Add-on fees are almost doubling the price of a two-week car hire says news article

It is nearly the summer holiday season with many schools breaking up in a few days and maybe some already and the articles are starting to come out about "additional car hire costs".

I was approached earlier this week by someone in Ireland on advice about hiring a car in Portugal in July and people are very cost concious know and wary of additional costs when it come to hiring a car and other matters to do with the family holiday.

Just come across this article from the Daily Mail's "This is Money" called "Families with young children face being charged more than £500 in extras for hiring a car on the Continent this summer" by Tony Hazell.

The article explains that hiring a Ford Focus equivalent for two weeks in Alicante, Spain would cost £561.76 with Hertz, in Nice, France it would be £631.43 with Avis, while Europcar would charge £600.76 from Malaga in Spain. Local firms may appear to be even cheaper.

The add ons include Child booster seats and Child seats, an extra driver, a Sat Nav and of course extra insurance.

The fuel issue comes up again and I warned the person in Ireland about this week, whereby "Many smaller companies sell you a full tank of fuel and insist you return empty. This is a double rip-off because they can charge a tip-top price and they know most motorists will leave around a quarter of a tank. However, some of the big names still give you a choice of returning the car with a full tank at some destinations. If you get this choice, take it."

Then there is the insurance - car hire excess insurance - Buy before you travel. Halo Insurance offers an annual European policy covering excess and tyres, windscreens and other items excluded by standard collision damage waiver for £39.99 (it’s £59.99 worldwide) via its website icarhireinsurance HERE. A U.S. and Canada policy for the whole works, including collision damage waiver, is £79.99.

There are other companies out there also offering great deals on line Here
  Finally three very important tips from this Daily Mail article -   Check your credit card — Some firms may try to convert your bill to pounds and you could get a lousy exchange rate. Always pay in local currency. Refuse to sign or key in your PIN if they don’t allow you to do this.

Check the car — When you pick it up, check it for marks, dents and scratches. Photograph them, draw them to the attendant’s attention and insist they are marked on the agreement. Check the tyres and refuse to take a car you’re not happy with.

And check that car again — When you drop off the car, photograph it so you have proof that there was no damage. And make sure the firm checks it in front of you. When you return home, make sure no unexpected charges crop up on your credit card.

To read the article in full Click Here

Let us know your good and bad holiday car rental experiences by replying on this blog.