A new report has laid bare the risks Irish consumers face when hiring a car overseas. But what can be done to keep people and their finances secure?Start at the beginning: Have new problems with hiring cars overseas been identified?These are by no means new, but a report from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has revealed the problems are definitely continuing, with as many as 43 per cent of Irish consumers who rented cars overseas last year reporting issues with their rental while abroad. What kind of issues? According to the CCPC, the top issues reported had to do with long wait times before pick-up, hidden fees and cars not being as described. Its research suggested that 31 per cent paid more than they originally expected while 27 per cent experienced issues with hidden fees.What kind of unexpected charges and hidden fees?Charges such as tolls, fuel charges and late fees can drive up costs significantly, the CCPC said. It also urged motorists to check the fuel policy in their rental agreements and it stressed the need for people to give themselves enough time when leaving cars back so they are not hit with penalty late fees. [ Have your say: Have you had trouble with holiday car rentals?Opens in new window ]Were there any other significant issues identified?A key area where people can be caught out is the means by which they make the booking. The CCPC research found it was still a requirement in most cases that people paid security deposits with credit cards rather than debit cards. People who make a booking using a debit card can often find the booking is cancelled on the spot if they show up without a credit card.Why is that?Put simply it is easier for car hire companies to secure money on a credit card, so they are less likely to be out of pocket should you damage the car. Is there anything else I should consider when hiring a car?The first thing to consider is if you actually need a car at all. Check the public transport options in your destination and remember that with the advent of taxi booking apps, Uber and the like it has never been easier to move around without hiring a car.Do an online search before you book and check customer service ratings If I am booking where should I be looking?There are the big car hire companies as well as smaller ones and there are online brokers to help you find the best deal. Aggregators such as Skyscanner.ie or zestcarrental.com are probably your best bet as they can search dozens of car-hire companies as well as brokers and travel agents and allow you to filter the search results based on fuel policy, air conditioning, transmission, pick-up, car size and a lot more. Take care with the terms and conditions and tot up how much extras – booster seats, additional drivers and so on – will cost. Always do an online search about the car-hire companies you are considering to see how they rate when it comes to customer service. What else can I do to ensure I am not one of the 40 per cent in the CCPC report next year?Make sure the car hire company has your flight details. And make sure you let them know if your flight is delayed and you are going to miss your pick-up time. The CCPC report noted that people could have their booking cancelled because their flight was delayed. Many companies have a six-hour window for you to collect, but if you don’t do it in that time frame and don’t let them know then you are going to be taking the risk that they cancel your booking. In the worst-case scenario they can try to keep your booking money too. There seems to be an issue with insurance?Many car hire companies sell super-collision-damage-waiver insurance when consumers are picking up the car. It is a double-edged sword. It can be very bad value for money, adding hundreds of euro to the typical cost of car rental. But having it will save far more money if you drive into a bollard or have a puncture. It does mean the hire company won’t freeze a fairly hefty deposit on a credit or debit card. What should I do when I get into the car?Check it inside and out for any damage and film the inside and outside and email the footage to yourself so you have incontrovertible proof of the state of the car at pick-up. If you spot some damage and choose to ignore it, there is little you will be able to do to stop the car-hire company blaming you for the damage after the fact and taking the money from your credit card.What happens if I return when the car hire company is closed?Try hard not to do that and make sure you have the car inspected by an employee and get the fact that the car is being returned in good working order in writing and signed by a rep from the company. If you must return the car outside working hours or are in a mad dash to make your flight then take pictures of the car when it has been parked in the designated area and use your phone to record a 90-second video. Finally, once I am on the plane home it is all finished?No. Some car-hire companies can add charges to your credit card weeks – even months – after you get home, so you will need to be vigilant about fuel payments, excess charges and the like.Have you had trouble with holiday car rentals? Let us know what your experience has been by filling out the form below.