While
on holiday you
need a reliable
car hire and rental
service
We
represent quality
companies like
Alamo, Avis, Budget,
Hertz, Europcar,
Sixt. In
Britain alone we
represent 6 different
companies and as
part of our car
hire and rental
service, we will
match you up with
the company that
best suits your
needs.
Click
here for Car
Rental FAQ Section
Car
Hire Article
- watchpoints
when
renting
Car
Hire Article
- the "lingo" explained
Car
Hire Article
- should you
rent
or lease
a car
Car
Hire Article - read
more - general information
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For
complicated
itineraries,
personalised
service
or any
questions
- click
here
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Frequently
Asked Questions
Here
you find questions
and answers about
car hire in the
UK and Europe.
Q: I
have an Australian Drivers Licence. Do I need an International
Drivers Licence ?
A: It is recommended
but not compulsory. However if travelling to Eastern Europe,
we would strongly recommend you get one. Also read the fineprint
on your invoice as conditions do change from time to time.
Q: If
I have booked
to return the
car in Paris
and I find I
want to return
it in Calais
- can I do this?
A: Call ahead to
the depot where you are due to return the car and ask them to
arrange this for you. If it is within the same country, there
generally wont be a charge - unless you have a minibus where
some companies charge for an intra-country one way. If you want
to return it to another country, there will definitely be a charge.
Q: If
I am running
late or held
up in traffic,
will the rental
company penalize
me ?
A: Generally, most
companies will give you an hours grace.
Q: I
am 79 years of
age. Will they
rent to me and
will they charge
any extra ?
A: If any driver
is under 25 or over 70, we strongly suggest you let us know so
that we can clarify the conditions at time of booking as it does
vary from company to company.
Q:I
did not list
a second driver
but I have had
too much of that
great French
wine - can my
mate drive me
home ?
A: Don't risk it!
If you did not register the driver they will not be covered by
insurance if they have an accident.
Q: I
have heard that
I will spend
a fortune in
toll fees. Is
this true ?
A: Toll roads are
not compulsory. You are free to use the roads which generally
run alongside the highway/autobahn/autostrade. Tollroads are,
however, the quickest way to get from point A to point B. You
can log on to www.viamichelin.com and calculate the cost of the
tolls.
Car
Hire: The
'Lingo'
explained
With
car rental, there
are so many different
companies around.
Unfortunately
though, the inclusions
and exclusions
are not all standardised
so it is difficult
to compare. So
if you have looked
at a couple of
rates and some
stand out as
almost 'too good
to be true' then
it often can
be. It really
pays to look
at the fine print
to ensure that
you are comparing
'apples with
apples'.
An
airport surcharge: If
you pick
up at an
airport.
Does not
apply if
you return
at an airport.
A
premium location
fee: Some
companies
charge this
if you pick
up in certain
areas in
London
Additional
driver fee: If
you want
to cover
a second
driver. Often
charged 'per
additional
driver'
Young
driver fee: Often
charged if
the driver
is under
25 years
of age
Road
Tax or Road
Registration
fee: A
fee charged
per day to
cover government
charges
CDW: Stands
for Collision
Damage Waiver
as is a misnomer
as it does
not actually
'waive' the
fee but reduces
it to roughly
AUD$750 /
GBP500 /
Euro 750
CDW
Reduction
or Excess
Reduction
Waiver: Where
you pay a
fee per day
to reduce
your excess
to a lower
amount or
nil.
Theft
Protection: Often
called "TPW" or
Theft Protection
Waiver. Again
a misnomer
as it does
not 'waive'
the charge
if your hire
car is stolen.
There still
is an excess
to pay if
the car is
stolen.
Theft
Protection
Reduction
or Waiver: Where
you pay a
fee per day,
to reduce
or waive
excess
London
Congestion
Charge: When
you drive
through central
London between
0700 and
1830hrs Monday
to Friday
(excluding
public holidays),
This also
applies to
hire cars
, so if planning
to drive
through central
London, ensure
you ask about
the procedures
in place
when collecting
your car.
Top
of Page
Car
Hire:
Watchpoints
when Renting
- Be
careful
to note
if extras
eg. additional
driver
fees
are per
day or
per rental. The
difference
can be
substantial.
- Be
aware
of the
rental
company's
petrol
policy. Some
companies
charge
you for
the
first
tank of
petrol
and
expect
you to
return
it
empty. Others
give
you a
full
tank
and expect
it back
full
and if
you don't
return
it full
and it
needs
refilling,
expect
to pay
a hefty
premium
on the
normal
petrol
price.
- When
you hire
a car,
you are
always
requested
to leave
a
credit
card imprint
which
they
will use
to charge
your card
if you
have
any, extras
to pay.
