Car Rentals

Hiring a car is the travel product with the widest gap between the advertised price and the amount that leaves your account. The daily rate is real; so are the excess, the deposit hold, the young-driver surcharge, the second-driver fee, the one-way drop charge and the airport premium. None of those are hidden exactly — they are just not in the number you compared.

The other half of the decision is whether you need one at all. If your trip is a chain of cities joined by fast trains, a car will cost more, take longer and leave you hunting for parking. If it is a coastline, a national park or a set of villages, nothing else works.

The excess is the number that matters

Almost every rental includes collision damage cover with a large excess — frequently €1,000 to €2,500 — which is the amount you are liable for before the cover does anything. The counter will offer to reduce it, at a daily rate that can exceed the cost of the car. Third-party excess insurance bought beforehand is usually far cheaper, but it works by reimbursement: the rental company still charges your card, and you claim it back.

Some credit cards include rental cover. Check the specific exclusions before relying on it — vans, certain countries and long rentals are commonly excluded.

Fuel policy, deposits and the card in your name

Full-to-full is the only policy with no built-in margin for the rental company: you get a full tank and return it full. Anything described as full-to-empty or pre-purchase means you buy a tank at their price and donate whatever you do not use.

The deposit is held on a credit card in the main driver’s name, embossed in many countries. Debit cards are refused by a lot of suppliers, or accepted only with proof of a return ticket and additional insurance. This is the single most common reason people are turned away at the counter with a paid reservation in hand.

Crossing borders and driving licences

Taking a hire car into another country is usually allowed with notice and a fee, and sometimes flatly prohibited — particularly into and out of eastern Europe, and between Ireland and Northern Ireland with some suppliers. Declare it when booking; the cover is void if you do not.

Many countries require an International Driving Permit alongside a non-local licence. It is a translation booklet, not a licence, and it must be obtained in the country that issued your licence before you travel.

Where to book car rentals

Common questions

Should I book the car in advance or at the airport?

In advance, essentially always. Walk-up rates are the highest a supplier charges and in peak season at popular airports there is frequently nothing left at any price. Book a free-cancellation rate early and re-check closer to the date.

Is the excess waiver at the counter a rip-off?

It is expensive, not dishonest. It has one real advantage: if the car is damaged you walk away rather than paying and claiming. If you would rather not have a four-figure hold placed on your card, it can be worth the money. Otherwise buy standalone excess cover first.