There are literally hundreds of car hire companies offering all types of deals and quotes these days, from the larger more well-known companies, to smaller independent ones, offering personalized and guaranteed service. Finding cheap car hire should therefore be quick and easy - but that's not always the case.
This can make car hire a frustrating process, full of what appear to be pit-falls, hidden costs, and exorbitant prices. Sometimes it can seem that the price of car hire is as expensive as your holiday itself! If you are looking for cheap car hire, it pays to be shop around and do a bit of research before you book. So if you are about to go on holiday, or even if you are just looking to hire a car for a day, read on, and follow our advice to save yourself some serious cash, and find the very best cheap car hire on the internet.
Booking your hire car early is essential if you want to save money and find the cheapest deals. The cheapest vehicles generally sell out quicker, so if you know when you are going away, and you already have your dates book ahead in order to maximise the savings and take advantage of specials.
Hire care rates are usually at their cheapest during what they call low season. This means that the best car hire offers can be picked up outside of popular holiday times, or just random times when that particular country or town sees the demand fall significantly.
It is not uncommon for airport pick-up to be more expensive than out of town areas. Therefore, it might be possible to pick up the car somewhere other than the airport enabling you significant savings.
Hiring a smaller, more fuel efficient car will generally save you money. Find a car that fulfils your requirements in terms of comfort and luxury, but bear in mind the bigger it is, the more expensive it will be.
All car hire companies now have websites with online booking facilities. However, it pays to shop around first before booking, in order to find the best deals. Spend some time online to compare quotes and offers, including additional and sometimes hidden extras in order to find the cheapest prices. Ensure that there are no extra costs that might sting you later.
By joining a car hire loyalty program (yes, they work exactly like airline frequent flyer programs) you can earn free points, or ‘miles’ as you drive. This way you can earn extra days, and benefit from member deals that the company may offer.
Discount codes
Look for codes on the internet that offer discount coupons and savings on your favourite car hire companies.
Finally, ask your friends and family if they have hired a car recently, and what deals they took advantage of.
Just because you are going on holiday and renting a car does not mean that you have to break the bank. Cheap car hire is a possibility as long as you follow these top tips to reduce the cost and give you more money to spend on your holiday.