If you
do
not have
a credit
card
advise
them
when
booking
as your
booking
may not
be
accepted.
- Bearing
in mind
that they
have a
signed
authority
to charge
your card,
check
the car
very carefully
for
damage
or scratches
and have
it noted
on the
contract
before
you drive
away. If
you return
the car
with any
damage,
the car
rental
company
is entitled
to
charge
your card
for damages.
Do also
check
the car
when you
are returning
it and
get
it noted
on the
contract that
there is no
damage before
you leave.
- Familiarise
yourself with
the inclusions
and exclusions
of your rental
and also whether
or not your
travel insurance
policy covers
.Rental vehicle
insurance excess.
Some rental
agents may
intimate that
you really
need to take
their extra
insurance because
you will have
an excess if
you have an
accident or
damage the
vehicle when
in fact you
may already
be covered
by your travel
insurance policy.
- They
may also
offer you
an upgrade
to
a larger
car. Ascertain
if this
is a
free
upgrade
or one
which
you actually
have
to pay
for !
- Free
insurance
on your
credit
card
? Check
to
see if
they
expect
you to
take out
the highest
level
of Waiver
BEFORE
they
will
cover your
excess
/ deductible
- Lastly,
should
you decide
that
you wish
to extend
your
car rental
period
- be
very
careful.
If you
extend
directly
with
that
rental
company,
nine
times
out of
ten, you
will
be charged
nearly
double
what you
paid
in the
first place!
You
have
two options: One
you can try
and negotiate
a rate with
the rental
company, asking
them if they
will extend
at the rate
you paid on
that rental. Should
they agree,
I suggest in
the strongest
terms, that
you get the
agreement in
writing and
get the employee
to sign and
date it, making
sure their
name is legible. Believe
me,
this advice
comes
from years
of having
to
tell people,
that
our contract
ended
the day
they
were due
to
return
the
car
as per
our voucher
and
that they
are
responsible
for
the extension
and
that there
is
nothing
we
can do
to
help.
The
second
option
is
to
contact
the
agent
or
company
you
booked
with
back
in
Australia,
by
email,
fax
or
phone
quoting your
current
rental
details
and ask them if they can organise the extension for you. Some
car rental companies allow the extension or you can even ask for
a new rental for the
additional days and pay by credit card. Try and allow at least
4 or 5 days notice if you can. Last - minute extensions or last-minute
new bookings
take up a lot of extra time and attention and someone who is really
busy may just say 'no' to avoid the time-consuming
work.
The
above points
pertain to car
rental or car
hire. They do
not apply to
car leasing.
With
car leasing it
is different. Everything
is covered. No
insurance or
excess if you
damage the car
etc and if you
wish to extend
your lease, you
can do so by
contacting the
Paris head office
of the leasing
company. They
will arrange
the extension
for you. It
cannot be done
in Australia. However,
they too will
charge you more
than you paid
in Australia.
Top
of Page
Car
Hire: Read
More -
General
Information
Everything
you need to know
about Car Hire
or Rental in the
UK and Europe.
The
most popular
mode of independent
travelling but
I can just hear
the comment: "But
we are too scared
of driving on
the wrong side
of the road and
the steering
wheel is also
on the wrong
side !"
If you are
used to
driving
a car
every day,
it is second
nature.
Remember when
you
first started
driving
and were so
nervous
about changing
gears? Now
you are
not even
aware
of changing
gears.
So after
a couple
of hours of
being
'conscious'
of using
the other
hand to change
gears, you
will
soon get into
the rhythm
of it.
Just go slowly
until you are confident.
Funnily enough,
the fact that you
are driving on
the 'wrong' side
of the road is
made easier by
having the steering
wheel on the left.
Think about it,
thousands of British
cross the channel
each year and drive
in Europe and vice
versa. Think positively!!
If they can do
it, so can you!
Of course, if
you're still really
nervous, you could
rent an automatic
car. In Europe,
the majority of
cars are manual
and if you do decide
on an automatic,
the cost will be
higher than the
equivalent size
manual vehicle.
In the USA, the
opposite happens.
Most cars are automatic
and you will be
hard pressed to
find a manual or
'stick shift' as
they call it.
When you're thinking
of renting a car,
you are often presented
with a choice of
3 or more companies.
Sometimes what
appears to be the
lowest priced often
turns out to be
the most expensive.
Some of the things
you should consider
and compare before
choosing a car
rental company
would be:
* Should you
be renting or leasing?
* What extras do you have to pay?
* Can you take the car into Eastern Europe?
* Which companies allow drivers under 25 or over 75 without a surcharge?
* Is the airport fee included or do you have to pay extra?
