Saving on car hire is crucial, whether you're hiring for a weekend nano break or a longer holiday. While having a rental car offers undeniable convenience, many renters face common challenges like hidden fees, inflated insurance costs, and complex terms. With some strategic planning, you can secure an affordable car hire deal without unnecessary expenses. This guide will cover booking strategies, essential choices, and tips to sidestep added costs.
Direct Booking vs. Third-Party Platforms
When booking a hire car, you have two main options: booking your rental vehicle directly with the car rental company or using third-party price comparison platforms like Rentalcars.com or DoYouSpain.com. Each option has distinct benefits and potential drawbacks.
Advantages of Booking Your Car Directly with the Car Rental Company:
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Access to Exclusive Promotions: Car hire companies sometimes offer loyalty discounts or special perks that aren’t available on third-party sites.
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Clearer Terms and Policies: Direct bookings may offer a straightforward view of policies, allowing you to negotiate directly if issues arise.
Advantages of Third-Party Platforms:
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Better Price Comparisons: Aggregators help you compare options across companies, making it easier to find a rental car at competitive prices or discounts.
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Flexible Filters: These platforms allow you to filter by size, drive, fuel type, and insurance options, ensuring you can select the best option based on your specific needs.
Pro tip: Using a third-party platform is ideal for comparing rates across companies, but always double-check the final terms to ensure transparency. Look for free cancellation options when using third-party platforms, as it allows flexibility to rebook at a lower rate if prices drop closer to the travel date.
Focus on the Right Car and Features
Choosing a car hire should balance your needs with budget considerations. Start with the essentials:
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Vehicle Type: Consider your travel requirements when selecting a car type. For urban trips, a compact car is economical and easy to manoeuvre, while an SUV might be preferable for family or rural travel.
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Add-On Features: Many rental companies offer add-ons like GPS, child seats, and Wi-Fi, often at premium prices. To save, consider whether you can bring your own equipment or rely on mobile apps for navigation.
Pro tip: Opt for the right vehicle and only the add-ons you truly need. Consider bringing specific items like a GPS or child seat from home to avoid the high costs of rental add-ons. This helps avoid unnecessary spending while ensuring you have what you need for your trip.
Prioritise Quality and Value Over Low Prices
Rather than focusing solely on the lowest price, look for value. The cheapest option may appear attractive but often comes with restrictions or hidden fees. Consider the following:
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Essential Inclusions: Make sure your hire car includes the necessary protections, such as Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW). These can save you from hefty costs for minor damages.
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Service and Vehicle Quality: Low-cost car hire companies maintain older vehicles in their fleets and offer limited customer service. Reviews and ratings provide insight into quality, helping you make a decision that prioritises both cost and reliability. It may also be helpful to check travel review websites or forums to gather real customer experiences with rental companies, adding more practical guidance to your decision-making process.
Investing slightly more in car hire with inclusive excess protection and quality service can save you from unexpected fees and hassles down the line.
Avoid Sales Tactics at the Rental Desk
Car hire companies often try to upsell additional services, like premium Car Hire Excess insurance, vehicle upgrades, or extra features. To save money, it’s best to stick to your plan:
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Stay Informed: Know what your booking already covers to avoid unnecessary add-ons.
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Book In Advance: Book your Car Hire Excess insurance before you travel using third party providers. Car Hire Excess Insurance sold via third-party insurance providers is often significantly cheaper than buying insurance directly at the car hire desk at the airport, further emphasising the cost-saving aspect.
Upselling tactics are common, but staying informed allows you to avoid paying for services that don’t provide real value.
Conduct a Thorough Vehicle Inspection
Inspecting your rental vehicle before leaving the rental car company’s parking lot can protect you from unexpected charges upon return. Here’s a quick checklist:
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Exterior and Interior Condition: Document any pre-existing damage, taking photos or videos. Ensure dents, scratches, and interior wear and tear are noted in the rental agreement.
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Functionality Check: Ensure lights, air conditioning, and other essential functions are working properly.
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Fuel Level and Mileage: Verify these match the rental terms to avoid disputes later.
A careful inspection helps you avoid being charged for damages you didn’t cause.
