How to deal with your car rental reservation when typhoon is already approaching? (cancellation or change your reservation)

※若於網站預約時需輸入信用卡資料，則取消時將依規定收取取消費（例如，ToCoo！）。以下的說明為預約時不需輸入信用卡資料的網站操作範例（例如，Tabirai）。
※ If you need to enter your credit card information when booking your website, you will pay the cancellation fee according to the regulations(ex. ToCoo！). The following is an example of a website operation that does not require a credit card entry for the reservation(ex. Tabirai).

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What should we do when a typhoon is approaching to the area that we’ve planned to visit in Japan? Basic steps are shown as follows:

If you no need a rental car anymore：

※In cases like canceling the trip to Japan or changing the trip that does not use rental car etc.
→ Cancel your car reservation as soon as possible .

If you still need a rental car, but want to change the rental period or pick up time：

※Keep your plan to Japan, but change the rental period from the first day to the second day, or delay the pick up time when your airline flight is delayed etc.)
→ Make a new reservation, and then cancel the old one. This is the easiest and fastest way. 
* If you send a request message to car rental company just before your visit, you may not get a response in time.

The process will be described in more detail below.

If you know your airline flight will be delayed, or your plan will be changed, BEFORE the date of using rental car

In case of canceling the trip to Japan, or changing the trip that does not use rental car

→Cancel your booking through the online car reservation site. It’d be appreciated if you can cancel your booking as soon as possible. For example, on Tabirai Car Rental, log into the “Reservation Information Box” and press “Cancel”, then your booking will be cancelled at once. In a case of typhoon, cancellation fee is seldom to be charged. If you’re still worried about the cancellation fee, just send a message to car rental company through the “Reservation Information Box” of Tabirai, stating that you need to cancel your booking because of typhoon. Of course, or just contact the car rental company by phone or the inquiry form.

If you still need a rental car, but want to change the rental period or pick up time

※ Visit the online car reservation site, search for a rental car with a new schedule, pick up and drop off times. If your desired vehicle is found,
→Let’s make a new reservation, and then cancel the old one.

* For example, you’ve reserved a car and the pick up time is 10:00am on August 1. Now you want to change the pick up time, from 10:00am to 19:00pm, most of the people probably contact the car rental company for changing the pick up time. However, making a new reservation and then cancel the old one is a easier and faster way actually. (Car rental companies also recommend users to make a new reservation). In this case, no cancellation fee will be charged.

※If your desired vehicle cannot be found (in case of out of stock),
→This case is a little troublesome. If there is a few days before your visit, ask the car rental company to change your reservation by sending message or using the inquiry form.

If you’re lucky, you can keep your reservation and change the details like rental period or pick up time. If you’ve bad luck, the car rental company may reply to you that your reservation cannot be changed, and please try to make a new reservation. (In this case, try to make a new reservation. If your desired vehicle is out of stock, your reservation cannot be changed. Then, cancel it or just keep the reservation.)

If there is no time before departure (such as the day before departure), you’re suggested to call the car rental company through the hotlines listed on the official websites (major car rental companies have English service desk).

If you know your airline flight will be delayed, or your plan will be changed, ON the date of using rental car

In case of canceling the trip to Japan, or changing the trip that does not use rental car

→ Cancel your booking through the online car reservation site. It’d be better if you cancel your booking even on the day of use. Cancellation fee is seldom to be charged in this case. (Basically, the car rental company will contact you by email if cancellation fee is charged. However, as many cancellations ocurr when a typhoon is approaching, they won’t contact you to remind the cancellation fee.)

If you still need a rental car, but want to change the rental period or pick up time

In this case, even if you send a message to the car rental company, you may not get the response in time. Also, it’s difficult to make a new reservation. The following are several ways suggested:

· There is an information counter (an enquiry desk) at most airports in Japan. After arriving in Japan, ask the staff there to explain to the car rental company for you.

· Go to the meeting place first, and negotiate with the staff to change the reservation at the car rental outlet.

The above ways might be a bit diffcult. Depending on the case, try to keep your reservation somehow. If you’re only a few hours late, go to the meeting place first, in many cases your reservation is still valid.