There are many variables to consider before you begin to negotiate car hire deals for your holiday, from choosing interior vehicle requirements to mileage.
However, it is highly recommended that you arrange your car hire in plenty of time before your departure as the earlier you book the more you can save. Car hire businesses abroad do not tend to offer such impressive deals as it is such a captive market. Read on for further guidance for booking a hire car on holiday.
Insuring more than one driver
Depending on the size of your travelling party you may choose to insure more than one person on a short-term car hire lease to share the driving. If two or more of your group wish to split the driving ensure you are all named on the hire agreement before your holiday as this can cost a fortune as an add-on. You may strike lucky and find a car hire firm that offers an extra driver for free.
Beware younger drivers
Most holiday car hire firms will only insure drivers aged 21 and above. Unless you are willing to pay a surcharge most drivers under the age of 25 will be placed in the highest risk category and therefore pay the highest premium.
Types of car hire cover
The bare minimum protection for car hire cover is called Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) insurance, which solely covers vehicles damaged in an accident and not drivers and passengers. Here are a range of cover options available to you as part of your holiday car hire package:
- Collision damage waiver (CDW) – Bottom-line protection that covers only the vehicle in the event of an accident.
- Theft waiver (TW) – Protection on a similar premise to CDW but guards solely against theft.
- Personal insurance (PI) – Car insurance cover that’s guaranteed to pay out in the event of an accident that kills or injures yourself or any passengers.
- Super collision damage waiver (SCDW) – This comprehensive protection guards against all damage to your vehicle including roofs, tyres and windscreens.
- Personal effects cover (PEC) – A policy designed to pay out if your property is stolen from within a locked vehicle.
Understanding vehicle classes
Common practice amongst the majority of car hire firms is to offer a host of vehicle classes with which to choose from to rent. A rough guide is as follows:
- Mini – Designed perfectly for a couple with minimal luggage, the mini vehicle class usually contains vehicles with efficient 1.0 litre engines without the mod-cons such as air conditioning and CD players.
- Economy – Suitable for a family of four with minimal luggage. These vehicles are both two and four-door and can comfortably seat two adults and two children. Generally without air conditioning and no choice between manual and automatic gearbox.
- Standard – A comfortable four-door vehicle with powerful 1.8-2.0 litre engine, roomy enough to fit four or even five adults comfortably including luggage. Most standard cars available for hire will include air conditioning with the option of hiring an automatic vehicle.
- Luxury – Naturally the most expensive models available to hire, these vehicles are generally sportier, sleeker and more playful than other cars. Fitted with a big engine and all mod-cons, with a choice between manual and automatic gearbox.
Sat-nav devices
Depending whether you are familiar with the area you are visiting on holiday it may be prudent to request a satellite navigation device in your car hire arrangement. This is particularly important if you don’t have any maps or experience of the local area. Are you an owner of a smartphone? If the answer is yes then it may work out cheaper to purchase a full sat-nav app than rent a sat-nav for a week. Not only will you get use out of your app throughout your holiday, you will be able to use it for any future vacations too!
Consider your mileage
Before you commit to any holiday car hire package it is highly recommended that you check the small print regarding mileage. If you are planning on driving a serious distance to see the sights then ensure that your booking includes unlimited mileage. Paying for fuel on top of the cost of car hire is far from cost-effective.
Flydrive holiday packages
For vacations where you will be doing a lot of driving and sightseeing it may be prudent to consider an inclusive flydrive package. This means you receive your flights, accommodation and car hire all in one neat bundle! These deals are particularly common with holidays to the United States.
Holiday car hire is a great alternative to taking your own vehicle overseas. Hiring a car on a week-long lease can be significantly cheaper than taking a taxi from the airport to your destination. In a competitive holiday market these extra savings can make a big difference to your entertainment funds!