Return the Vehicle on Time and with a Full Tank
Returning the car on time and adhering to the agreed fuel policy (e.g., full-to-empty or full-to-full) will help you avoid additional fees. To save time and avoid last-minute refuelling stress, consider finding a nearby petrol station before reaching the car hire drop-off. Refilling the tank yourself is usually much cheaper than paying the rental company’s refuelling charges. Timely returns also prevent late fees, which can add significantly to your costs.
Consider buying Car Hire Excess Insurance from Gigasure
Saving money on car hire requires careful planning and informed decision-making. At Gigasure, we’re dedicated to helping you maximise your savings with our affordable Car Hire Insurance, allowing you to sidestep the hefty costs often associated with hire cars. Our goal is to ensure you can focus on enjoying your trip without the stress of unexpected expenses.
If you travel frequently, an Annual Car Hire Excess Insurance policy would be a cost-effective solution. Gigasure offers an annual policy that provides ongoing protection across multiple trips, with up to 65 continuous days cover on any one rental agreement. This can significantly reduce your costs.
Gigasure: Protection That Fits Your Needs
At Gigasure, we help you save on car hire with our affordable car hire excess insurance options. Car hire companies often offer additional hire car insurance to cover excess costs, but these options can be expensive if purchased last minute.
When securing your Car Hire Excess insurance with Gigasure you benefit from:
- Excess protection up to £10,000: Insures against damage to bodywork, tyres, roof, windscreen, and undercarriage, as well as fire damage, vandalism, and theft.
- Misfuelling Cover: Up to £2,000 on annual policies.
- Collision Damage Waiver Protection: Up to £75,000 included as standard on our annual policies for USA and Canada or Worldwide travel.
- Rental Car Vehicle Key Protection: Up to £1,000 of cover included as standard.
- Covers Multiple Drivers: Covers up to 9 named drivers on any one rental agreement.
- Extended Cover: Up to 65 days of continuous cover on any one rental agreement with annual multi-trip policies.
We make the process simple and convenient — get a quote through our quick smart form and manage your cover effortlessly through the Gigasure app. You can also explore options for Van Hire Excess Insurance, ensuring you have the best protection for van rentals without overspending.
How Much Does Gigasure Car Hire Excess Cost
When it comes to protecting yourself against unexpected car hire costs, affordability is key. Gigasure offers flexible Car Hire Excess Insurance options designed to fit your budget and travel needs. So, how much does it cost? Let’s break down the pricing and plans available to help you choose the right cover for your trip.
Single Trip Policies:
- Excess Europe premium: £3,41 per day based on 8 days cover (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £6,000
- USA and Canada premium: £4,77 per day based on 8 days cover (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £6,000
- Excess Worldwide premium: £4,94 per day based on 8 days cover (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £6,000
Annual Multi-Trip Policies:
- Excess Europe premium: £31,85 (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £6,000
- Up to 31 days of continuous cover
- Excess Europe premium: £34,95 (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £10,000
- Up to 45 days of continuous cover
- Excess Europe premium: £47,19 (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £10,000
- In-country cover added
- Up to 65 days of continuous cover
- USA and Canada premium: £58,38 (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £6,000
- Collision Damage Waiver - £35,000
- In-country cover added
- Up to 31 days of continuous cover
- USA and Canada premium: £50,45 (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £10,000
- Collision Damage Waiver - £75,000
- Up to 65 days of continuous cover
- Worldwide premium: £60,46 (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £6,000
- Collision Damage Waiver - £35,000
- In-country cover added
- Up to 31 days of continuous cover
- Worldwide premium: £50,68 (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £10,000
- Collision Damage Waiver - £75,000
- Up to 45 days of continuous cover
- Worldwide premium: £68,42 (inclusive of IPT)
Policy includes:
- Excess Insurance - £10,000
- Collision Damage Waiver - £75,000
- In-country cover added
- Up to 64 days of continuous cover
Final Thoughts: Make Car Hire Work for You
Saving money on car hire doesn’t mean compromising on quality or protection. By following these tips — such as booking at the right time, choosing value over the lowest price, and purchasing your insurance in advance like Gigasure's car hire excess cover — you can enjoy the convenience of a rental car without the stress of hidden costs.
Ready to maximise your savings and enjoy hassle-free car hire? Get a quote from Gigasure today and make your next trip one to remember, without the unwanted surprises.
