Car Hire

Enyioko

Hi all!1st time poster here hoping to get some advice if possible! I'm looking to hire a car from London that I can take to France for 7 nights in April.

I'm already a Zipcar member but to hire one of those for any serious length of time is harsh money - its set up for popping to Ikea not taking the kids on a ferry holiday for the Easter break!

Can anybody recommend a company that's not going to rip me off or bankrupt me or perhaps have any suggestions?

Looking forward to someone replying.

spiro

I would start by getting quotes from all the big companies online as a guide. Taking the car out of the UK will always up the cost. Other things that will impact the cost can be, are the kids old enough not to need child or boaster seats? Mileage you expect to do. Your age.

da_rule

Would it not be easier to hire one in France? There are rental places at the Calais ferry point. Bonus will be that it will have all of the relevant equipment for driving on the continent (high vis jackets, breathalysers etc) and will be left hand drive.

AdrianC

Fly to your destination, hire one locally. Much easier, much cheaper, much quicker.

chib

da_rule wrote: »

Would it not be easier to hire one in France? There are rental places at the Calais ferry point. Bonus will be that it will have all of the relevant equipment for driving on the continent (high vis jackets, breathalysers etc) and will be left hand drive.

I second this comment. Perhaps the hesitation is the LHD car, considering an automatic would be a good option.

da_rule

Also, having done it myself, some hire companies (Europcar) will allow you to take the vehicle anywhere in the EU with no extra cost. All you need to do is make sure you check the rules of any countries you're driving through for things like number of high vis jackets needed etc and make sure you have enough if this is higher than the amount that are supplied in the originating country.

da_rule

chib wrote: »

I second this comment. Perhaps the hesitation is the LHD car, considering an automatic would be a good option.

Yeah, I always opt for an auto when doing left hand drive. I don't mind manuals but just find it easier when driving a LHD vehicle.

I also find driving a LHD vehicle so much easier and safer when in a country that drives on the left. A RHD makes everything just a bit more tricky I find.

Also you don't have to worry about those anti-dazzle things on the headlights.

AdrianC

da_rule wrote: »

I also find driving a LHD vehicle so much easier and safer when in a country that drives on the left.

<scratches head>
Umm... Do you mean the other left?

chib

Perhaps he means the left hand side of the car, rather than the left hand side of the road.

da_rule

AdrianC wrote: »

<scratches head>
Umm... Do you mean the other left?

Yeah that was a bit of a mind fart.