Car hire - Any Tips?
Discussion
In June it's time for the Wiliferus family extravaganza week in Weymouth (I know - worst 'I can afford a holiday in Weymouth post ever' 
)
Anyway, its me, SWMBO, and our two little ones aged 4 and 2. We go with the in laws too (this holidays sounds better and better eh?) and I normally drive. We have a VW Touran which last year *just* did the job on capacity. It was rammed to the rafters.
I've looked at the option of hiring something bigger for more capacity and comfort and was staggered at the prices! For a Galaxy/Zafira Tourer/Sharan type affair it's about £800
Im not after anything fancy - poverty spec manual with a wheezy 1.6tdi would be fine, but it's so expensive!
I should add me driving is the only option as the FIL can't drive that far due to medical reasons, and I quite enjoy doing the 'man' thing and ferrying us all about.
So, any tips or recommendations for car hire companies? Or do I need to buy a shoehorn?
)Anyway, its me, SWMBO, and our two little ones aged 4 and 2. We go with the in laws too (this holidays sounds better and better eh?) and I normally drive. We have a VW Touran which last year *just* did the job on capacity. It was rammed to the rafters.
I've looked at the option of hiring something bigger for more capacity and comfort and was staggered at the prices! For a Galaxy/Zafira Tourer/Sharan type affair it's about £800
Im not after anything fancy - poverty spec manual with a wheezy 1.6tdi would be fine, but it's so expensive!
I should add me driving is the only option as the FIL can't drive that far due to medical reasons, and I quite enjoy doing the 'man' thing and ferrying us all about.
So, any tips or recommendations for car hire companies? Or do I need to buy a shoehorn?
£800 is Madness!
Don't know where you are but one of our local ford dealers ( GK Group ) hires the full range of cars out. £375 for a week in a 7 Seat Galaxy. £420 to £450 for a 9 Seat Transit.
When we used them for a luton transit it was unlimited mileage and the vehicles were immaculate.
Wherever you got watch out and go over the cars for damage. When we hired a car of a major international hire company in Portugal the rep deliberately didn't tell me about the huge dent in its side and tried to get me to sign off the paperwork as if I had received the vehicle in perfect condition! Obviously I politely pointed this out and the other smaller scrapes.
Don't know where you are but one of our local ford dealers ( GK Group ) hires the full range of cars out. £375 for a week in a 7 Seat Galaxy. £420 to £450 for a 9 Seat Transit.
When we used them for a luton transit it was unlimited mileage and the vehicles were immaculate.
Wherever you got watch out and go over the cars for damage. When we hired a car of a major international hire company in Portugal the rep deliberately didn't tell me about the huge dent in its side and tried to get me to sign off the paperwork as if I had received the vehicle in perfect condition! Obviously I politely pointed this out and the other smaller scrapes.
car hire is cheap as chips if you want something small and cheap, can sometimes be £10 a or less if you get a deal or pick a really quiet time.
but there is a big jump in price once you start wanting something a bit bigger, the value of the vehicle is often only 20-30% higher, yet the rental is easily 2-3x the price, often a lot more
you can also rent roof boxes rather than buy them if that is what you are considering
but there is a big jump in price once you start wanting something a bit bigger, the value of the vehicle is often only 20-30% higher, yet the rental is easily 2-3x the price, often a lot more
you can also rent roof boxes rather than buy them if that is what you are considering
wiliferus said:
Car hire - any tips?
Remove the numbers and noise test stickers before returning it to the hire depot.I hired a car for the first time ever earlier this year, as I had sold mine and for once had no spare to go looking in. Went to the local enterprise, booked the cheapest thing they had, got a free upgrade (To a very snazzy Astra), all round surprisingly pleasant experience. Worth perhaps phoning your local branch of Enterprise (or other hire firm) and explaining what you need - they might be able to help?
Otherwise as others have said, get the in-laws to drive (if they can)
Enterprise show rates with a £600 insurance excess. You can reduce it to £100 ,BUT it's expensive,VERY.Might be cheaper to arrange short term comprehensive cover privately. Then , it's CHEAPER to get a quote / reserve ON-LINE. Otherwise you pay showroom on the day rates. One nice thing they do is to let you buy the (estimated ) fuel in the tank at a decent discount rate. Then ,you take vehicle back empty. Good firm,shame about the rip off elements.
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