How to find the cheapest car hire for your holiday: my tips

In my experience, a price comparison site is the easiest way to find a cheap hire car from a reliable company. Just read the conditions carefully. What matters most is having the right credit card for the deposit, or the rental desk may turn you away. When you pick up the car, check it thoroughly and watch out for hidden fees and insurance extras.

Quick factsby Milan Bez Mapy

When to book

At least two to three weeks before your trip; in summer, as soon as you’ve bought your flights

Credit card

In most cases you need one for the deposit, and it must be in the main driver’s name

Deposit

Usually €200 to €1,000; around €200 to €400 for small city cars

At pick-up

Photograph every scratch and the fuel level, even if the damage is noted in the handover report

Watch out for

You pay for full days, so returning the car an hour and a half late means paying for an extra day

Insurance

Basic cover can easily carry a €2,000 excess; don’t get talked into insurance you don’t need at the desk

On holiday, a hire car is a given, especially on islands such as Madeira or Lanzarote. Choosing the right rental company can save you money and a whole lot of stress. I’ve put together a practical step-by-step guide to car hire, based on how I do it myself. Having a car on holiday means freedom, but it also means responsibility.

How to find the cheapest hire car from a company you can trust

Are smaller local car hire companies worth it?

The most reliable car hire brands include classics such as Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Sixt. You’ll find them at almost every big airport, and smaller airports have at least one of them. As a rule, they guarantee better service and fewer ‘surprises’.

That said, don’t let smaller local rental companies put you off either, because they can be a pleasant surprise. Just read the reviews carefully, and the rental conditions even more carefully, and you’ll often find better prices too. Bear in mind that you book a car category, not a specific car. That way nothing catches you out, and you may even be treated to a free upgrade to a higher category.

Discover Cars: a comparison site for car hire prices

• Tip from Milan It’s a reliable site that compares prices from different rental companies in one place. What I like is that it always shows results that match my filters and sets out the rental conditions clearly. Surprisingly often, Discover Cars also has better prices than the rental companies’ own websites.

The best time to book a car is well in advance, at least two to three weeks before your trip. In summer, prices climb quite steeply, and in some places it can be hard to find anything available at all. So in summer it’s best to book the car as soon as you’ve bought your flights. You can of course hire a car when you get there, but it’s better to be prepared and know what you’ll pay.

Why you need a credit card to hire a car on holiday

A very common question about car hire: do I really need a credit card? I’ve written a whole article about it.

The short answer is yes, in most cases. It makes hiring a car much, much easier. The main reason is that international rental companies hold a deposit on your credit card as security (usually €200 to €1,000 depending on the car category, and more for pricier cars). It’s standard practice and nothing to worry about.

You get the money back afterwards, according to their terms. A deposit on a credit card can come back faster than one on a debit card (if the company accepts debit cards at all). That’s because the money on a credit card belongs to the bank. The size of the deposit also depends on your insurance: whether you bought it from the rental company and with what excess, or took it out with a third party. The type of card matters too. Credit cards tend to mean a lower deposit.

How much is a fair deposit for a hire car?

When you hire a car, rental companies usually ask for a refundable deposit as security in case the car is damaged or you break the rental terms. The amount varies with the type of car and the company, but anything from €200 to €1,000 counts as fair.

Small city cars usually come with a lower deposit of around €200 to €400, while for mid-size cars or SUVs it can be as much as €600 to €1,000. Some rental companies reduce or waive the deposit if you buy extra insurance.

In short, if you have a credit card, the whole process is simpler than with a debit card or cash. The catch is that the cardholder must also be the person hiring the car, in other words the main driver.

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Car hire without a credit card deposit

If you don’t have a credit card, don’t despair: you can still hire a car on holiday. True, a debit card often isn’t enough to hire a car, even though it looks exactly the same. But at small rental companies you may be able to hire a car without a credit card. Finding one just takes longer and needs more thorough research.

If you have no credit card, some companies will offer a way round it: extra insurance bought directly from them. But bear in mind that insurance from the rental company usually costs more than through a broker. It always depends on the company and its conditions, though.

