Arranging car hire



There are a plethora of ways to book car hire and a load of confusing terms and conditions associated with the price. One of the biggest costs of hiring a car is the insurance cover. As prices and cover vary by provider, consolidator and by State, it is well worth taking some time to book your car and to read the small print –  tedious I know but you can save a lot of money and avoid a lot of hassle that wayCovered bridge.
There are several options when you come to  arrange car hire:

Option 1 –  You can go through one of several consolidator firms such as Holiday Autos or Easycar and buy a package that includes your insurance. This can be very cost effective and can be especially good if you know you want to buy several extras such as cover for more than one driver, child seats, sat nav etc.

Option 2 – You can shop through a provider such as Opodo or Expedia which will compare the prices of several hire companies and can sometimes give a good price, especially if bought as part of a bundle with flights and accommodation.

Option 3 – You can go straight to the hire company of your choice and book a car using their website.

The second and third options leave the insurance piece with the provider of the car hire. Before you book, check very carefully what is included in the price. Often it is very basic insurance and you will end up buying additional cover when you collect the car, adding significantly to the cost of the hire. The companies often do not make it easy to find out what isn’t covered and the cost of any upgrades to insurance so be persistent! You may have to e-mail them and ask.