If you're booking yourself what does everyone do for car hire?

[boff64]

What are everyne thoughts please for Car Hire. We are going out next February. We looked at the various fly drive deals from Charters and Virgin but due to blind patriotism booked a schedule flight on BA as early pricing left all of the car hire websites much of a muchness.

We were just wondering if anybody had any strong thoughts as to the best, worst, cheapest etc.

Many thanks in advance

 

[Andy B]

Look at BA's website for a base figure, then check the websites, I normally find that the consolodators such as holiday autos, car hire 3000 are cheaper than direct with the individual companies.

 

[wayneg]

Some use http://www.usrentacar.co.uk/
but I always use Airnet have done about 13 times now without a problem and always best prices I can find, they use Dollar which is best company I have used, personally would never use Alamo again (there was a thread recently saying how bad they were). www.airnet.co.uk
As always no matter how good you find a company others have problems with them.
Good luck

 

[boff64]

Never heard of Airnet before. Just checked it out and it looks cool. Thanks a lot.

I've used Carjet.co.uk in Spain before now and found them excellent and I notice that they have a US facility.

Has anyone ever used them in Orlando???

 

[Babyboo]

We use airline network to book I can never find anybody offering a cheaper deal that includes the inclusive insurance. Never had any problems with them

We have a package booked with First Choice that includes a car. The inclusive insurance upgrade costs around £197 for a intermediate and Airline Network can get me a Luxury including insurance for around £170 (can't remember exact figure) so we just don't pick up the First Choice car

 

[scottishsue]

We have booked our car through Dollar for this October - prices were fairly reasonable. We've never used Alamo so don't know how good they are, sorry.

 

[Groovee]

My friend uses www.yescarhire.com as they have a holiday home in florida and they've never had a problem with the cars they get and they are much cheaper to rent from.

 

[fluffy bunny]

I have used Airline Network for the last few trips. Always seem to be the best prices for the minivans we tend to book. I am just looking around now for this summers trip, so will let you know if I find any better deals.

 

[BRobson]

Dh usually does all the shopping about but I know we have used Airline Network the last 3 or 4 times and they have been very competitive.

 

[Tony Toon]

We are also shopping around for a 7 seat minivan for July. Currently Airline Network are quoting £513 for 21 days (dollar) while US rentacar are posting £447 !!! a special offer with Budget which includes 2nd driver. I used US rentacar last year and loved the minivan we got.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

you do need to shop around.
Each car hire firm seems to have more vehicles of one class avialalable at certain times and will then come out the best on pricing for that class. Its like airline seats, the more available, the cheaper price.
Some are best for minivans, whilst others are more expensive as they do not have a large stock available.

I always check the big ones and have been surprised how well they come out.
For December, the cheapest of all for us in a 4X4 (Take that Brown!!) is Hertz direct.

maybe we should have a sticky of car hire firms we would reccommend checking with?

 

[Rascal1003]

I have found that booking Dollar direct are very competitive. Virgin Holidays use Dollar and charge a big lump for the Insurance. Dollar's rates equate to this value, but are fully inclusive, so no additional costs.

 

[wayneg]

, but are fully inclusive, so no additional costs.

Dollar still do 2 prices, Fully incl rate is not fully inclusive. Their platinum package is, tank petrol, additional drivers etc.
Dollar direct Platinum for 25 nights in August full size 2 door around £550
Airnet for same rental around £500
Don't know why Dollar direct can't be more competetive, they would earn much more cutting out the agents.

 

[merlin307]

I have used floridacarhire.co.uk 4 times and each time their prices have been the best. They use Dollar and Alamo and u can choose which
Just booked an intermediate 4 door for £240 fully inclusive (extra driver x 2, full tank and unlimited mileage) 14 days hire ........I haven't been able to beat them..........

 

[DebIreland]

Just be careful and make sure the insurance you need (such as Collision, Damage Waiver) is included in the price you are quoted. We made the mistake of jumping at a 'great' promo price on the U.S. Dollar site - it was 75 dollars for 3 days incl taxes for a mid-size (I'd hate to see a compact cause the boot in the midsize was miniscule!). There was no mention of insurance on the U.S. site (unlike their co.uk site). So we waited til we got to the counter to ask about insurance (most likely everyone else knows *not* to do that ). Anyway the insurance brought the price up from 75 to 180 dollars which means we paid 35 dollars PER DAY for Collision Damage Waiver insurance. Very costly!

I've also heard that you can book an auto insurance policy separately to cover you for the duration of your car rental period so if you got a good daily rate on the hire itself you could then combine that with your own separate insurance policy but I don't know much about that.

 

[florida2005]

Dollar still do 2 prices, Fully incl rate is not fully inclusive. Their platinum package is, tank petrol, additional drivers etc.
Dollar direct Platinum for 25 nights in August full size 2 door around £550
Airnet for same rental around £500
Don't know why Dollar direct can't be more competetive, they would earn much more cutting out the agents.

Just shows you, I found direct form dollar.co.uk cheaper than the online brokers (such as usrentacar, yescarhire etc). Previously, I always used the brokers but this year checked a few companies direct (luxury car in oct from Tampa) and to my surprise dollar direct were cheapest.

So, the moral is - check absolutely every option online as the cheapest option will depend on class of car, pickup location and time of year

 

[Babyboo]

Personally I think as some previous posters have stated. Make sure you know what insurance package you are geting.

Reading through the posts I am sure that not everybody is comparing like for like. I always cost car hire up to the same package as Virgins Platimum Insurance - that way I know I am fully covered.

It is very unlikely that unless you request it that booking direct with an American company will include all the required insurances. Most Americans are able to cover car hire insurances with benefits they get from their credit cards.

I get a great code as a AP holder for car hire (the on site company at the car care centre) but it doesn't include any insurance once this is added on I may as well book elsewhere.

I would say make sure that when booking a fully inculsive package you are happy with the level of cover you are getting, as previously stated it isn't always as 'fully inclusive' as the name suggests.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Most of the major car hire companies do have a UK web site which will give you fully inclusive rates in GBP
Some of them are:

https://www.alamo.co.uk/Home/740/uk/

http://www.autosabroad.com/

http://www.avis.com/AvisWeb/home/AvisHome

http://www.dollar.co.uk/

http://car-rental.europcar.com/car-UNITED_STATES_OF_AMERICA.html

https://www.hertz.co.uk

https://www.nationalcar.co.uk/ukweb/default.jsp

http://www.thrifty.co.uk/

I am sure others can add to this list

 

[gavvy]

I buy insurance from insurance4carhire.com then either take the "free" car in a package, or rent from the american websites of the big hire companys, You can save a lot by doing this- works even better if you plan on going back within a year.