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The good news is that car rental prices are starting to return to pre-pandemic levels after a period immediately following the lockdown in which they skyrocketed.
This was because many rental companies sold vehicles, causing a global shortage.
As travel resumed, demand outstripped supply, but costs are now stabilising. Rental prices have fallen by as much as 47 per cent this year compared with last year, according to consumer experts Which?
Follow these tips to get the best deals and potentially save a small fortune when returning your car.
Go to a broker
According to Which?, this is crucial to getting the best deal, although it is worth bearing in mind the difference between car hire comparison sites and intermediaries. The latter, such as kayak.co.uk and skyscanner.net, simply list prices by comparing websites, while intermediaries personally vet and select each company, often negotiating better rates and offering a point of contact if a problem arises.
The best Which? broker is zestcarrental.comWhen we checked, this easy-to-follow website was offering a week’s rental from Malaga Airport from £59.88 in August for an economy car. A similar vehicle from Hertz was £157.05.
This is good news for those renting cars, as prices are starting to return to pre-pandemic levels after a prolonged costly period.
Are there any others worth trying?
Attempt autoeurope.co.uk, en:doyouspain.com (as the name suggests, a Spanish specialist, who promises to be “always cheaper, guaranteed”) and vacationautos.com, vacationextras.com and discovercars.com They also have good reviews on Trustpilot.
Do it at the right time
Book four months in advance to get the cheapest deals. This is the benchmark for saving, according to a survey by travel agencies
supermercado.com compares car rental deals from over 20 leading car rental operators including Sixt, Avis and Europcar.
Location is key
Before booking, check whether the car rental company’s office is in the terminal or whether a shuttle bus is required. It is much better if it is within walking distance of the terminal. A quick internet search should determine the exact location.
The essentials about insurance
In Europe, car rental insurance is usually included in the prices, with one caveat: “excess charges” are not included. Excess charges are the amount you have to pay regardless of who is responsible for damage to a car, and can be as high as £2,500.
Employees at the car rental counter may try to sell you “additional coverage” but it will be higher than if you book independently before your vacation with cover4rentals.com, World Insurance.com either reducemyexcess.co.ukFor example, the price for a week in Spain is £16 with cover4rentals.com.
Take photos and videos of the vehicle when you pick it up and email them to them so they are time-stamped, as people are often charged for damage they did not cause.
The power of photographs
Take photos and videos of the car when you pick it up and email them immediately so they are time-stamped.
Often, charges are levied for damages that they are not responsible for. Photographic evidence will resolve the matter and prevent a hefty repair bill. Also, take a photo of the mileage at the time of pick-up and email it to them.
Check cancellation rule
Most companies allow free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick-up. This allows savvy customers to book early, look for a cheaper car rental closer to departure time and cancel, if necessary, saving themselves the difference.
For your peace of mind, autoeurope.co.uk also offers Fully Flexible Cancellation, which allows you to cancel up until the time of pick-up, for an additional fee of 9%. If you need to do so, you will be refunded in full.
Avoid “extra day” charges
When renting a car, a “day” counts as 24 hours from the time of pick-up. It’s worth bearing this in mind when booking flights. For example, if you arrive at 11am and pick up your rental car at midday, it will be cheaper to return it on a flight that allows you to return the car before midday.
Please allow enough time to get off the plane and collect luggage before your official pickup so that another customer cannot take the car if you are late.
Perfect pick up
Allow enough time to get off the plane and collect your luggage before the official pick-up time: that is, do not schedule the pick-up to coincide with the plane’s landing time. This is not only because you may pay more, but also because the rental company may give the car to someone else if you arrive “late”.
Most companies only guarantee that they will hold your vehicle for 30 to 60 minutes after the scheduled pick-up time; sometimes up to two hours.
What happens if the flight is delayed?
Try to let the renter know as soon as possible, by phone (ideally) or email. However, be aware that they may not reserve the vehicle for you, which could mean you have to pay for a more expensive car.
Remember a credit card
Debit cards are not sufficient to “guarantee” a reservation upon arrival. A credit card will be required as they have higher limits. This must be the primary driver’s card.
Just say “no”
SAY NO to all add-ons, not just “excess coverage,” when you pick up your vehicle.
Use your own GPS (available on your smartphone) and bring a child seat from home (most airlines allow you to bring a child seat in the car for free). Failing that, reserve a seat through your agent in advance.
Make sure to refuel
Opt for the “full to full” gas option; otherwise, you’ll pay much more than you would at a local station. Be sure to carry your fuel receipt with you in case you’re questioned.
Age limits for driving
There are usually no maximum age limits, although there may be surcharges for people over 75 years of age. sixt.es In Germany, France, Spain and the UK, cars older than 80 years are available for rent. In parts of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia there are restrictions or surcharges for older drivers. It is worth checking rental information in advance.
There are many rules regarding age when renting cars, both for young and old.
Rules for young people
The minimum age to rent a car varies by country: it’s 21 in Greece, Italy, Spain and the United States, and 23 here in the UK.
If you are under 25, there is almost always a young driver surcharge to cover the perceived increased risk of such rentals.
Rental companies will limit the cars that young people can rent; at Hertz you have to be 30 to rent a Jaguar F-Type and 35 to rent a Ford Transit.
Sixt.co.uk offers a 15 percent student discount to those who can verify their status.
US ‘delivery’ rates
When renting cars in the United States, it is common to pick up vehicles at one location and return them at another.
When you do, you may be charged a return fee, which can be astronomical.
The Avis return fee for a two-week trip from Chicago to San Francisco in September was £932 (avis.co.uk), while for the Budget (budget.com) There weren’t any, so the advice is to look elsewhere.
Additional reporting by Gabriel Whitwam
