General terms and conditions

Changes in the rental agreement are only valid if they are signed by both the renter and Ruseler Car Rentals.

The 'reservation confirmation' of the rental agreement specifies the details of (the condition of) the car, the rental period, rent, insurance options etc. and is part of the rental agreement.

Vehicle in this agreement means a car, bus, truck, pickup or any other vehicle as specified on the rental contract. It further includes wheels, tools, equipment, accessories and vehicle papers.

Fuel is not included in the rental price. Returned vehicles must contain the same amount of fuel as they had at the time of departure. If the fuel level is not at the same level upon return, the fuel costs plus an additional USD 50 will be charged. The lessee is not entitled to a refund for any excess fuel. The lessee must verify in advance which type of fuel needs to be refuelled.

The lessor is not liable to the lessee for any damage resulting from refuelling the rented vehicle with unsuitable fuel. In the event that the incorrect type of fuel is used, the lessee will be held fully liable for any associated damage to the vehicle.

If the key comes into contact with water and stops working, a fee of USD 495 will be charged.

Vehicles are rented only to persons who have held a valid driver's licence for at least 1 year.

The minimum age for rental is 21 years. The minimum age for additional drivers is also 21 years.

In general, a minimum rental period of 3 (consecutive) days applies (5 days during the Christmas period). Exceptional bookings for a shorter period are only valid if Jan Thiel Car Rentals B.V. has explicitly confirmed its agreement with the requested shorter booking — for example, if the request fits between two previously finalised bookings. A surcharge of USD 15 applies to bookings of one or two days.

The rental agreement is entered into for the duration and at the rate specified in the rental agreement, or as otherwise agreed upon in writing. If the vehicle is returned before the agreed return date for any reason whatsoever, no refund of the rental amount shall be possible. If the lessor has granted permission to return the vehicle at a later time, the lessee remains liable for any damage to or caused by the vehicle until the time the lessor has actually received and inspected the vehicle, or has had it inspected.

At the start of the rental agreement, the renter must inspect the vehicle and report any damage and/or defects found to the rental company immediately. A report will be drawn up. Subsequent reporting is not possible and will be charged to the renter.

If the lessee wishes to extend the rental period, this must be agreed upon with the lessor in writing. The rental period thus extended remains subject to these General Terms and Conditions. All car insurance policies applicable to the rented vehicle during the previous rental period will be obligatorily and automatically extended for the extended rental period.

If the vehicle is not returned to the lessor within the agreed period, unless otherwise agreed with the lessor, the lessor shall have the right to immediate repossession of the vehicle. In such event, the lessee shall owe the agreed price up until the time the vehicle is back in the possession of the lessor. All car insurance policies applicable to the rented vehicle during the agreed rental period will be obligatorily and automatically extended until the vehicle is back in the possession of the lessor.

If the rental vehicle is returned at a later time than specified in the rental agreement, a fee of XCG 50 per hour will be charged, plus the insurance premium if the lessee took out insurance for the previous rental days.

The vehicle must be returned in good condition at the place and time specified in the 'car report'.

Smoking is not permitted inside the vehicle. If it is determined that smoking has occurred in the vehicle, a cleaning fee of USD 500 will be charged.

Upon return of the vehicle, it will be inspected by the lessor. A report will be made of any damage/defects found and the damage will be settled with the renter.

As standard, the vehicle is insured on a Third-Party Liability (TPL) basis up to a maximum insured amount of XCG 150,000 per event. This insurance covers damage to the counterparty, subject to a deductible of USD 495. The deductible for the Chevrolet Tahoe and BAIC Jeep is USD 1,000. Damage to the rented vehicle shall be at the lessee's own expense.

In addition to direct repair costs (such as damage repair and painting costs), the deductible per claim also includes downtime damage (loss of revenue). This means that the lessee is liable for the lost rental income for each day that the vehicle is unavailable for rent due to repair, appraisal, or transport. This damage is calculated based on the standard daily rate applicable to the vehicle at that time, with a minimum of 1 day, up to a maximum of the total deductible of USD 495 or USD 1,000 respectively.

