Booking a holiday hire car is a great way to ensure that you can explore the area that you’re staying in, or easily hop between towns and cities if you have accommodation booked across a number of exciting locations.
Here, we share our holiday hire car tips which we hope will help you to make the right choice when you book your vehicle and drive around Europe.
1. Book your holiday hire car in advance
As with many services, the later you leave it to book your holiday hire car, the more expensive it can be. Not only this, but booking in advance means that you’ll have more vehicle choice so you can ensure that you’re getting the car that’s best suited to you. The last thing you want is to turn up at the port and find that there are no cars available, or that you have to pay over the odds to hire one.
If you’re hoping to drop your holiday hire car at a different location to where you pick it up from, make sure that you keep an eye out for one-way fees in the terms and conditions, as these can quickly increase the cost of your hire.
2. Use a car hire comparison site
For the lowest prices and widest range of vehicles, use a holiday hire car comparison site which will give you a list of everything that is available on your selected dates. This means that you don’t have to spend ages trawling different websites and can trust that you’re getting the best option for your money.
There will be a number of filters on car comparison sites which you can use to find your perfect vehicle. However, always make sure that you check the hire company’s Ts and Cs before you book, as although the filters may have provided you with specific results, it’s always best to check the details directly with the company before you hand over your money. This way, there can be no dispute over what you think you paid for and what they offer you when you arrive.
3. Check your holiday hire car for damage
Before you drive off on your adventure, make sure that you thoroughly check your holiday hire car for damage – inside and out! The car hire firm should check the car with you and make a note of any scratches, dents, or other damage that you could otherwise be liable for. Even if it’s just a tiny mark, don’t feel embarrassed to point it out. If you’re collecting your car at night, insist that it is moved to a well-lit area for checking so that you don’t miss anything.
When you return the car, ensure that you stick around while the vehicle is checked for damage. This way you won’t need to worry about being hit with an unexpected bill down the line, and you can be confident that you won’t be charged for any damage that may occur after you’ve dropped it off. Once the car has been checked over, ask the employee to sign your receipt which can be used as proof should a dispute arise down the line.
4. Watch out for optional extras
When it comes to holiday car hire, there are loads of options that the company will offer you either during the booking process or when you collect the vehicle. Some of these will be handy, but there may be cheaper options.
For example, instead of paying to hire a sat nav for the duration of your holiday, download maps using an app before you go so that you don’t need to use your data allowance. There are a few apps that offer this functionality, including Google Maps which you probably have on your phone already. Using your phone whilst driving is illegal in many countries, so you might want to pack a holder that’ll make it hands-free too.
Another extra that you will be offered is an excess waiver policy. When you hire a car you’ll find that the insurance excess is high, and this waiver will cover the cost of the excess should anything happen. However, there are standalone providers that will sell you the same cover for a much lower price. The only setback is that you’ll be asked to leave a large deposit (usually between £500 and £1500) using a credit card by the car hire firm. Don’t let this deter you though, as although the deposit would be taken from you if the vehicle is damaged, you’d be able to claim the whole amount back from your chosen provider.
5. Check the fuel policy
There are a number of different ways that car hire companies like to track the fuel that you’ve used, and some are more cost-effective than others. For example, your holiday hire car might be given to you with a full tank of fuel with the rule that you bring it back empty. Although this means that you may not need to top up at all if you’re only driving short distances, you won’t be reimbursed for any fuel that is left in the tank when you return the car.
A better option for most drivers is collecting and returning the car with a full tank of fuel. This means that you simply replace the fuel that you’ve used which is a much fairer process. However, try to find a petrol station a few miles outside of the car drop-off point, especially if it’s at a port or airport, as you’ll find that fuel is more expensive in these areas due to being in high demand. Definitely don’t return the car without a full tank of fuel as you’ll be charged over the odds for the hire company to fill it up for the next customer.
We hope that these tips have given you the confidence to book a holiday hire car for your next getaway, and don’t forget that you can bring your own car on board when you travel with us, which you may find even more convenient.
