subject: 4 Tips To Getting The Best Car Hire Deal Possible [print this page] Planning on hiring a car on your next holiday? Take a look through these 4 tips to ensure you get the best deal you possibly can.
1. Pay in advance - if you can pay in advance, you'll find that the overall price of the car hire is cheaper than waiting to pay in full once you pick up the car.
This is because if you pay in advance, you only pay for the total cost of the rental. When you wait until you pick up the car, though, whilst the overall cost will be the same, the company will often ask for payment via a credit card for security and identification purposes, which results in additional charges for currency conversion and using your card abroad being made by your bank.
2. Only go for the car you need - generally speaking, when you're looking to hire a car, you should only go for the car that is suited to your needs there and then.
For instance, if you're travelling with a family, get a car that you can all fit into comfortably. If you're only travelling with your partner, however, go for something small and compact.
Comfort is important when you're looking at car hire, but so is price and therefore you should only hire a car with only enough space for the people who are going to be travelling in the car - anything extra and it's just going to be wasted money.
3. Don't be afraid to ask for a free upgrade - as Brits, we are often far too polite for our own good and never want to risk causing embarrassment to anyone.
If you want the best deals, however, you're going to have to take this risk and with car hire, it's always recommended that you ask for a free upgrade when you pick up your car.
You might not get it, but you'll never know without trying.
4. Book extremely early or unusually late - depending where you're travelling to and how many people you're travelling with depends on what you do, but both have their benefits.
For example, if you're planning a holiday with your family to Spain and know you'll need to take advantage of car hire Mallorca, you should look to book as early as you can. As you know the dates that you're travelling and how many people you'll need a car for, aside from the fact you're likely to be able to reserve the exact car you want, chances are there'll also be a discount available for booking so far in advance.
Conversely, if you're travelling by yourself or with just one other to a major city, it's sometimes advised to wait until you're actually in the country before you hire your car.
The reason behind this is unlike a large family requiring a specific car for car hire Mallorca, a single person or couple could in essence take any car. Therefore, if you're in this position, simply walk up to the car rental office, preferably late in the day and as most cars will be gone, they'll want to get rid of whatever cars they've got left, so you're likely to be able to grab a bargain, often on a car much larger than you need.
