Car Rental for 6 months

Gareth77

Hi,

I really need to use a car (at weekends) over the next 6 months. I live in South West London and I'm looking to move to outside of London (Buckinghamshire/Surrey/Herts) etc and will need to drive to go and investigate areas and do viewings.

What would be the best option for me (I don't want to commit to buying) - is it possible to do a long term car rental? Is it worth it?

Thanks,
G

iainscomputer

This is a money saving site! Why not just hire a car at weekends? You will find that some companies do deals for weekend hire, with cheaper rates & upgraded cars. Why pay for 7 days if you only need two?
Don't forget to buy your excess insurance from a specialist.

WTFH

If you are still going to be working in the same area, then you might be best to get trains to the main towns, then you'll get an idea of your commute.

I used to live in Bucks but moved to Surrey a few years ago. Using websites like Zoopla can be good for finding properties. Narrow it down to a few, then try to organise seeing them in one day.
In that case, just do a weekend rental of a car and blitz them.

Gareth77

I'm looking at Zip Cars v's a 6 month rental and trying to see which is the most cost effective approach.

wba31

how much is 6 months rental working out?

buy a car for £100 and use that, scrap it when done?

londonTiger

rentals never going to be cost effective dont waste your time with the "math|"

Weekends are peak periods for hire cars, people take cars out for friday/sat to return on sunday and are the most expensive days of the week.

Zipcar is probably the most expensive if you're commuting because it's not suited for going to a place, staying for say 6+ hours and then driving back because they charge by the hour. I hire zipvans and did a small delivery in central london for an event. Ended up in traffic and the wehole usage was around 5 hours. Calculated the cost at £8.75 per hour and say that I could just hire a van for a whole day for £40 and not have the stress of returning it so rigidly.

Just buy a used car, you can get decent cars for £1000 with all the mod cons you need, air con, electric windows, cd player, power steering etc. It will cost you another grand insurance too plus fuel. But at the end of your use you can probably sell it for £7-800. When picking insurers check their cancellation fees in the small print. Pick one that will give you a decent amount of money back. Read on these forums that some companies charge huge cancellation fees that make it pointless cancelling the policy because they'll take the whole years worth anyway - others might be more generous and give you a pro rata refund with a small admin charge.

goonarmy

Lets assume that six months equals 6x4 weeks = 24 weeks. 24 weeks of hire at lets say 150 per week equals 24x10=3600. But a car for half that insure it with the rest get rid when done.

k18dan

Bangernomics! Buy something old with 6 months MOT and scrap or sell on after.

You may even make a profit!

jaydeeuk1

k18dan wrote: »

Bangernomics! Buy something old with 6 months MOT and scrap or sell on after.

You may even make a profit!

This. Get an old luxo barge, rover 75, Jag XJ or something for under £2k, much better than hiring some crappy poverty spec astra or golf.

WTFH

Or, be really smart.
Find a car dealer offering 24 hour test drives.