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Can I recover car hire costs after arriving later than booked?

1 reply

TheWildZebra · 02/06/2026 20:49

Hi all

looking for some advice as not sure how to proceed to recoup some money I recently lost, if it’s even possible.

we booked car hire at a European airport vita booking.com and when we arrived there, the car hire firm had given our car away and there were no others available. We were told we would be refunded but have not been. here’s the rub: fine print of the car hire company says that if you’re more than 1.5h late, then they can give up your vehicle to another customer. I stupidly put the wrong flight time on the booking form, which meant we landed 2h after the originally stated time.

we had to hire another car at 3x the cost at another company, which we paid directly.

in total we spent nearly £1000 on car hire for 3 days across both companies.

I feel really angry, because I know it’s my fault not to have checked the fine print, but they will have made a killing from rehiring that car to some else, yet I’ve not been refunded? Booking.com have closed the case saying no refund due.

I was in a total flap when I arrived at the airport. I was travelling with my disabled dad who was having a meltdown in the heat and I didn’t think to either - call booking.com in the first instance or get in writing that they would issue a refund. I just wanted to get him comfortable and didn’t think of any of the rational things I would’ve told someone else to do in the circs.

does anyone have any suggestions? Is this something that insurance would cover? Do they cover being an airhead??

Thanks all!

OP posts:
didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 02/06/2026 21:25

I think the only way you might get money is if you have put the flight number or if you kick up a massive fuss. Sorry, crap situation.

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