Car Hire

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Joined
Jun 3, 2003
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1,453
Location
The West Country
Just wanted to know what companies people use when they use car hire abroad. Do you stick to the same company, or do you shop around ? Any bad experiences?
A couple of years ago when organising a trip to Ireland, I booked with a company online. They went bust about a week before the trip. :(
Yet again I see there are a lot of companies online that I have never heard of, so should I stick with the big firms?
 
I tend just to use one company in Spain as they are cheap and reliable.

But if you use a credit card, the only downside with using an company that subsequently goes under would be the hassles of submitting a charge-back and re-booking elsewhere.
 
There are a couple of online sites that will give you a price comparison. If I can locate them among my 'favourites' I'll put up the links.

Make sure you are aware of what's included and what's not and take up any extra waiver offered. The last twice I've hired a car in Spain someone pranged the door and never owned up, and the other time the car was broken into and the radio-cassette unit stolen. I had taken out the extra waiver both times and both hire firms told me not to worry about anything at all as it was all covered and they'd deal with it.
 
Thanks I have just used travel supermarket .com to see what they can come up with and the first 5-6 companies, which are the cheapest are the ones I have never heard of. Looking at Alamo or Avis which are companies I have used before. I just wonder if these cheaper quotes get used/ Do people prefer to stick to the names that they know?
 
Travelsupermarket.com is one of the links I'd have directed you to. I wouldn't worry too much about not having heard of the hire company. Just compare the cheapest four or five including all the waivers and you won't go far wrong. I hadn't heard of any of the firms I ended up booking with.
 
FFS cricketfan, you're supposed to name the company, not just state that there is only one firm you use in Spain!!!!! :lol:

The company he means are Crown car hire booked through www.crownjet.com. They are a very good & reliable firm who are flexible & easily booked as well as being cheap and having good, reliable, new, cars.
 
bugger, I meant booked through www.carjet.com. They are a very good firm and I'd recommend them to others anytime.

Firms want people to book with credit cards so they have some security & comeback if the car is returned damaged - if they don't have a cc number (ie of it is paid for in cash) then a punter can return a damaged car & the hire firm has no way of recoverung the cost of the damage.
 
When i was in the States last year i wanted to fly from Atlanta to Tampa but could only get a flight (and first class at that) to Orlando. Once there the only way of getting to my motel in St Petersburg from Orlando was to hire a car. I used National and they were very helpful once i explained my predicament (hadn`t driven on the right before save a few miles in Spain.) So i would always use them to be honest.
 
I go to Spain three or four times a year and Crown cars are extremely good. I have only had one 'incident' in five years and they replaced the vehicle within two hours and charged me zilch. DO's point about the extra waiver fee is an important one.
I usually book through Holiday Autos and they choose the company. I have never had a bad one (he touches wood).
 
The other night i found out that I was entitled to 10% off the total with one of the big hire companies. It's a little strange, but the total with 10% off was more then the cost without the discount. :confused: :angry:
 
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