* Can you have 2 extra drivers?
* Are there road taxes or vehicle licensing fees to be paid?
A "DID YOU
KNOW" about
Car Hire or Rental......because
we sure do!
* In Germany,
the fee for collecting
your car at the
airport is 19%
of your total hire
charge - but that
there are companies
that include this
so choose one of
them.
* If you hire a car from France with Europcar - 8 out of 10 car groups can
not be driven in Italy.
If you want to
start your rental
from Austria and
want to travel
to Eastern Europe
- Avis will charge
you EUR 56 plus
it is compulsory
to take out Super
CDW And Theft Protection
which wacks on
another EUR13 PER
DAY !! However,
if you rent with
Europcar, you just
pay a flat fee
of EUR40. On a
14 day rental that
is a whopping Euro
148 difference
!
* The country
that has the lowest
priced car rental
is France.
Top
of Page
Car
Hire: Should
you Rent
or Lease
a Car
Firstly
we will explain
the difference
between the two.
With car rental
your car will be
provided by companies
like like Avis,
Hertz, Alamo etc.
You often get quoted
a basic rate and
have to pay for
additional items
like airport fees,
second driver charge,
young driver surcharges
if under 25, vehicle
licensing fees
and the insurance
which is included,
has an excess or
deductible if you
have an accident
or damage the vehicle.
You can pay extra
to get this waived
or reduced. With
car rental you
are often restricted
eg: you may not
drive the vehicle
into Eastern Europe
or if you are hiring
a Mercedes you
may not be able
to drive into Italy
or if you are hiring
from France, they
may allow their
vehicles to go
to the Italian
islands, you may
not be allowed
to travel to Britain
or Scandinavia
etc. With rental
you are quoted
a model of car
- 'or similar' – you
are never guaranteed
a specific make
or model of car.
If you are looking
for info/rates
on car rental,
click on http://www.ukandeuropetravel.com/carhire.shtml.
Perhaps
browse the FAQ's
for more
info. For those
travelling after
April 2005 – the
Earlybirds have
now been released.
With car leasing,
which is a tax
free buy back system
encouraged by the
French government
to encourage tourism,
you are purchasing
the vehicle and
selling it back
at the end. All
paperwork is completed
well beforehand
and all you pay
is the set difference
between the buying
and the selling.
Sounds complicated,
but it's not. We
have a free video
or DVD we would
be happy to send
you which explains
how leasing works.
Just drop us an
email.
Leasing
is great for
travellers
who want a car
for longer than
a month or perhaps
picking up a car
in one of the more
expensive countries
like Italy, Switzerland,
Eastern Europe
etc. Everything
is included – even
the insurance has
no excess. However,
for the sake of
being completely
upfront, we will
mention that as
you 'own' the car,
you are responsible
for giving it the
first service.
With Renault, the
car only requires
its first service
at 30, 000 kms,
a distance very
few travellers
reach considering
the size of Europe,
and this will be
at your cost. With
Peugeot, the first
service is required
at 10,000kms but
it is free. These
French lease cars
are based in France,
but they can be
delivered to 9
other countries
at a nominal charge
to cover transporting
the vehicles to
the pick up point.
Currently, both
Renault and Peugeot
are offering free
or subsidised delivery
/ collection charges
as well
as 7 free days,
or 10 free days
if you have leased
with them previously.The
other good thing
about leasing,
is that it can
work out to a low
$24 per day. This
is based on the
maximum lease of
170 days of the
smallest vehicle.
Great
for youngsters
travelling around
Europe, especially
if they are under
25. With leasing,
all you require
is a full drivers
licence. There
is no 'young
driver surcharge'.
Incidentally,
if you are a
teacher
/ professor going
to uni to
study or lecture
or a student
going for training
or
a journalist – you
can lease for up
to a year.Other
positives are that
you can drive the
vehicle into Eastern
European countries.
You are also guaranteed
the vehicle you
choose. So you
can choose a diesel
powered vehicle
which is much more
fuel efficient,
not to mention
that diesel can
cost up to a third
less than petrol.As
a quick example
let's say you require
a 7 seater minibus
for 30 days that
you wish to collect
in Geneva, Switzerland
and return it to
Nice in France.
Leasing would cost
you $3200 in total
with nothing more
to pay. Rental
would cost you
$6072 + extras.
A difference of
more than $2800 – nearly
double. Not knowing
the difference
and the in's and
out's can literally
cost you thousands
of dollars if you
make the wrong
choice.
Click here for
info on car leasing
http://www.ukandeuropetravel.com/carlease.shtml
If you would like
us to compare rental
vs leasing, let
us know your driving
requirements and
we'll do the math
for you.
Car
Hire throughout Europe
