Car Hire Rental Comparison Websites UK

farmer2018

Has anyone booked car rental through the comparison websites in the UK - Kayak, Rentalcars.com, Travel Supermarket etc? Looking to book car rental from Birmingham.

CiniO

I used rentalcars several times.

Not for rentals in UK, but mainland Europe, but don't think it makes any difference.

You book with them, and they present you with a voucher for rental company.

farmer2018

Perfect thanks.

Whocare

Anyone have experience with Hertz would be first time using them as always used enterprise Hertz this is lot cheaper this time 210 compared 480€ Hertz is almost too cheap?

Amsterdam airport I renting from

Miscreant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119136967#Comment_119136967

I have rented from Hertz in Schiphol and they are fine. Did not seem any different to other companies. Their desk is just past the train ticketing machines at the end of the terminal (for reference).

doctorchopper

It's hit and miss with the brokers/ comparison websites, i've had a couple bad experiences with them where you seem to always get charged more by the hire company at the end of the booking. Had one where it didn't include any insurance, not even 3rd party so had to buy basic insurance. I found going direct through the insurances website to be the safest.

CiboC

Have used many different sites and never had a problem with any of them.

I've used Rentalcars, Argus car hire, and most recently got the best prices on one I'd never heard of before, edreams car hire (I think I got there via kayak). Really whichever gives me the cheapest price I'm there, I'm a car hire slut.

Get a car hire excess policy beforehand and you're good to go.

The Black Oil

I've only hired a car in the US two years ago. Heading to to the UK next month. Is the main thing to turn down the excess cover at booking and get your own? e.g. https://www.carhireexcess.ie

Mefistofelino

Just remember that with the third party excess cover, you still pay the claim from the car rental company ( so they may hold a significant deposit against your card) and then you make a claim against the policy ( which the insurer will contest) to recover your money.

The Black Oil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122437687#Comment_122437687

What's the advisable way to go, then? As in, is excess cover with the rental companies directly almost as much as the rental itself?

Argus, for example, have full-to-full, 1,000 mile limit. Refundable Security Deposit: €830, Damage & Theft Excess: €1,897 and so on.

Europcar have Basic Excess: €1,955.85, Medium Excess: €427.84, Premium Excess: €0.00

If you didn't go with premium is the excess above what you'd pay?

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122451415#Comment_122451415

yes, you pay for whatever damage they blame you for up to the level of the excess. Whether they put a block for the full excess on your card depends on the company, last few cars I've hired they've just taken a copy of the card but they haven't blocked any money (AFAIK)

Whocare

Hire in Manchester Airport and man was pushing Extremely hard for To get the excess insurance (Bet he was on commission ) it was first bad experience with enterprise anywas it 2000£ per damage even if you get flat tyre 2000 and could be up to 3 months before you get difference back. I'm hoping he was Lying c6nt but anyway let say you do damage car 2000£ hold on card till you get 3th parts to pay you back not good

The Black Oil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122451455#Comment_122451455

If you don't pay excess in advance or at the desk, will they put something against your card and then drop this if there are no issues with the car? Or am I misunderstanding?

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122454699#Comment_122454699

yes in theory, but I don't think they have done it the last couple of times I've rented. There was no block or pending transaction on my card, I don't know if I'd see it in my online banking but they didn't mention it and I was able to spend on the card without any issues.

Mefistofelino

If you pay by credit card, I think the T&Cs allow them to debit your card directly in the event of a claim. If you pay by debit card, they may make a temporary charge against the car which they pay back in the event that the car is returned undamaged. At least that was a family member's experience last week.

Whocare

Enterprise put hold on in UK it was £200 and recently in Holland it €400 so depends on The country plus The excess was a Ridiculous £2000 in UK if did damage and in Holland was more Realistic fair price €900

coylemj

The excess is typically higher when you pay less for the rental. Because a higher excess means that the rental company pays less for the bog standard cover. Which is third party and comprehensive cover up to the level of the excess. As with the policy you have on your own car, accepting a high excess reduces the premium.

But the budget rental companies then leverage this high excess to convince you that you'd be mad not to buy the excess cover they offer you at the rental desk. Which is a massive rip-off. A high excesss also means that if you're renting with a debit card, they may withdraw an amount equal to the excess if you refuse to buy their cover.

Last time I checked, AIG were offering 7 days excess cover for €25, 12 months for €50. That's for all of Europe and few other countries in this part of the world - not the US.