My Travelog

So many car rental offers are now available online that the choice is overwhelming. Basic questions you need to ask include:

• Are all car hire deals the same?
• Is there are difference between the big and lesser known rental firms?
• What if a book direct with the actual hirer who will supply the car?
• Can the collect point alter the hire rate charged?
• Is the time of year a factor in the price I am quoted?

Most car hire packages are remarkably similar in terms of the types of cars, general terms of agreements and basic prices. Care hire quotes differ mainly in what they include in the price, or charge extra for. Hire car insurance cover is often the biggest variable, in terms of how much cover is included and therefore what you have to pay for in the hire car is damaged or stolen. If there is a claim you may have to pay a fixed sum, even if you have “collision damage waiver” included in your hire. There is often still a fixed amount which is not cover by the collision damage waiver and this can by hundreds or even thousands of pounds. It is only when then arrive to collect a hire car that customers are asked for a credit card to be ‘swiped’ as security against this cost, or to an additional insurance charge to alleviate, or in some cases, completely eliminate this additional risk. This is the single biggest potential extra cost and any such charges should be researched confirmed before booking.

Most car rental companies standardise prices although service at franchise-run locations can vary. The less well known, newer hire car firms are often little more than intermediaries who market a service under their brand but when you arrive you will find that your car might actually be supplied by one of the larger firms. Relatively obscure car renters can actually be partnering with the much bigger firms, so that you actually pick the car up from a familiar branded hire desk.

Comparing car rental prices is all very well but comparison websites allow you to also check the extra costs which are not included in the price quoted. Nearly all of the major rental companies can be compared in one place and so they all know that the need to offer their cheapest deals on car hire comparison websites. To compare all car hire prices online www.car-hire-rental.co.uk is in ‘partnership’ with a service which the British travel trade press decided was the “Best car hire website” in 2009.