How your quote is calculated

When you book, the price breakdown shows exactly what you're paying for. This article walks through each line so you know how your total is built. Amounts are always shown before you confirm. Nothing is added afterwards.

The security deposit and the insurance line apply to US self-drive bookings only; insurance is offered in the US only. If you're renting outside the US, or booking a chauffeured or event rental anywhere, you won't see either line.

Rental fee

This is the host's charge for the car and the biggest part of most quotes. How it's worked out depends on the rental type:

• Self-drive is priced per day. Some hosts set different rates on specific dates, so a quote can be the sum of each day's rate rather than one flat daily figure.
• Chauffeured is priced by the hour. You book a number of hours and the fee is the hourly rate times the hours. Hosts can also set a minimum booking price for chauffeured hire, so a very short booking is quoted at that minimum rather than the plain hourly maths.
• Event hire is priced per day (the host sets a required daily rate). Hosts can also set an optional hourly rate, which is capped at the daily rate, and an optional minimum booking price for short bookings.

Delivery

If you choose Delivery instead of free pickup, BookAclassic works out the driving distance from where the car is based to your address and adds a Delivery line. Each host sets their own per-mile/kilometre rate and often a minimum charge, and some include a free radius close to the car. See Delivery and airport delivery for the full detail. Chauffeured and event rentals always include the car being brought to you, so there's no separate delivery line for those.

Insurance: US self-drive only

Insurance is offered in the US only. An insurance line only appears on US self-drive rentals; chauffeured and event rentals don't have one, and no insurance line is charged outside the US. See What insurance is included?.

Taxes

Where sales tax applies, currently US bookings, a Tax line is shown. The amount is estimated from the pickup location while you're booking and finalised when your payment is confirmed. Bookings outside the US don't carry a separate tax line unless local rules require one.

Security deposit: US self-drive only

A refundable security deposit (minimum the equivalent of $200) applies to US self-drive bookings only. It's never charged on chauffeured or event rentals, or on any booking outside the US. It isn't part of the amount you pay for the rental; it's secured separately before the trip (typically at the later of the host's approval or 72 hours before start) and released after you return the car without a claim. See Security deposits.

Service fee

A 15% service fee is added to the renter's side of every booking. It's calculated on the rental fee plus any delivery, and covers payment processing, support and the platform. (The host also pays a fee out of their side; see Fees explained.)

Cancellation policy: Flexible vs Non-refundable

At checkout you choose a cancellation policy, and it changes the price. Flexible is the full price, with a full refund if you cancel more than 48 hours before pick-up (no refund within 48 hours). Non-refundable gives you a 10% discount on the rental fee in exchange for no refund if you cancel. Whichever you pick, the effect on your total is shown before you confirm. See Cancelling as a renter.

Discounts: promo codes and Pro member savings

Any discount comes off your total. A promo code applied at checkout shows as its own line. See Promo codes and discount codes. If you're a BookAclassic Pro/subscription member, an automatic member discount on the rental fee may also be applied. Discounts reduce the amount you pay but don't change the deposit.

Currency and exchange rates

Your quote is shown in the car's local market currency. In some markets the amount is charged in a set currency (for example USD or EUR); when that happens we convert your local total at the exchange rate shown, and that rate is locked to your booking at payment. The currency you'll actually be charged in is always shown before you confirm.

What's due now vs later

For a request booking your card is held when you submit and charged only when the host accepts; for Instant Book payment is taken immediately. Where partial payment is available, your total is split: you pay a first amount now and the balance is charged automatically on a scheduled date before pick-up (shown in the breakdown). Otherwise the full total is due when the booking is confirmed. See When am I charged for my booking?.