Cheap Hire Cars in Spain

[moleamol]

Mods, can you leave this in here please as many more people will have been to Spain than the ones that visit the travel forum. Thanks.

Has anyone got any recommendations for cheap hire cars in Spain? Picking up and dropping off at Alicante airport and for a period of 14 days. Everywhere seems to be twice the price it was last year.

[Jazoli]

I've always used Carjet, Auriga aren't bad either, hired cars weekly for several years for clients, they are more expensive now because of the exchange rate

[wobblyweb]

Hi
I use http://www.doyouspain.com/

cheapest i've found from Malaga. This year we got a Merc with 1000k on so good cars too.

Rae

[moleamol]

euroboy said:

You are screwed - hire cars are in short supply this summer in Spain. There was an article on BBC news a while ago.

Basically the companies made a massive cockup when predicting demand and havent got enough cars - according to the BBC article you are doing quite well if you get a car at all.

There were stories of people ordering MPVs for the family and being given a Ford Ka or similar at the airport!!

Oh joy.

[nogginthenog]

moleamol said:

euroboy said:

You are screwed - hire cars are in short supply this summer in Spain. There was an article on BBC news a while ago.

Basically the companies made a massive cockup when predicting demand and havent got enough cars - according to the BBC article you are doing quite well if you get a car at all.

There were stories of people ordering MPVs for the family and being given a Ford Ka or similar at the airport!!

Oh joy.

Quite - I read an article, probably in the Guardian, where a couple booked their usual £350 ( or so ) deal, only to have the hire company pull-out at the last minute due to lack of stock. The closest comparable quote they could get was something like £1200!

I shouldn't think that there would be such a problem now the high-season has been and gone?

[anonymous-user]

I just hired an economy car (Citroen C2) via Expedia for £122 for a week picking up from Valencia airport in October. Car is being provided by Alamo. So they should be worth a try.

[Phil.]

After checking ALL the hirers and comparison sites for Alicante it cost me £600 for a battered Focus with 40k km for the last 2 weeks of Aug - last year it was around £300. Book early if you can.

One bit of advice for Alicante, if there are two or more of you travelling. As soon as you get through passport control send the main driver to get the hire car leaving the others to collect the luggage otherwise you'll have an hour+++ wait to collect the keys!

[Phil.]

euroboy said:

You are screwed - hire cars are in short supply this summer in Spain. There was an article on BBC news a while ago.

Basically the companies made a massive cockup when predicting demand and havent got enough cars - according to the BBC article you are doing quite well if you get a car at all.

Given the battered nature of the hire cars with lots of km, it seems that it is more to do with available finance i.e. they can't get the cash to replace the hire cars and meet the peak summer demand.

[VxDuncan]

Yup, if you're anything like my sister the problem isn't merely the cost, it's actually finding one. In August most of the companies were running waiting lists.

[anonymous-user]

Try all of these:

http://www.goldcar.es/

http://www.amigoautos.es/

http://www.solmar.es/carhire/index.php

http://www.centauro.net/

[Banner]

We were in Spain (Malaga) a month ago. The only company at the airport that anything at all were the first one down the ramp who wanted 530 euros for a Smart car for the week! A lot of creative thinking and traveling around finally got us a Fiat Panda for 160 euros for 4 days. Definately pre book if you can.

[Mr E]

We didn't have a problem when we went, but may have just got lucky

Phil. said:

One bit of advice for Alicante, if there are two or more of you travelling. As soon as you get through passport control send the main driver to get the hire car leaving the others to collect the luggage otherwise you'll have an hour+++ wait to collect the keys!

Definitely do this. Without question.

[cazzer]

I can ask me dad to come and give you a lift somewhere

[Defcon]

euroboy said:

You are screwed - hire cars are in short supply this summer in Spain. There was an article on BBC news a while ago.

Basically the companies made a massive cockup when predicting demand and havent got enough cars - according to the BBC article you are doing quite well if you get a car at all.

There were stories of people ordering MPVs for the family and being given a Ford Ka or similar at the airport!!

It is September, that article referred to the first week of August, the peak of school holiday breaks. Most kids have now gone back to school so you will have no problem at all. .

[Defcon]

euroboy said:

oh im so sorry

I accept your apology.

[The Moose]

Check these guys out:

http://www.carhire3000.com/

Cheers

The Moose

[moleamol]

moleamol said:

Mods, can you leave this in here please as many more people will have been to Spain than the ones that visit the travel forum. Thanks.

Yeah, thanks.

[Don]

moleamol said:

moleamol said:

Mods, can you leave this in here please as many more people will have been to Spain than the ones that visit the travel forum. Thanks.

Yeah, thanks.

Never going to happen, Mole. I'm not a mod but asking for threads not to be moved to subject specific forums just ain't going to work. bh all you want but PH would appear to have made a policy decision and stuck with it.

That and I found your thread easily enough!

On to the helpful bit: if you haven't booked flights and really are having trouble getting a hire car at a decent price you could consider using the Portsmouth/Bilbao ferry. You get to take your own car - and that has certain advantages. Sure the travel might cost you more but the savings in car hire might make it worth it.

Personally I actually LIKE the ferry and book the best cabin possible and try to enjoy it like a short cruise. Two nights out, one night back.

Worth a look: even if not for this occasion, if you like Northern Spain...and I do.

[Adenauer]

Moleamol, I've just got back from Majorca, had a Seat Ibiza with aircon for two weeks which cost €14.50 per day with unlimited mileage, and believe it or not it was with Avis.

[FUBAR]

Probably too late now, but when I went to Alicante last month I flew with Monarch I booked a car with SixT via the Monarch website. VW Golf class car with aircon for £150. Checked the same car with SixT direct and it was £300 (ended up with a brand new Renault Megane saloon Dci...great little hire car)

Father in Law decided to come along too (couldnt say no as it was his villa we where staying at ), gave him this nugget of information regarding booking via Monarch, which he completely ignored and booked his car 2 week before we left with a local 'cheapy' company he always uses. He ended up paying £450 for a battered 2 year old Fiesta

So, if you havent booked your flight, try it via the airline, if you have booked then phone them up and tell them you have been a plonker and please please can they sort something out?

Dont ask you dont get