Car Hire and Car Rental

Searching for car rental online has never been easier with the help of the internet. You can easily search and compare prices from various car rental suppliers, often on the same website.

 

Car rental rates often vary considerably depending on what is included in the rate. Look out for those too-good-to-be-true prices - they probably are. You may think you have found a bargain, but it will be a different story when you go to pick up the rental car, only to be told you have to pay for lots of additional charges.

 

So when you are comparing car rental costs online, ensure you are comparing like with like. There are various extra charges which can push up the price of your rental car, so make sure you look out for them. Often if you add these on to that oh-so-low rate, it doesn’t look so appealing anymore.

 

What is Included

 

Most car rental websites will list the inclusions with the rental. These will vary depending on suppliers but generally standard rates include basic insurance and tax.

 

What is Extra

 

Again this will vary but look out for the following:

 

Airport Fees

 

Also known as a Premium Location Fee, you will be charged extra to pick up a rental car at an airport location. This charge varies depending on supplier and location, but in the UK for example could cost as much as 13% of the rental value.

 

Vehicle Licensing Fee

 

This is a Government imposed levy for rental cars to partially recover the registration costs. Approximate cost in the UK: GBP1.22 per day, which over a long period can add up.

 

Additional Driver Fees

 

If you want to have more than one driver for your rental car, this is often an extra charge. Daily charges range from GBP4-20 in the UK, EUR4-8 in Italy and from USD3-10 in the States.

 

Young Driver Surcharge

 

This is often charged if the driver of the rental car is under the age of 25. In Australia, this ranges from AUD13-22 per day. In France, the Young Driver Surcharge varies from EUR20-35 per day, GBP10-25 in the UK and USD5-45 in the USA.

 

Excess Reduction

 

Each rental car often comes with an Insurance Excess which is the amount you would be responsible for if the rental vehicle is damaged. This can often be a few thousand dollars but can be reduced with an optional excess reduction charge which can be paid daily to reduce your excess to a few hundred dollars or even to zero.

 

Additional Equipment

 

Things like child seats, ski racks and snow chains are often available at an extra charge.

 

One Way Rentals

 

If you want to drop off your rental car in a different city from where you picked it up, there may be a one way fee. Again, this varies depending on the supplier and destination. Ensure you ask before you pay!

 

All these extras can add up. Sometimes a standard rate may be right for you but if you are picking up at the airport and want an extra driver, for example, it may make sense for you to go with an inclusive rate.

 

Read the Small Print

 

Be sure to read inclusions carefully to see what the rental rate covers and which one is right for you. Look for possible restrictions and additional costs and find out what exactly they are before you pay. If you find a low car rental rate, make sure that the additional costs do not outweigh the savings.

 

At DriveAway Holidays, each car choice will show clearly if it is a Standard or Inclusive rate and will give you a list of what is and what is not included.

 

People often talk about the “hidden costs” of car rental, but the reality is, they are not hidden at all - you just need to know what to look for.

 

 



By: Car Guru

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A Cyprus car rental makes perfect sense if you want to see more of this beautiful Mediterranean Island at your own pace. Organized Cyprus trips are all very well but if you want the freedom to please yourself Cyprus car rental is definitely the way to go. If you plan ahead and collect your car from the airport you will make an immediate saving on the cost of your transfer from there to your holiday accommodation too. Then once your holiday is over you will be ablet to drop the keys at the Cyprus car rental desk and leave the vehicle at the airport thus making a double saving on your transfer costs. If that alone doesn’t make good financial sense think of the money you will be able to save on taxi fares and coach excursions too.

It’s not just about money though because a Cyprus car rental is also the easiest way to get about on the Island. The buses only run along the main resort routes and taxis are not always that reliable at turning up when you order them either. With the use of your own vehicle for the duration of your Cyprus holiday you can go where ever you want whenever you like. There will be no need to run your holiday to someone elses’s schedule and you won’t have to stick to the well beaten track either. With a Cyprus car rental you can visit all the places that the coaches can’t reach and if you spot somewhere of interest whilst your out there’s no need to go sailing on past wondering what you may have missed.

If you are looking for a great Cyprus car rental deal the internet should be your first port of call even if it’s just to do some price comparisons. There are dozens of companies and agents competing for your Cyprus car rental businesss so it should be easy to pick up a bargain. You may want to avoid companies that don’t have a desk at the airport because these guys will collect you from the airport and take you to the hire office. This may seem like a great idea but when the time comes to return to the airport you will be relying on them to take you there. Not a problem unless you want to check in at your own leisure and hopefully before the coach loads of holiday makers turn up.

You may be better off picking the car up yourself and returning it to the airport at your convenience rather than placing your return transport needs into the hands of someone you don’t even know. Even if you make the mistake of not booking your Cyprus car rental in advance you can still drive a bargain at the airport hire desks. At least you will have a great selection of hire agents all in one place to choose from. Failing all of the above the resorts are literally bristling with small car hire agencies affiliated to the larger Cyprus car rental companies. These people work on a commission only basis so they will be keen to do you a good deal too. With so many agents in one place you get the obvious benefit of being able to compare like for like prices before you do the deal.

However you decide to organize your Cyprus car rental there can be little doubt that it’s the best way to get around even if it’s your first visit to the Island. The Cypriots drive on the left the roads are modern and the signs are in English too so you shouldn’t get lost unless you try really hard at it! After all Cyprus is an Island so you are bound to end up coming back to where you started eventually unless of course you stray into the Turkish sector. (only kidding) In fact most Cyprus car rental companies strictly forbid the use of their cars in the north due to a lack of insurance on that side of the Island. Enjoy your visit and make the most of your Cyprus car rental.



By: Kev Moore

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