Car hire is a big decision, and if you are a new driver or an experienced driver who has never hired one before, it can be hard to know what to do. It seems like there are special offers and deals to be had everywhere. In this post I’ll share my top tips for hiring a car on holiday.
My holiday car hire experiences are mainly centered around the US and Europe, but many of the principles still apply all over the world.
The first time we hired a car was in Jersey, in the Channel Islands. Fortunately, they drive on the same side of the road as us, so the transition wasn’t too bad.
In subsequent holidays we drove in America, where we had to get used to being on the other side of the road. And then Europe, where you also have to contend with high speeds as well.
Hiring a car while on holiday is now a natural part of the planning process, but it wasn’t always that way. Let’s have a look at how we go about it.
What Kind of Car Do I Want?
In Australia, I have a large SUV, which suits me perfectly, as I regularly tow a trailer and have to carry heavy loads. Hiring the same car in Europe would be a nightmare.
Not only would they be fairly expensive, but also totally unsuited to the terrain. Europe contains a lot of old cities and towns that were built before cars were considered.
This means that streets are narrow, parking is tight, and stone walls tend to survive better than a cars paintwork.
In America however, a large car is a reasonable proposition. The country has built up around large vehicles.
So, the first step is to do some research into your destination. What is normal for that location? It also pays to research fuel prices. If diesel and petrol are about the same price, then a diesel vehicle will be a bit cheaper to run on a day-to-day basis.
How Many Seats Do I Need?
This may sound like an obvious question, but there are several factors to consider. If you have more than one driver then taking two smaller cars instead of a large people mover can be a great option.
With 8 people for example it might seem a bit cheaper to hire an 8-seater rather than 2 5-seaters. However, if you add an extra driver, then the cost of that 8-seater will go up.
As I mentioned in the previous section parking a large car in Europe can be a bit tricky. Having 2 smaller cars generally gives you more luggage room than a large car that has been prioritised for seating.
You also get more flexibility with 2 cars, in the case that the party has different views on where to go for the day.
The upside of the large car is definitely the shared team experience. This is certainly a big part of our holidays. Jokes and banter are flying around the car which gets retold again and again over the years. Some of this is lost when using 2 cars.
Manual or Automatic?
Personally, I like driving a manual. As a bonus they are generally a bit cheaper, as they’re not as sought after.
With that said however, these days I only hire manual cars in countries that drive on the left. Obviously, that’s because I’m used to driving on the left.
If I have to drive on the other side of the road, and change gears with my other hand, then I start to miss out on some of the sights.
Frankly, I’ve got enough going on just staying on the correct side of the road and it’s easier to just hire an automatic.
Where Do I Want To Pick The Car Up From?
For most of us, the answer is simple. It’s the airport. But the real question is. Is the airport the best place to collect the car?
In most cases the airport rental section is huge. Certainly, much bigger than the rental company’s head office. However, there is often a surcharge for picking up at the airport instead of the head office.
When you do your internet search check both options to see if there’s a difference. Quite often you would be better served catching public transport into town, settle in for a couple of days and then collect your car.
There’s no point getting a car as soon as you arrive, if you spend the first couple of days in the city using public transport.
Equally important is where do you drop the car off. I always try to return the car to the same place that I got it from. This is the cheapest option.
If you return the vehicle to the dealer in another town, then they have to transfer the car back to the original dealership. You will end up paying for this.
And if you drop it off with a dealer in a different country, then you will certainly feel some sting when you get the bill. In Europe this is really common, as you may only be 100 miles from the original dealer. It doesn’t matter. It will still cost you.
What’s The Fuel Situation?
I’m not talking about which kind of fuel the vehicle uses. What I mean here is, how much fuel is in the car when I get it? And what state should the fuel gauge be in when I bring it back.
It always used to be that the car was full when you picked it up, and you return it the same way. In my opinion this is still the best way.
I’ve hired a couple of cars where the policy was that there was almost no fuel in the car, and you return it the same way. This is tricky. What if the gauge is a bit dodgy? I spent the last couple of days just adding a few pounds of fuel at a time.
I’m much happier running the car in a normal way and fueling it up fully a couple of miles away from the dealer.
There is a catch here of course. If you don’t fill it up, they will do it for you. And their bowser prices are truly eye watering. Not just a bit more expensive. Totally over the top.
They explained to me once that It’s not just the price of fuel, it’s also the cost of paying someone to fill it up. I can only imagine that they must fly Elton John in to pump fuel for them. I should have hung around to get an autograph.
Make Sure The Dealer Offers Insurance
Most of the mainstream companies all have insurance included as part of the rental price. Which is great, you certainly don’t want to hire a car without insurance.
When you turn up to collect the car, you will then be offered the upsell. This is when you find that although the car is insured, the excess is huge. The excess is the price that you must pay in case of an accident. So, for example the excess may be that you pay the first $2500, and then the insurance pays the rest.
The dealer however will offer you a deal where you can reduce this excess to zero, by just paying a few dollars more each day. This is generally an expensive way to do this.
When you organize your travel insurance. And you DO organize your travel insurance. Just specify that you need to cover rental car excess. This works out a lot cheaper than paying a daily rate through the dealer
How To Get The Best Deals
My 2 go to websites are Skyscanner and Booking.com. They both operate in much the same way, and they compare several different companies in the same region to get the best prices.
This is where you can compare the price differences regarding 1 car or 2. Check out different pick-up locations, and generally get a good idea of what the situation is.
If I’m struggling to decide which type of car to get, then it’s time to head to Youtube. There are hundreds of vehicle reviews on there, so you get a walk around with commentary. This is important if you are looking for luggage space or a back seat that will take adults.
Adverts can be a bit generous in this regard, but a video will show you what it’s like for an adult in the back seat.
It’s also worth checking to see if you get any special discounts with your credit card. Sometimes you can get a discount, or maybe some bonus frequent flyer points for shopping with a certain dealer.
The same applies for your employer. Many large companies negotiate special deals for their employees, and this could save you a few dollars.
When You Collect The Car
You will generally go out with the dealer to inspect the car. This is important. You need to make sure that every scratch and mark on the car is noted on the rental agreement.
As an added protection, I also take photos of any damage that’s there as well. You really don’t need the hassle of having to explain pre-existing damage.
I also take photos of the car when I hand it back. This is especially important if you are dropping off outside office hours. If you do this make sure that the photos have some background in them to show that it is the drop off location and not at pick up. A time stamp of the image is also useful.
Final Thoughts
There are many ways to travel while on holiday, and hiring a car is a great option. I certainly don’t use a car for the whole holiday, but it is an essential part of the plan.
Having a car will allow you great flexibility to get where you want to go, when you want to go there.
If you’re new to driving and a bit nervous, select somewhere that drives on the same side of the road as you do, and get an automatic car. Take small steps, and in no time at all you’ll be driving everywhere.
For a few extra tips to make your travel easier, check out these posts.
How to plan a round the world trip.
Budget family travel for beginners.
Cheers and happy travels.