Booking Terms

1. Introduction and Acceptance

These Booking Terms ("Terms") govern all vehicle rental bookings made through rentcarwarsaw.com, operated by Rent Car Warsaw, with operations based in Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland. By completing a booking on this website, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms in full.

These Terms apply to all rental transactions regardless of the booking channel used. Accessing the booking flow or submitting a reservation constitutes acceptance of the Terms as they stand at the time of booking. We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time; the version in effect at the time your booking is confirmed will govern your rental agreement.

If you do not accept these Terms, you must not proceed with a booking. For questions before reserving, contact us at [email protected].

2. Eligibility Requirements

Minimum Age

The primary driver must be at least 21 years of age at the time of vehicle collection. Drivers aged 21 to 24 may book most economy and standard vehicle categories; however, a young-driver surcharge applies and will be shown at checkout. Premium, luxury, and large SUV categories are restricted to drivers aged 25 or older.

Additional drivers listed on the rental agreement must also meet the minimum age requirement for the vehicle category selected. Age verification will be conducted at the pickup location in Warsaw, whether at Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), Modlin Airport, or any city location.

Driving Licence Requirements

All drivers must hold a full, valid driving licence that has been held for a minimum of 12 months prior to the rental start date. Licences issued in European Union member states are accepted directly without any additional documentation.

Drivers holding licences issued outside the European Union must present an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their original national licence. The IDP must be the 1949 or 1968 Vienna Convention format. A licence printed in non-Latin script (for example, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic) requires an IDP in all cases.

Polish traffic law and the Road Traffic Act of 20 June 1997 govern driving entitlement on Polish roads. Driving without a valid licence is a criminal offence in Poland and will void all insurance coverage under the rental agreement.

3. Bookings and Cancellation Policy

Making a Reservation

Reservations are made through the online booking widget on this website. Select your pickup and return location, travel dates, vehicle category, and any optional extras. A booking confirmation email will be sent to the address you provide within minutes of completing the reservation. Please retain this confirmation for presentation at vehicle collection.

Bookings are subject to vehicle availability. Submitting a booking request does not guarantee a specific vehicle model; the listed example models (such as a Skoda Fabia, VW Golf, or Hyundai Tucson) are representative of the category only.

Free Cancellation

Cancellations made at least 48 hours before the confirmed pickup time are entirely free of charge. No cancellation fee will be applied and any pre-payment collected will be refunded in full within 5 to 10 business days depending on your payment provider.

Cancellations made within 48 hours of the scheduled pickup time may be subject to a late-cancellation fee equivalent to one rental day. This fee covers operational costs including vehicle preparation and staffing at the pickup location.

No-Show Policy

If the primary driver fails to collect the vehicle within two hours of the confirmed pickup time without prior notice, the booking will be treated as a no-show. A no-show fee equivalent to the full first rental day charge will apply. The vehicle may be released and reassigned to another customer. To avoid this, please contact us by email or phone if your arrival will be delayed.

Modifications

Booking modifications (change of dates, vehicle category, or pickup location) are permitted subject to availability and must be requested at least 24 hours before the original pickup time. Contact us at [email protected] to request a modification. Price differences resulting from changes will be applied at the prevailing rate at the time of modification.

4. Pricing, Payment, and Extras

Currency and Pricing

All prices on this website are displayed in Euros (EUR). The final amount charged may be converted to your local currency by your bank or payment provider at their prevailing exchange rate. Rent Car Warsaw is not responsible for any foreign exchange fees applied by third-party financial institutions.

Quoted rates include the base rental charge, basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) insurance, unlimited mileage, and all applicable Polish VAT at the standard rate. Road tolls, fuel costs, traffic fines, parking charges, and any extras not selected at the time of booking are not included.

No Deposit Policy

Rent Car Warsaw operates a no-deposit model on the majority of bookings. No security hold will be placed on your debit or credit card at the point of booking or at vehicle collection for eligible rentals. Debit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted. For certain premium or long-term rentals, a refundable pre-authorisation may be noted in the booking confirmation; this will be clearly disclosed before you confirm.

Optional Extras

The following extras may be added during booking or at the pickup counter, subject to availability:

• Child seat (infant, toddler, booster): Available on request. Must be selected in advance to guarantee availability, particularly for late-night arrivals at Chopin Airport.
• GPS navigation unit: Available as a daily add-on. Alternatively, smartphone mounts are provided free of charge.
• Additional driver: Any driver listed on the agreement beyond the primary driver incurs a per-day fee. All additional drivers must be present at collection with their licence.
• Full Protection upgrade: Reduces the excess liability to zero. See Section 7 for further details.

Fuel Policy

All vehicles are provided with a full tank of fuel and must be returned with a full tank. If the vehicle is returned with less than a full tank, a refuelling service charge plus the cost of fuel will be deducted from the payment method on file. Fuel type (petrol, diesel, or hybrid) is specified in your booking confirmation. Misfuelling is not covered by insurance and any resulting damage will be charged in full to the renter.

