The Car Hub

Xmas has passed, summer is still a long way away, to raise our spirits let’s think of summer holidays and warmer weather. A few useful hints relating to car hire may come in handy whether holidaying abroad or at home this summer.
If holidaying at home in the UK you’re very lucky because of the large number of major car rental companies who operate here and who also provide a countrywide network of offices.
If you are on a budget it would be normal to have to settle for a small car but don’t despair, if booking well in advance, give notice to your car hire company that you are willing to accept an upgrade if necessary, this option then allows the car rental company flexibility on the day of hire commencement, which if it’s a busy one, could well result in you being upgraded to a larger car, at no extra cost.
For those of you wanting the sea and sand and the warmth of the sun on your backs, if you’re planning on a Spanish or Turkish holiday this year then be prepared.
The recent economic downturn started to affect Spain back in 2008, last year  the £sterling had dropped to nearly par with the Euro where it still remains today, both these factors have led to huge numbers from the UK not holidaying there because of the cost, remember British visitors form a huge percentage of holidaymakers in Spain.
What has the above to do with car hire? Quite simply because of less UK residents holidaying there, car hire companies are not stocking the same number of hire vehicles.
The Car Hub team were one of the first to warn of a holiday car rental shortage in Spain last year, this shortage has not been overcome and continued over the recent Xmas holiday period.
If you are considering a holiday car hire and would like to reduce the cost then give some thought to what type of car you wish to hire. If the proposed rental period is for a week or more and you have planned to get good usage from the vehicle consider hiring a diesel or even a hybrid, over a week’s rental or longer it is possible you could save the equivalent of a day’s hire charges by doing this.
Another point to consider is to where do you have to return the vehicle at the end of the hire period. Most reputable companies should have a good national dealership which allows for the return of vehicles to any location either free or a small extra charge.
For those of you venturing further afield to Turkey, which has the attraction of not being in the Euro and therefore on average a cheaper destination than Spain, there are other obstacles to contend with.
Car hire in Turkey is expensive, this is mainly due to the high tax paid on the importation of cars into the country, added to this is the minimum age for anyone considering car hire is 19.
Further points to note are, before completing your car hire agreement always check, a) whether the mileage is restricted or not, this can vary from hire company to hire company and can prove very expensive at the end of the hire period, b) get clarification about who pays for damage if there is an accident.
Lastly, in Turkey the hire cars that are available are very basic models, only the most expensive of cars will have automatic transmission or air conditioning.
To obtain the best car hire deals in the market place use a reputable comparison site such as the one we have resourced for our members here at The Car Hub.
Bill Williams
www.thecarhub.net