Compare car hire rental packages
It is impossible to make a straightforward decision when there are so many online car rental companies to pick from. 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?
- Does booking direct with the actual car renter have any advantages?
- Are car hire rates different depending on where the car is collected?
- Is the time of year a factor in the price I am quoted?
The basic packages offered by car hire companies do not differ that much. Anything that is charged for extra is usually the big thing which makes one car hire quote differ from another. The level of insurance actually included in the price quoted is more often than not the major unpredictable figure in the final cost of car rental. Car rental “collision damage waiver” is not, as you might expect, complete insurance cover for all your liability and there is still often still a fixed sum that you have to pay. 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.
The established car hire brands are mainly franchised outlets and so although the deals will be fairly uniform from country to country, the service will be down the individual franchisee. 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. To avoid surprises, ask who will actually be supplying the hire car at your location, as smaller firms often ‘partner’ with bigger ones at many locations.
Online car hire comparison is great for checking what is, and is not, included in the rental prices 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 accesses systems which were voted “Best car hire website” by UK travel trade press publication, Travolution.