For an additional fee of USD 15 per day (USD 30 per day for the Chevrolet Tahoe and BAIC Jeep), you can opt for All-Risk Insurance (Third-Party Liability + Comprehensive/Collision Coverage). For All-Risk insurance, the deductible per claim is USD 495. The deductible for the Chevrolet Tahoe and BAIC Jeep is USD 1,000.

For an additional fee of USD 15 per day (USD 30 per day for the Chevrolet Tahoe and BAIC Jeep) on top of the All-Risk premium, the lessee can reduce the deductible to USD 0 (waive the deductible), referred to as Full Coverage. Waiving the deductible is only possible in combination with All-Risk insurance.

If the renter has taken out an All-Risk or Full Coverage policy with the rental company, the renter is only covered against theft of and/or burglary in the rented car in Punda and/or Otrobanda if the car is demonstrably parked in a parking lot in Punda and/or Otrobanda at the time the incident occurred.

Damage to the hood (system) of convertible models is entirely the responsibility of the renter, even when All Risk or Full Coverage insurance has been purchased.

No deposit is required.

The renter is fully liable for all damages not covered by the insurance.

In the event of damage, the vehicle must not be moved, and the lessee must contact Forensys at telephone number 9233. If you move the vehicle, you will be uninsured and held personally liable for all damages. An official Forensys accident report must be submitted to the lessor. If this report cannot be provided, the lessee will be held fully liable for all damage caused in connection with the accident.

The lessor reserves the right to amend the insurance terms and conditions in the interim. Should this occur, the lessor will clearly and visibly display the amendments at the office of Jan Thiel Car Rentals B.V.

Upon picking up the rental vehicle, the estimated rental amount will be charged. Payment can be made by credit card (+5%), by debit card, or in cash. The following credit cards are accepted: Mastercard and Visa.

The renter is obliged and undertakes to pay all charges due before leaving Curacao.

If necessary, any (extra)judicial collection and interest costs with a minimum of at least 15% and judicial costs will be charged to the renter.

Only the renter of the vehicle, as stated in the contract, and the persons mentioned as 'additional driver' or 'second driver' in the rental agreement are authorised to drive the vehicle. No rental supplement will be charged for persons labelled as 'additional driver' in the rental agreement.

Any damages caused by an 'additional driver' will always be charged to the main contractor: the renter.

If the renter gives another driver, not mentioned in the rental agreement, permission to drive or move the vehicle, or if the renter is careless in preventing a third party from driving or moving the vehicle, the renter is fully liable for any damage to the rented vehicle, its occupants or a third party. In such a case the renter can no longer claim on any insurance taken out.

The lessee must ensure that the vehicle keys are not handed over to anyone other than the 'additional driver' specified in the contract and accepted by the lessor.

The renter is not permitted to drive on unpaved roads except with a pickup truck, and in that case only for the purpose of reaching or leaving a dive spot using the shortest route between the public road and the dive spot.

Damage to the car due to driving on unpaved roads is not covered by the insurance, making the renter fully liable. The lessee is personally responsible for the recovery of the vehicle if necessary and shall bear all associated costs. Please note that the 24/7 Roadside Assistance will not assist the renter and the rental company has no obligation to assist the renter in this regard.

The renter is fully liable for damage to or caused by the vehicle as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication.

If an incorrect representation has been made as to the validity of the driving licence or if the driver has been disqualified from driving, the damage caused to or by the vehicle will not be covered by the insurance and will be entirely the responsibility of the renter.

The renter is fully liable for all fines and costs arising from parking or traffic violations or crimes committed during the rental period.

The lessor must always give permission before any repairs are made. If permission is not requested, the renter will have to pay all additional costs for repairs at the garage.

The vehicle may not be used to transport passengers or goods for a fee, or to tow or push other vehicles. Violation of this prohibition makes the renter fully liable for any loss or damage to passengers, goods or the vehicle.