What to check when you pick up a hire car

• Check the condition of the car. Photograph every scratch, crack and damaged wheel rim, even if they’re already noted in the handover report. Better to have too much proof than too little.
• Look at the fuel gauge. Most rental companies have a full-to-full policy, which means you pick the car up with a full tank and bring it back full.
• Make sure the documents are there. The car should have its papers, proof of insurance and an assistance number to call in case of an accident.

The details matter when you return the car too. A tank that isn’t full or a dirty interior can end up as extra charges, though you can avoid both.

Above all, return the car on time, because being a few minutes late can cost you a whole extra day. Just as at pick-up, photograph the car and the fuel gauge. Ideally, ask them to confirm on return that everything was in order. If they later try to charge you fees, you’re covered.

Watch out for hidden car hire fees

Some rental companies are good at disguising their fees. A charge for ‘service’, ‘cleaning’ or ‘late return’ can pop up in the small print of the contract. So read the rental conditions carefully and:

• avoid suspiciously cheap offers with no reviews
• check what is and isn’t included in the price, such as how many kilometres you can drive, fees for picking up outside opening hours, insurance and the driver’s age
• watch the rental times: if you pick up the car at 8am on Wednesday and return it at 9.30am on Thursday, you’ll pay for two full days
• don’t let them push you into insurance you don’t need: it’s a favourite trick at the desk, especially if you already have full cover from your online booking

How to choose the right car hire insurance

The basic insurance usually included in the price covers third-party liability. You’re still liable for damage to the car up to the excess, though, and with basic cover that tends to be quite high, easily €2,000. That means you pay for any damage you cause up to that amount. Not something anyone wants, I imagine.

If you go for full cover, it removes or greatly reduces your excess: you pay for damage only up to a lower amount, or not at all. To be safe, read what full cover includes, because it varies from policy to policy. You can arrange zero-excess cover in advance, which is handy if you’re collecting the car contactless.

7 essential tips for hiring a car

1. Compare car hire prices on comparison sites, such as Discover Cars. Prices can vary depending on whether you pick the car up at the airport or in town, or have it delivered somewhere of your choice.
2. Find out in advance how big the deposit is and whether the insurance comes with an excess or without one. Check whether you need a credit card or a debit card will do, and whether unlimited kilometres are included in the price. Make sure you meet the minimum and maximum age limits and have held your driving licence for as long as the company requires. And of course, bring valid ID for the contract.
3. Ideally, choose a booking you can cancel as close to your flight date as possible. Just in case.
4. The booking is in the name of the cardholder, who is also the main driver. You can also add another driver.
5. Before you sign the rental agreement, read everything on it. Every detail matters, including the type of fuel you’ll be filling up with. At the same time, don’t let them talk you into extras you don’t need.
6. When you pick up the car, check and photograph its condition inside and out. Make sure all the documents are in the glovebox.
7. Return the car on time, refuelled and clean, and you’ll avoid extra charges.

Car hire really needn’t be stressful once you know what to do (even if, after all these tips, it may look complicated). You just have to give it a go. The key is having the right payment card. Otherwise you could be in for a nasty surprise at the desk and walk away empty-handed. And on holiday, you definitely want that hire car.

Holiday car hire: frequently asked questions

Do I need a credit card to hire a car?

In most cases, yes: international rental companies hold a refundable deposit on your credit card as security. A debit card often isn’t enough to hire a car, and the credit card must be in the name of the main driver who is hiring the car.

Can I hire a car without a credit card?

Yes, but it’s harder. Some smaller rental companies will let you hire a car without one, while others offer you more expensive extra insurance of their own instead. So check the conditions before you book.

How much is a car hire deposit?

A car hire deposit is usually around €200 to €1,000: about €200 to €400 for small city cars and €600 to €1,000 for mid-size cars or SUVs. The amount also depends on your insurance, and some companies lower it if you buy extra cover.

When should I book a hire car for my holiday?

Book at least two to three weeks before your trip, and in the summer season ideally as soon as you’ve bought your flights. Car hire prices go up in summer, and in some places there may be no cars available at all.

Is zero-excess car hire insurance worth it?

I think so. Basic car hire insurance often comes with an excess of as much as €2,000, which you pay if the car is damaged. Full cover reduces or removes the excess, and I often buy it through Discover Cars, where it works out cheaper than buying it from the rental company.

If you’re going by car, a few practical apps for drivers will come in handy too.

Happy travels!
Milan