💰 Have you noticed hiring a car on holiday has got more expensive?

Ahoy pirates,

If you've been looking for a cheap rental car lately, there's a good chance that prices may have left you speechless. There's been another price hike in some places, now even more than last year. We're explaining what's happening and how you can still find a bargain, even over Easter.

Details

Why have rental cars become so expensive in some places?

When tourism collapsed in many regions, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, there was hardly any need for rental cars. Since cars that just sit around are not profitable, all providers had to sell most of their cars at knock-down prices. On the Canary Islands, for example, the number of rental cars dropped from over 80,000 to just about 20,000 - the lowest number since 1985! Many of the cars were shipped to the mainland.

This year, however, demand is returning to normal, while at the same time far fewer new cars can be delivered due to the global chip crisis. Because of this mismatch of supply and demand, car rental prices are skyrocketing in some destinations, and of course especially during popular travel periods. Nevertheless, here are a few tips on how you can still save a little.

How can I save money when booking a rental car?

▶️ Book very, VERY early!

When booking rental cars, we have never experienced cheap "last minute prices" in all these years, at least not with the big established providers. Especially in times of tight capacities, prices only know one direction: up! Therefore, you should definitely book as early as possible, as soon as you know your travel dates. With most providers, you can cancel free of charge until shortly beforehand anyway, so you don't take any risks.

▶️ Check rental car prices when booking the holiday

If you are not strictly committed to a particular destination, you can save a lot of money if you get an overview of local car rental prices before you book your flight. We've seen tips in the press suggesting that car rental on the mainland is cheaper than on islands -- we can't confirm that this is correct. Check the stats below to see where you can still get a car rental bargain during Easter.

▶️ Flexible travel date

This tip is no big surprise, and of course also applies to flights and accommodation. Prices are usually highest around public holidays and peak season, so you can often cut the cost if you are flexible about the travel time. Sometimes it is even enough to go 1-2 days earlier or later.

▶️ If necessary, don't rent the car for the entire travel period

If you are not flexible and the prices are already high on your travel date, consider whether you need a car for the entire duration of your trip or whether a car for 2-3 days is sufficient for excursions. With many providers, you can also have the rental car delivered to your accommodation for a small surcharge.

Where are the car rental bargains over Easter 2022? Where will it be expensive?

The price champion among the popular Easter destinations this year is Crete. You can afford a car for a week for less than £60.

A rental car is also worthwhile on the Turkish Riviera, for example, to discover the many historical sites and impressive waterfalls in the region.

And Malta is very affordable this Easter, considering you can hire a car for less than £100.

Of the long-haul destinations, South Africa is currently offering great prices, as tourist demand there has not yet recovered after the country was temporarily declared a virus variant area a few months ago due to the spread of the Omicron variant.

By far the highest prices for a rental car you will have to pay over Easter in Majorca. Due to the popularity of the island, there are hardly any rental cars available.

How do I find cheap car hire?

As already mentioned, it is best to book your rental car in advance from home. The best way to search for a rental car is to use a "meta search engine", which searches through the offers of many providers at the same time and lists all the contract conditions clearly. You can also pre-filter the offers according to all your desired criteria. We're highlighting which filter criteria we recommend in the next paragraph.

Which contract conditions should I pay attention to?

• Insurance: If you have one of the higher-quality travel credit cards with integrated rental car insurance, you usually do not need to pay attention to this point (important: check whether your insurance also pays in the event of a travel warning). Otherwise, it is advisable to choose insurance without excess. This means that you do not have to pay anything extra for any damage to the rental car. If you do not choose this option, make sure to photograph the car from all sides when you pick it up and point out that any damage will be included in the pick-up papers.

• Deposit amount: Even if you have chosen insurance without an excess, you will usually have to pay a deposit. Make sure you have a credit card with you. When you pick up your rental car, a certain amount will be blocked on it. If your card has a very small limit, you should pay attention to the amount of the deposit when booking, as it can range from about £200 to well over £1000.

• Fuel policy: This is not the most important condition, but with the fuel policy "full/full" you are on the safe side not to pay too much for the fuel. You get the car with a full tank and simply fill it up again shortly before returning it. - Note: At some stations, the rule is slightly modified, and you have to return the car with the same fuel level as when you picked it up. This can also be half or quarter full. This is where your estimation skills are needed.

If you have any other tips, please share them with us in the comments below. Otherwise, have a good trip, pirates!