Travel · Car rental ·
Renting a car abroad without the language
The queue at the airport rental desk is long, the agent is in a hurry and the contract is printed in the local language. You sign, take the keys and leave. Most of the trouble that follows — a charge for fuel, a scratch you did not make, a deposit that never comes back — starts in those few minutes at the counter.
Three lines matter more than the rest
You do not have to read the whole contract. Find the deposit and when it is released, the insurance excess — the most you pay if the car is damaged — and the fuel rule. Hold the phone over the page and camera translation lays those lines out in your language on top of the original. You can ask about what it read, too: "what is the excess?"
Ask before you initial
Agents often point at boxes to initial: extra cover, a fuel package, a second driver. Before each one, ask what it is and what it costs. Face-to-face conversation translation speaks your question in the agent's language on your phone and translates the answer back; the agent does not need any app.
- "How much is the deposit, and when is it released?"
- "Is this extra insurance, and what does it cover?"
- "Do I bring it back full, or is fuel already paid?"
- "Where do I leave the keys if the office is closed?"
Photograph the car, not just the paperwork
In the car park, walk around the car slowly and film it: every panel, the wheels, the windscreen, then the mileage and the fuel gauge. If a scratch is not on the damage form, go back and have it added before you drive off. Photos with a time on them settle most arguments later.
Signs on the road
Parking zones, toll lanes and low-emission areas are signposted in the local language and fined by camera. When you are unsure, stop and read the sign with the camera before you park rather than after a ticket arrives at home.
Returning, and the weeks after
Return the car while someone is there and ask for a written note that it came back undamaged. Keep the fuel receipt. If an unexpected charge appears on your card, message translation lets you write to the company in your language while it arrives in theirs — with your photos attached.
Dilinga is live on Google Play. The iPhone version is coming very soon to the App Store. Get it on Google Play →
Questions
Can the camera read a rental contract?
Yes, printed text such as a contract or a damage form is what camera translation reads best. Hold the phone steady and close enough that the lines are sharp.
Does the rental agent need Dilinga?
No. Face-to-face conversation and camera translation run on your phone only.