There was no waiting time when picking up the car; the man assisting us was extremely calm and professional, and he repeated his message whenever I didn't understand. The cost of renting a car for 10 days breaks down as follows: the price as indicated on the internet + an optional waiver of excess (through a 3rd party) + a deposit. In our case, these amounts were respectively: $500 + $150 + $1000. We had rented a Toyota Vios, which, in hindsight, wasn't very practical for driving in Laos due to the poor road conditions; a larger vehicle would have been better for avoiding potholes. However, the car performed very well. Returning the car was a bit nerve-wracking, as we were unsure about whether and how we would get our deposit back. The amount reserved on my credit card was refunded by Visa 30 days after the deposit date.