The vehicle must not be overloaded and must be used in a careful manner. It is prohibited to transport more persons than there are seats in the vehicle, including the driver.

Flat tyres must be repaired or replaced immediately. The renter may call 24/7 Roadside Assistance to help change the tyre free of charge. The renter is fully liable for damage caused by failure to do so. The cost of repairing a flat tyre is the responsibility of the lessor, even if the tyre is not repairable and a new tyre is required. Upon presentation of a repair/replacement bill, the lessor will reimburse the lessee. However, if a flat tyre is caused by the renter's driving behaviour, the repair/replacement costs will be the renter's responsibility. This is solely at the discretion of the rental company.

The renter is prohibited from participating in any test, race, or competition with the vehicle. Violation of this prohibition makes the renter fully liable for all damages.

The rental company is not liable for the loss of personal belongings, goods, or luggage of the renter, any authorised driver, or other users. This is not covered by insurance.

The lessor is entitled to repossess the vehicle before the end of the rental agreement, without notice of default or judicial intervention, and without prejudice to the right to compensation for costs and damages, if it appears that a misrepresentation was made regarding the purpose of renting or obtaining the vehicle, of such a nature that the lessor would not have entered into the rental agreement had they been aware of it. This includes situations where the vehicle has been used to break the law, is obviously abandoned, or if the renter has violated any article of this rental agreement.

In the event of any discrepancy in the interpretation of the English, Spanish, German and Portuguese texts of this agreement, the Dutch text shall prevail.

Any invalidity, voidability, or unenforceability of one or more provisions of this agreement shall not affect the applicability and validity of the remaining provisions.

This rental agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Curacao. Any disputes shall be brought before the competent court in Curacao.

This section outlines the Cancellation and Refund Policy of Jan Thiel Car Rentals B.V. in Curacao.

This policy is established to align with the standard business practices of car rental companies in Curacao, provide transparency to customers, mitigate financial risks associated with last-minute cancellations and no-shows, and meet the expectations of financial institutions such as MCB Bank in Curacao.

Jan Thiel Car Rentals B.V. does not use a security deposit system. Customers have the option to pay online in advance or upon picking up the vehicle.

Cancellation is free of charge up to 72 hours before the scheduled pick-up time. If prepayment has been made, the full amount will be refunded (see the Refund section).

In the event of cancellation between 72 and 24 hours prior to the pick-up time, a fee equal to one full rental day of the reserved vehicle will be charged. In the event of prepayment, a fee equal to one rental day of the reserved vehicle will be retained and the remaining amount refunded. Without prepayment, Jan Thiel Car Rentals B.V. reserves the right to charge for one rental day of the reserved vehicle.

Cancellations made within 24 hours prior to the pick-up time are considered late cancellations and will result in a charge of 50% of the total rental amount for the reserved vehicle. In the event of prepayment, 50% will be retained and the remaining amount refunded. Without prepayment, Jan Thiel Car Rentals B.V. reserves the right to charge 50% of the total rental amount for the reserved vehicle.

If the customer fails to appear at the agreed time without prior written notice, this will be considered a no-show. In the event of a no-show, 50% of the total rental amount for the reserved vehicle will be charged or retained. The vehicle will be held for a maximum of 2 hours after the agreed time, unless agreed otherwise.

In the event of an early return of the vehicle, no refund will be granted for unused rental days. An early return is understood to mean that the renter returns the vehicle earlier than agreed upon in the reservation.

Any refunds will be processed via the original payment method. Processing times: up to 7 working days for local bank transactions, up to 14 business days for international transactions. Bank and transaction fees are not refundable. Any bank charges incurred by Jan Thiel Car Rentals B.V. for the refund of the prepaid amount will be deducted from the amount already paid.

Changes in dates or vehicle category are subject to availability and may result in price adjustments.

Jan Thiel Car Rentals B.V. is not liable for cancellations or inability to fulfil reservations due to force majeure, including natural disasters, government measures or airport closures.