation certificates in the car rental sector.

Age Limit: Vehicles older than 6 years cannot be rented, except classic cars.

Mileage Limit: Petrol and diesel vehicles are limited to 180,000 km, and electric vehicles to 300,000 km.

Maintenance and Damage: Heavily damaged vehicles and vehicles whose periodic maintenance is not completed on time cannot be rented.

Upper Limit \ Deposit Regulations and Refund: For short-term rentals, the deposit amount is capped; the fee must be refunded within 7 days at the latest, and no deductions can be made for ordinary wear and tear.

Certificate Requirements: An authorisation certificate is mandatory for businesses, and training and professional competence requirements have been introduced for their owners.

Fleet Requirement: Depending on the population, businesses are required to maintain a specific number of vehicles.

Cancellation and Expenses: In prepaid rentals, the right to cancellation without penalty is granted up to 24 hours in advance, while expenses such as winter tyres and insurance are included in the rental price.