LocalWheels

Rent cars from verified locals

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about payments (Stripe, deposit, vouchers), booking chat and cancellation, pickup and returns, insurance, languages and your account, and driving in Albania. For account-specific issues, contact us or open Support when logged in.

What do I pay online after the host accepts?

Stripe Checkout collects only: (1) a prepaid percentage of your net trip rental (after any valid voucher), (2) a fixed booking service fee in EUR, and (3) an optional refundable “no-show guarantee” card hold if your listing/trip settings require one. The listing’s security deposit is not charged on that primary card checkout — it is paid in cash to the host at pickup, together with the remaining net rental (see the checkout preview and Terms).

What do I pay in cash at pickup?

Typically: the security deposit shown on the listing (plus any extra cross-border deposit if you selected outside-country driving and the listing defines one), and the remaining net trip rental after your online prepayment — the app shows an estimate. Fuel and local charges follow the listing and Albanian law unless you agree otherwise with the host.

Do I get the prepaid commission or booking service fee back?

No. Those amounts are platform revenue once collected. Refund rules apply to captures covered by our cancellation policy (e.g. free-cancellation window) or admin rulings — see Terms.

When is the no-show hold released?

If a hold was placed at checkout, it is meant as a refundable guarantee tied to attendance and handover. When the trip completes without an open return issue, we initiate release/refund via Stripe according to our procedures. If the host opens a return case, automated full refund paths may pause while the case is reviewed.

When do I get my deposit back?

The deposit is part of your rental arrangement with the host (usually cash at pickup). After drop-off, if nothing is owed under the listing and applicable rules, you settle any deposit return with the host. If the product collects deposit-related amounts on card in a dispute flow, refunds or partial refunds are logged with a reason.

What are promotional vouchers?

We may issue voucher codes that reduce the rental subtotal used at checkout (and therefore the prepaid commission and hold bases). A voucher does not change the cash security deposit unless we say otherwise. Codes are validated at payment; expired or inapplicable codes must be removed or corrected.

What currency is used?

Listings and card checkout use EUR. Carry enough EUR cash for amounts due to the host at pickup.