5. Vehicle Use Rules

Permitted Use

The rental vehicle may only be used for lawful personal or commercial purposes on public roads within Poland. Driving into other European countries is permitted with prior written approval from Rent Car Warsaw. Cross-border travel without authorisation will void all insurance coverage. Cross-border one-way drop-offs (for example, returning a vehicle rented in Warsaw to Krakow, Gdansk, or Wroclaw) must be arranged at the time of booking and are subject to a one-way fee disclosed at checkout.

Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited and will render the renter fully liable for all resulting damage, fines, and costs:

• Off-road or unsurfaced-road driving. This includes forest tracks, beaches, and unmaintained rural tracks around the Kampinos National Park or Mazury Lakes region.
• Use of the vehicle in any form of race, rally, speed test, or motorsport event.
• Sub-letting or re-renting the vehicle to any third party.
• Operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any substance that impairs driving ability. Poland enforces a strict legal blood alcohol limit of 0.02% for drivers.
• Using the vehicle to tow any trailer, caravan, or other vehicle unless specifically authorised in writing.
• Smoking inside the vehicle. A deep-cleaning fee applies if evidence of smoking is found on return.
• Transporting animals without an approved carrier. Any damage or soiling caused by animals will be charged to the renter.
• Loading the vehicle beyond its stated maximum payload or passenger capacity.

Traffic Violations and Fines

The renter is solely responsible for all traffic offences, parking fines, toll charges, and camera-enforced penalties incurred during the rental period. Polish road authorities issue fines in PLN (Polish Zloty). If a fine is sent to Rent Car Warsaw after the rental period, we will forward the charge to the renter plus an administrative handling fee. Speed cameras are active on the A1, A2, and S8 motorways around Warsaw.

6. Insurance and Liability

Basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

All rentals include basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) as standard at no additional cost. CDW reduces the renter's financial liability in the event of accidental damage to the rental vehicle. Under basic CDW, an excess (deductible) amount applies, which represents the maximum amount the renter can be charged per damage incident. The applicable excess for your vehicle category is displayed on your booking confirmation.

CDW does not cover damage to tyres, wheels, windscreens, undercarriage, roof, or the vehicle interior unless caused by a verifiable third-party collision. CDW is void if the damage resulted from any prohibited activity listed in Section 5, including driving under the influence or off-road use.

Full Protection Upgrade

Renters may purchase a Full Protection upgrade at the time of booking or at the pickup counter. This upgrade reduces the excess to zero for all accidental damage categories covered by the standard policy. Tyre, windscreen, and undercarriage damage are included under Full Protection. Damage resulting from gross negligence or prohibited activities remains excluded regardless of the protection level selected.

Third-Party Liability

Third-party liability insurance (OC - Ubezpieczenie odpowiedzialnosci cywilnej) is mandatory under Polish law (Act on Compulsory Insurance, the Insurance Guarantee Fund, and the Polish Motor Insurers' Bureau of 22 May 2003) and is included in all rentals. This covers injury or damage caused to third parties during the rental period.

Theft Protection

Theft Protection (TP) reduces the renter's liability in the event of vehicle theft. The renter must report any theft to the Polish Police (Policja) immediately and obtain an official report number. Failure to report the theft or cooperate with the insurer's investigation will void the theft protection coverage.

7. Limitation of Liability

rentcarwarsaw.com operates as a booking platform connecting customers with local vehicle rental providers in Warsaw and the wider Masovian Voivodeship region. While we take all reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of information presented on this website, we cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy of pricing, availability, or vehicle specifications at all times.

To the maximum extent permitted by Polish law and applicable EU consumer protection regulations, Rent Car Warsaw's aggregate liability to any renter for any claim arising from a booking shall not exceed the total amount paid by the renter for the specific rental transaction in question.

We are not liable for indirect, consequential, or incidental losses including but not limited to missed flights, loss of business, or accommodation costs arising from vehicle unavailability, breakdown, or delay. In the event of a mechanical breakdown during the rental period, we will make every reasonable effort to provide a replacement vehicle or roadside assistance as promptly as possible.

8. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Poland. Any disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms or a rental booking that cannot be resolved amicably shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland.

Consumers resident in the European Union retain the right to bring proceedings in the courts of their country of domicile in accordance with applicable EU consumer protection legislation, including Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters.

EU consumers also have access to the European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform for resolving disputes out of court. Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights under Polish consumer law or applicable EU regulations.

9. Contact Information

For all booking enquiries, cancellations, modifications, complaints, or general questions regarding these Terms, please contact us using the details below:

Rent Car Warsaw
Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (859) 961-2952

We aim to respond to all written enquiries within one business day. Our customer support team is available to assist with rentals beginning and ending at Warsaw Chopin Airport, Modlin Airport, and all city-centre and hotel delivery locations across Warsaw.

Last updated: 2025. These Terms supersede all previous versions published on this website.