Essential tips to avoid being hit with excessive car hire costs

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Essential tips to avoid being hit with excessive car hire costs

Hiring a car when you are on holiday is a great way to get around and visit different areas, however sometimes not doing your research means you could end up paying a lot more than you had hoped to.

Research conducted by travelsupermarket.com shows that prices can rise dramatically in the summer months, whilst it was also found that it’s worth being as flexible as possible when it comes to the category of car you book.

There are a number of ways in which you can reduce the cost of your car hire, such as:

Book alongside flights or a hotel (or both), a package deal may include a discount for car hire – call the tour operator to negotiate a discount.

Book it as early as possible; prices rise in the summer by 60% in popular European destinations

Look for online vouchers/discount codes

Don’t pay extra for a Sat Nav – most mobile phones now include Sat Nav software or an application can be downloaded which can be used for more than just a week or two’s holiday.

Read the small print online: beware of extra costs such as mileage excess, child seats, taxes etc. Check your booking includes excess insurance; some companies may try and sell you their insurance on top; which won’t be of any use to you if you already have this cover. Also check what exactly you are covered for.

Replace any fuel used before returning the vehicle, many rental companies hire their cars out with a full tank of fuel and charge you for refilling the tank, often this is higher than the pump price and it’s hard to prove how much fuel was in the car when you picked it up.

Check the car for any damage BEFORE you leave the rental office, and ask for a note of it to be made (or take pictures if you can) as you may be charged for damage to the car that was already there.

Ensure you return your car within the agreed time period, otherwise you will incur the cost of another full day’s rental.

8 day’s car hire between 7-14 August from eight different destinations were priced up, below are some examples which show that booking earlier in the year will save a serious amount on the cost of your car hire:

A people carrier in Faro on 1^st February costs £311, whereas on 28^th June the same vehicle costs £523.66 – an increase of 68%.

An economy car in Murcia in the same time period increased from £133.48 to £205.15, a 54% increase.

A large family car in Palma rose from £233.75 to £384.90, a 65% increase in price.

Travel expert Bob Atkinson from Travelsupermarket.com said: “As was witnessed during the Easter Holidays, there is strong demand for car hire this summer, naturally leading to a pressure on supply and an increase in prices. Undoubtedly, holidaymakers will see prices continue to rise as we move towards the peak summer season.

“Key destinations in Spain, Portugal and the South of France are already seeing significant increases in prices, a firm indication that holidaymakers should book as soon as they can if they plan to hire a vehicle. Also ensure you look at prices of slightly larger or smaller cars if you are flexible, and of course, use a comparison site such as travelsupermarket.com to compare many suppliers at once”.

Low cost car hire is a must for everyone on holiday, however not doing your research can lead to being hit with a rather large bill on the day you return the vehicle.

Other things you should consider: