Approving and Declining Bookings

When to Approve vs. Decline

Every booking request on Sicarro deserves a thoughtful evaluation. As a supplier, you have full control over who rents your vehicle. Approving strong requests builds your business, while declining carefully protects your asset. The key is knowing what to look for.

Reviewing the Renter's Profile

Before making a decision, thoroughly review the renter's profile. Here is what to look for:

Verification Status

• Fully verified: ID, license, phone, and email all confirmed. Safest option.
• Partially verified: Some documents still pending. Proceed with caution or wait until verification is complete.
• Unverified: Rare on Sicarro (platform requires basic verification), but decline if you see this.

Reviews and Rating

• Check the renter's average rating (out of 5 stars)
• Read individual reviews from other suppliers
• Look for patterns: consistent praise or recurring complaints
• Pay attention to comments about vehicle condition at return

Rental History

• Experienced renters (5+ rentals): Lower risk, proven track record
• Moderate experience (2-4 rentals): Generally reliable
• First-time renters (0-1 rentals): No track record, but not necessarily risky. Communicate more.

Factors to Consider

Requested Dates

• Does the rental period align with your availability?
• Is there enough buffer time before and after for cleaning and inspection?
• Is it a peak demand period where you could get a higher-paying booking?
• Is the rental duration within your minimum and maximum preferences?

Renter Age and Experience

• Check if the renter meets your minimum age requirement (typically 21-25)
• Young drivers may carry higher risk; consider your comfort level
• For high-value vehicles, you may prefer experienced renters with established ratings

Driving Experience

• How long has the renter held their license?
• For 4x4 vehicles or manual transmission, does the renter have relevant experience?
• Is the renter familiar with driving in El Salvador? (International renters may need more guidance)

How to Approve a Booking

Follow these steps to approve a booking request:

1. Navigate to Bookings > Pending
2. Click on the booking request to view full details
3. Review the renter's profile, dates, and price breakdown
4. Click the "Approve" button
5. Add an optional personal message (recommended):
   • Welcome the renter
   • Confirm pickup details
   • Mention what documents to bring
6. Click "Confirm Approval"
7. The renter receives a notification to complete payment

How to Decline a Booking

Declining is sometimes necessary. Here is how to do it professionally:

1. Navigate to Bookings > Pending
2. Click on the booking request
3. Click the "Decline" button
4. Select a reason from the dropdown menu:
   • Vehicle unavailable for requested dates
   • Vehicle scheduled for maintenance
   • Insufficient buffer time between bookings
   • Renter does not meet requirements (age, experience)
   • Other (specify)
5. Write a polite decline message (required). Examples:
   • "Sorry, my vehicle is already committed for those dates. I hope you find a great car!"
   • "The vehicle is going in for scheduled maintenance during that period. Try again next week!"
6. Click "Confirm Decline"
7. The renter is notified and guided to other available vehicles

Impact on Your Ranking

Your acceptance and response rates directly affect your visibility on Sicarro:

Metric	Target	Effect
Acceptance Rate	80%+	Higher search ranking, priority placement
Response Rate	90%+	"Fast Responder" badge on your profile
Response Time	Under 4 hours	Preferred by renters, more bookings

Suppliers with acceptance rates below 50% may see their listings demoted in search results. Consistently low rates (below 30%) may trigger an account review.

Auto-Decline for Unavailable Dates

If a renter requests dates that are blocked on your calendar, the system handles it automatically:

• The request is automatically declined with a message explaining the dates are unavailable
• Auto-declines do not count against your acceptance rate
• The renter is redirected to other available vehicles
• This is why keeping your calendar updated is essential

Responding to Special Requests

Renters may include special requests with their booking:

• Airport pickup: If you offer this, confirm the flight details and arrange timing
• Child seat: Let the renter know if you can provide one or if they need to bring their own
• Extended hours: Some renters may request early morning or late night pickup/return
• One-way rental: Picking up in one city, returning in another (not standard, but discuss it)
• Cross-border travel: Clarify if your insurance and rental terms allow travel outside El Salvador

If you cannot accommodate a special request, decline politely and explain why. If the request is possible with conditions, approve the booking and discuss details in the messaging thread.

Best Practices for 80%+ Acceptance Rate

• Keep your calendar accurate: Block dates proactively so you do not receive unbookable requests
• Set clear rental conditions: Minimum age, minimum duration, and advance notice prevent mismatched requests
• Enable instant booking: For verified renters who meet all your criteria, instant booking eliminates the need to manually approve
• Respond, do not ignore: Even a decline is better than no response
• Communicate before declining: If a request is borderline, message the renter first to ask questions
• Review your decline reasons: If you are declining mostly for "unavailable dates," your calendar needs updating
• Be flexible: Consider adjusting requirements for low-demand periods to accept more bookings
• Build reviews: More positive reviews attract higher-quality renters, making it easier to say yes