Worst car hire firms revealed

BRITISH holidaymakers have been warned which car rental firms to avoid this summer.

And consumer watchdog Which?’s annual survey reveals how travellers are often faced with pressure- selling tactics, rude staff and shock charges.

Spanish firm Goldcar came bottom of the rankings for the fifth time in six years, with 38 per cent of customers saying they would never consider using it. Although its prices are cheap, two in five customers reported problems, most often relating to customer service or credit card charges.

The company is owned by Europcar, which has offices in 140 countries around the world and was the worst performing of the major brands.

Canary Islands company Cicar came top in the rankings, dethroning local rival Auto-Reisen. Enterprise and Alamo were the best major firms.

Which? Travel editor Rory Boland urged drivers to look beyond headline prices. ‘One wrong turn at airport arrivals could easily make or break your holiday. In an industry dogged by unscrupulous practices, making the right choice is paramount,’ he said.