According to Louise McBride's column in the Irish Independent newspaper, reading the fine print of a car rental agreement is one of the most essential things a traveller can do before taking a hired car away to the journey.

McBride discovered that in many cases, car rental agreements include information and clauses which may considerably increase the actual price a customer is supposed to pay for a rental vehicle, making it all the more important that renters come to know about their responsibilities and duties, as per this written contract.

Alamo, for example, has a policy that considers customers responsible for all the damages to a rental vehicle, even if the damages are caused due to an accident or collision.

Similar is the situation with Argus Car Rental that also has a brief clause in its rental agreement. It notes that while all its rental prices are inclusive of theft insurance, the additional stands at about €1,089.96.

It is also true with Argus' collision damage waiver. Even though a CDW makes sure that customers need not bear the entire cost of damage to the rental vehicle, after an accident, they still have to pay an additional amount of €919.73.

Even if a CDW may not provide a complete protection and customer still have to pay out an access amount following a collision, it is generally well worth buying this type of cover, if it is not offered in the rental package.