Pickup paperwork, deposits, cancellation and age rules for three car-rental platforms — every cell taken from the platform's own terms, not from its marketing.
Three platforms, six questions, one table. Everything below is quoted or paraphrased from the terms each company publishes; where a term page and a marketing page disagree, the term page wins (we flag those cases in the notes).
Discover Cars
Car rental comparison — an intermediary, not the rental company
terms 1.5
Rentcars
Car rental comparison — an intermediary, not the rental company
terms preamble
Auto Europe
Car rental comparison — a disclosed agent for rental companies, not the rental company; the rental agreement is signed locally with the supplier
terms 2, 21
Discover Cars
A printed or electronic voucher (depending on the rental company), the main driver's licence, an International Driving Permit where the company asks for one, an ID or passport, and a card in the same name as the licence with enough funds for the deposit
terms 5.2
Rentcars
A printed voucher, the original licence covering the whole rental (screenshots, photos and copies are refused), an original passport where the destination requires one, and a physical credit card in the main driver's name
terms 1.2, 2.3.3, 2.4.4, 2.4.5
Auto Europe
The voucher, a physical credit card in the main driver's name, a licence held for at least a year, and an International Driving Permit whenever the licence is not in the Roman alphabet
terms 4, 13
Discover Cars
Taken by the rental company, never by Discover Cars: it covers the insurance excess, fines, tolls and refuelling, and the hold usually lapses within three weeks of the rental ending
terms 3.15, 3.17
Rentcars
Blocked on the main driver's own credit card for the whole rental — no prepaid, virtual or contactless cards, and some rental companies also refuse cards from digital banks
terms 2.3.3, 2.4.4
Auto Europe
Blocked or charged by the rental company on the renter's international credit card at pick-up; the physical card must be presented, and debit cards are generally not accepted
terms 4
Discover Cars
No cash back — Booking Credit that expires after three years and cannot be used at the counter: full amount up to 48 hours before pickup, only the Full Coverage part inside 48 hours, nothing once the pickup time has passed
terms 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6, 6.14
Rentcars
Cancelling before the scheduled pickup may cost 20% of the total booking; if the rental company also charges a retention fee only the higher one is taken, and a cancelled booking cannot be reinstated
terms 6.2, 6.3.1, 6.5
Auto Europe
No cancellation fee when Auto Europe is told at least 48 hours before the rental starts; no refund is possible inside 48 hours
terms 20
Discover Cars
No refund for unused hours or days if you collect late or return early, and you must tell them straight away if you will not collect the car or a no-show fee can apply
terms 6.5, 6.7
Rentcars
Late pickup is held for 59 minutes in Brazil and 29 minutes elsewhere, or until the branch closes; some companies allow no grace period, and a no-show or a turn-down is charged at 20% of the booking
terms 8.2.1.1, 8.2.1.2, 9.2, 10.2
Auto Europe
No refund of unused days if you do not show up, arrive more than two hours late without contacting Auto Europe, or return the car early; a late return can be charged extra hours at local rates
terms 19, 20
Discover Cars
The published terms set no minimum age — they defer to the rental company's conditions, which appear on the voucher
terms 4.4, 5.2.6
Rentcars
Minimum 21 in Brazil and 25 abroad; foreign rentals need a licence issued at least two years earlier, digital licences are not accepted abroad, and an International Driving Permit is mandatory in nine European countries
terms 2.3.1, 2.4.1, 2.4.2, 2.4.3
Auto Europe
Every rental supplier sets a minimum age and some also a maximum, for the main and any additional driver; Auto Europe does not publish the numbers, they sit on the voucher
terms 13, 14
None of the three owns a fleet. They differ in how much they tell you: Auto Europe and Rentcars publish exact fees and grace periods, Discover Cars refunds credit instead of cash, and only Rentcars publishes how long a late arrival is held.
Every cell above traces back to these pages, all read in full:
