Cheap car hire article discussion

Clairsdad

Any ideas for the best place to hire a vehicle for a USA road trip... one way from San Francisco To Boston... 4 weeks for 3 large adults (so compact or mid size min). MSE special offer - Argus = over £1,000... Skyscanner search - Opodo = £600 which might be the cheapest deal

spexs

I'm looking to hire a car in Spain (for the first time) for a week in May and it seems to be a bit of a minefield so if anyone can help I'd be grateful. I plan to pick up and return the car to Alicante airport. I have searched using Martin's recommended search sites but I can't seem to get what I want at a decent price; maybe I'm just not seeing it. Anyway what I'm looking for is a small five door, fuel full to full, breakdown cover and all excess costs eventualities covered. Any advice please. Thanks.

NiftyDigits

spexs wrote: »

I'm looking to hire a car in Spain (for the first time) for a week in May and it seems to be a bit of a minefield so if anyone can help I'd be grateful. I plan to pick up and return the car to Alicante airport. I have searched using Martin's recommended search sites but I can't seem to get what I want at a decent price; maybe I'm just not seeing it. Anyway what I'm looking for is a small five door, fuel full to full, breakdown cover and all excess costs eventualities covered. Any advice please. Thanks.

Example from the 1st to the 8th with Hertz. Seems a reasonable price to me.

Standalone car hire excess insurance for less than £16 for the week. or consider an annual policy. http://www.carhireexcess.co.uk/

spexs

Thanks NiftyDigits. However when I put in my dates 23-30 May I get £151.56 for the Opel Corsa. Also breakdown cover does not appear to be included nor can I see their fuel policy.

twarde

For Alicante I have used PJ's rent a car. They are small operation run by expats from the area. Their USP is that they pick you up at the airport and take you to your accommodation where your hire car is waiting. The cars are not new but are in good condition and seem well maintained. The fuel policy is full/full and they have breakdown cover. I think the insurance covers most things but not all I remember loss of keys isn't. Also, I paid in cash.

NiftyDigits

spexs wrote: »

Thanks NiftyDigits. However when I put in my dates 23-30 May I get £151.56 for the Opel Corsa. Also breakdown cover does not appear to be included nor can I see their fuel policy.

Fuel policy is Full/Full unless your request otherwise.

All Hertz vehicles are rented with a full tank of petrol and must be returned with a full tank or a refuelling service charge in addition to the cost of fuel will apply.

If you refill the fuel tank, please do it within 15 km of where you return it, and keep your receipt as you will need to show it to our team.

Fuel Purchase Option (FPO)
For convenience, you may purchase a tank of fuel from Hertz at the time of rental at a price that is competitive with local fuel stations. This method eliminates the need for you to refill the tank before returning. Please be aware that we are unable to give a refund for unused fuel.

Please check availability at time of rental.

Roadside assistance is included. Everything else should be covered by the excess policy.

Gman4815

Hi

this is a bit of a minefield. i've been checking the comparison sites for car hire for a week from 11-18th feb from Alicante airport and some ridiculously cheap quotes appeared. Anything from £10 a week upwards. I've already bought an annual excess cover policy so what hidden horrors should i look out for? A small car is sufficient and full to full fuel policy is the only other stipulation really.

One question I have is that I only have a master card debit card so I'm not sure whether these are sufficient for any deposit. The last time i went i hired the car in advance then got cajoled into the full insurance upon arrival to the desk bumping the price up by more than double.

Any help appreciated.

NiftyDigits

Gman4815 wrote: »

Hi

this is a bit of a minefield. i've been checking the comparison sites for car hire for a week from 11-18th feb from Alicante airport and some ridiculously cheap quotes appeared. Anything from £10 a week upwards. I've already bought an annual excess cover policy so what hidden horrors should i look out for? A small car is sufficient and full to full fuel policy is the only other stipulation really.

One question I have is that I only have a master card debit card so I'm not sure whether these are sufficient for any deposit. The last time i went i hired the car in advance then got cajoled into the full insurance upon arrival to the desk bumping the price up by more than double.

Any help appreciated.

You'll likely be stuck without a credit card. Likely you will have to pay for full insurance from the hirer in order to avoid having to leave a deposit.

If you had a CC, I would have recommended;



utilising CDP: 816220 expires today.

Gman4815

Well since I have no desire to take on a credit card, does anybody know of any options available to me other than pay the ridiculous insurance cover from the hire company. I have the available cash in my debit card account, which doesn't appear to be acceptable. Is it a case of you have to have a credit card or you're basically over a barrel?

NiftyDigits

Gman4815 wrote: »

Well since I have no desire to take on a credit card, does anybody know of any options available to me other than pay the ridiculous insurance cover from the hire company. I have the available cash in my debit card account, which doesn't appear to be acceptable. Is it a case of you have to have a credit card or you're basically over a barrel?

If you think about it, it's quite obvious. You can withdraw the money from your account at any time, leaving the hire company high and dry. A credit card gives them the security of payment. So not having a credit card is only hurting you in the long run, as you also miss out on the protections that they offer.
So it's not a case of them having you over a barrel, it's you not thinking it through and refusing to have a CC on standby for this kind of thing. It actually protects your cash and cash flow. No need to keep a debt on it.
So without a CC, post #536 offers a solution.