Car Hire - how to get it cheap!

DarkFallout

Anyone would like to help me with my quote, any better ideas how to do it.

salerbil

TBeckett100 wrote: »

Budget combines the strength of one of the world’s largest car rental brands together with the detailed local knowledge, flexibility and great value for money you need.

Established in 1958, the Budget Rent a Car brand is licenced within Europe, the Middle East and Africa to Zodiac Europe Ltd (a subsidiary of Avis Europe Plc). Budget locations are either directly owned or franchised to local operators across the region.

Our global network now includes more than 3,400 locations, operating a wide range of cars, trucks and vans in 128 countries.

Yes but

They seem careful to avoid claiming to own any cars

DarkFallout

I have just sent my claim:

Pick up date: 27th of October 2010

Drop off date: 08th of November

Car group requested: Intermediate

Pick up location: Hull, UK

Drop off location (same as pick up): Hull, UK

Price offered by Europcar: 387.50 GBP

Price offered by competitor (Hertz UK) for comparable car: 311.93 GBP


Refund claimed: 151,14 (double the difference)


The effective price would be 236,36 for 12 days rental of intermediate car - supposed to be VW Passat 1,9 S TD or similar if the claim is successful - 19,70 GBP per day.

Bacardi_queen

TBeckett100 wrote: »

Easyjet offer via their website car hire (not easycar) around the world, teamed up with Europcar. They offer a double the difference guarantee so if you find the same rental catagory cheaper with another "global provider" i.e. hertz, avis, budget (not screenscraper websites like Argus, Car hire 3000) you get 2 x the difference back.

https://cars.easyjet.com/index.shtml?lang=GB&PROMO=47873771


Example

Lanzarote 19/09/10-26/09/10

easyjet - economy car (group a) = £186.51
Hertz - economy car (group a) = £115.23 (always compare prepaid rate)

difference = £71.28
double difference = £142.56

rental cost = £43.95 for the week

Note if you need a baby seat you may find it overall cheaper to go with a local provider as some offer them for free or ata much lower cost

This is pretty risk free, you have a certain period to cancel and get a refund if your discount is not honoured.

terms available here
https://cars.easyjet.com/reasons/lpg/?lang=gb

good luck

I also did this last year. Booked an economy 1.4L 2-4 door car with Europcar for £541.58. Then had a quote from Hertz for an economy 1.4L 2-4 door car for £224.97!

So I claimed for a refund of £633.22! The terms and conditions of the offer stated that they will confirm within 96 hours whether or not the claim was successful. I had 14 days to cancel without being charged so if it was declined, I'd have cancelled the booking.

It was accepted though, here's what they sent me at the time:

Dear Mr ***

After a review of your claim, in this instance, we agree that you do have a valid claim and therefore we will refund double the difference of £614.62.

After the terms and conditions of the offer will be processed after the rental has taken place.

In order for us to issue a refund, we will need you to contact us again after the rental has finished quoting your rental agreement number and claim reference (stated above ).

We do genuinely attempt tor offer the best possible value car rental and will be passing on the details to our pricing department.

We would like to thank you for choosing Europcar

Kind regards

Lowest price guarantee

It took longer than the stated "96 hours" in the terms and conditions for a reply, and 2 chasers to the claims department speaking to people who were downright rude. However I did get the refund and with only one email once I'd got back from the holiday - no chasers this time. Was very impressed.

Also, I've used Europcar twice now both in Ibiza and I've been extremely happy with their service.


Edit: I've just noticed they've changed their T&Cs so that the maximum claim is only up to £400. I was effectively PAID to hire from them but this probably won't be possible now with their claim limit.

Just be careful of all the T&Cs for claiming too, especially number 8)

connlach

Thanks for this. It would be useful to come up with a list of companies you can compare with.

So far it seemes to be ok with Hertz and Avis.

Possible would be Sixt and Budget

Unknown - Alamo, Thrifty

Any other ideas? Can you include extra like winter tyres?

karms12

DarkFallout wrote: »

I have just received an email form easyjet and currently their small cars are discounted to 11-12 pounds a day, got a quote for 7 days 79 pounds.

https://cars.easyjet.com/deals/2010/08_uk_upto45/?countriesCO=GB&lang=gb&PROMO=50695116

Don't know if the offer is invitation only.

Not invitational 8% cashback via Quidco.

Thank you, Great deal much better than my present quote.:T

worcestersaver

I used Cardelmar recently & got a Hertz car cheaper than any deal I found direct with them.

http://www.cardelmar.co.uk/booking/index.jsp?lang=uk&opId=33231&partnerNo=39210&track=rmsarcar.com

The secret is booking a car early, similar to flights the best deals go first.

Excess insurance I got from carhire excess, luckily i didn't need their services but I was pleased with the price I paid.

http://www.carhire-excess-insurance.com

Alias_Omega

Tried to book a car hire in the UK for 20 days.

Easyjet came up cheapest in all sizes.


Im struggling with quotes, can anyone help us out with this.

Hired from 16th Oct till the 5th November, from Chester, UK.
Returning to Chester, UK.
A car to take 2x Adults, 3x Children.

newreclaimer

Ive had my refund paid and the company I used as the comparison was Alamo so I can confirm you can compare with them.

connlach wrote: »

Thanks for this. It would be useful to come up with a list of companies you can compare with.

So far it seemes to be ok with Hertz and Avis.

Possible would be Sixt and Budget

Unknown - Alamo, Thrifty

Any other ideas? Can you include extra like winter tyres?

DarkFallout

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Tried to book a car hire in the UK for 20 days.

Easyjet came up cheapest in all sizes.


Im struggling with quotes, can anyone help us out with this.

Hired from 16th Oct till the 5th November, from Chester, UK.
Returning to Chester, UK.
A car to take 2x Adults, 3x Children.

Try with intermediate range compared to Hertz.

What I have just looked at is:

EasyJet 613.57

Hertz 465,93

If they honour your claim they should give you about 300 pound refund leading to effective price about 315 pounds for 20 days.