Counting the cost of a holiday rental car

A brief warning for those planning on renting a car in the coming months while on holiday.
A couple of years ago we booked a vehicle with a reputable company we always use for three weeks in the summer.
As we only take cabin bags we scooted past the holidaymakers hauling their suitcases off the carousel and figured we'd be sat in our local bar before last orders.
When we reached the car hire desk however we were informed that, unlike the previous five occasions that we'd used them, we would need to have a credit card in the name of the main driver in order to secure the vehicle for the duration of the rental.
Of course neither of us had both our credit cards (with PIN) AND driver's licence and were refused the car that we had already paid for. And though the company reimbursed the few hundred pounds we'd paid immediately, we found ourselves forking out almost £1,500 for a replacement car.
We were lucky. It was one of the rare occasions we actually had some cash in the bank. However while we were in Sardinia last year I saw the very same thing happen to half-a-dozen other travellers.
So remember. Whether you're in Italy, Spain or any part of the globe take your licence, the credit card you used to book the car, the PIN number and if you're not the main driver get him or her to take all of the above too. Or it really could cost you dear.