THE LOWDOWN ON HOLIDAY CAR HIRE
Whether you’re cruising through the countryside, negotiating a coastal route or zipping along the autobahn, there’s nothing quite like exploring pastures new. But finding the right car-hire company can be tricky. In 2015, British holidaymakers spent more than £475m in unexpected and unnecessary car-hire costs, according to Travelsupermarket. Here’s what you need to know:
GO DIRECT
Use websites such as skyscanner.net, kayak.co.uk and gocompare.com to research deals but, once you have found the best options, it’s worth checking if it’s cheaper to go direct.
DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT FANCY TRAVELLING IN STYLE? AVOID SNEAKY EXTRAS
Never buy excess waiver or collision damage waiver – these aren’t always necessary. You can add to your insurance for as little as £2 per day. TIP: Beware of charges for extra drivers – some
BRING YOUR OWN
If you need a child’s car seat, take your own – some airlines let you do this for free. Likewise, use your own sat nav (if it has maps for where you’re going).
PACK YOUR DRIVING LICENCE
In Europe, you’ll also need to request a code from the DVLA before you go away. This allows you to share your licence details with your carhire company. It only lasts for 21 days, so if you make lots of trips you’ll need to renew it. See gov.uk/view-driving-licence.
TAKE YOUR TIME
Leave yourself at least half an hour in your schedule for paperwork when collecting and dropping off the car. Question things you’re not sure about and only sign when you’ve read and understood everything.
AND WHEN YOU GET HOME…
There’s nothing quite like exploring pastures new when you’re away