How to Save Money and Get More Value When Hiring a Car in the UK: 5 Effective Tips to Avoid Extra Costs

By- Katy Nikolaou

Road trips are a travel idea that seems to be getting more and more popular. This is especially exciting in the United Kingdom as it consists of diverse destinations that are connected through scenic routes. For example, you can drive from cosmopolitan London to peaceful and coastal Brighton, or from England to Wales. The only reasons why some people may not want to go on such a road adventure are that they either haven’t got a car or can’t afford this type of holiday. In this article, we solve both of these problems by sharing 5 effective tips for saving money when hiring a car in the UK.

Tip 1: Compare Prices

The most effective way to save money is by finding the cheapest car hire option. This is not such an easy feat because most car hire companies claim that they have the best offers. What you need to do is to visit a site like holidaycars.com, where you can compare affordable hire cars and book the one that suits you online. To be more specific, you will see not only the daily car hire prices for each option but also any additional fees that may apply.

Tip 2: Additional Fees

It is imperative to know what actions may lead to you being charged extra. For example, you need to know if there is a mileage limit, what fuel policy the specific car hire company applies, and what the basic insurance package includes. By being aware and complying with all the terms in the hire agreements, you successfully avoid extra costs. You can find the terms and conditions on the official website of most companies or get a copy at their physical office.

Tip 3: Look for Discounts

It is not uncommon for car hire companies to come up with marketing strategies for getting more —literal and online— traffic. Special offers, promotional codes, and loyalty schemes are some of the techniques they use to attract new customers. You can totally take advantage of them when hiring a car in the UK. You can discover potential discounts on agencies’ websites or social media or by enquiring about them over the phone.

Tip 4: Drive Efficiently

Paying for fuel is an expense that you can’t avoid when hiring a car in the UK. What you can do in order to save petrol and diesel is to drive economically. This may mean driving at a stable speed for a long time, not storing luggage on top of the car, and braking gently.

Tip 5: Drop off the car on Time

It is not unheard-of for drivers to be charged extra for returning their hire car a couple of minutes late. Make sure that you start your journey to the drop-off location early and that you have typed the right address to your maps app so that you get there on time.