Low cost automotive rent in Spain? As costs soar, hold the ache to a minimal

What with the key complications of volcanic ash within the skies and strikes by British Airways’ crew, different journey issues haven’t had a lot of a look-in this 12 months.

One topic that has acquired far much less consideration than it warrants is the dramatic rise in the price of renting a automotive in Spain and another international locations.

Smiles higher: With a bit planning, hiring a vacation automotive doesn’t need to be an extortionate enterprise

Earlier this month I requested Vacation Autos – the UK’s largest dealer of rent vehicles – to offer rental costs for this summer season in a number of widespread spots, and examine them towards earlier summers.

To lease an financial system automotive for per week this July from Palma airport in Majorca, or from Alicante or Malaga airports on the Spanish costas, will price you almost 3 times greater than in summer season 2007.

Charges have additionally shot up in Eire – from Dublin airport, by 75 per cent since final 12 months – and there have been marked will increase in prime rental spots in France, Greece and Italy. Of the locations that Vacation Autos analysed, costs have remained steady solely from Faro airport on the Algarve.

So why has renting a automotive in a lot of Europe turn out to be so costly?

‘As a result of recession, over the previous 18 months automotive rental corporations have struggled to acquire the finance to replenish their fleets,’ explains Gareth Robinson, managing director of price-comparison web site Carrentals.co.uk. ‘As a consequence, they’re working with fewer automobiles than prior to now.’

He says the issue is most acute, however not restricted to, mainland Spain and the Balearics.

‘On the identical time,’ Gareth provides, ‘the corporations have not too long ago adopted a yield administration mannequin of pricing, just like that utilized by airways. This implies costs go up considerably for leases throughout peak occasions resembling July and August, when the inventory of obtainable vehicles dwindles. It is a traditional instance of provide and demand.’

Whereas there is no such thing as a escaping the truth that you’ll have to pay larger charges in lots of locations, there are nonetheless methods to maintain prices to a minimal. This is how.

E book forward

That is completely key at peak occasions. The charges within the chart might look scarily excessive for this summer season, however they present what you might need paid had you booked earlier this month. If you need a automotive throughout July or August in Spain, the charges will virtually actually go up considerably between from time to time, as availability turns into tighter. (At off-peak occasions resembling June and September, costs are way more cheap and fewer more likely to spike.)

It is value taking a look at what occurred final 12 months. For per week’s rent of an financial system automotive from Malaga in August 2009, Carrentals.co.uk says the most affordable worth it quoted was £115 should you booked six months forward, then £165 three months prematurely, £218 a month forward, and £262 should you left reserving till only a week earlier than you wanted the automotive. It predicts even sharper worth will increase this 12 months for these reserving late.

There’s additionally a definite risk that you’re going to find yourself with no automotive in any respect should you depart reserving till the final minute. That is what occurred final 12 months to some unlucky individuals  –  and, in keeping with Gareth, ‘it is unquestionable that some rental depots in prime locations will promote out once more this 12 months’.

Pay up entrance. Many corporations mean you can pay on arrival, however that might place you at a drawback if there usually are not sufficient vehicles to go spherical.

Go bigger

Small vehicles are typically the primary to go, says Vacation Autos. So it’s possible you’ll discover there’s extra availability in a class or two up, and due to this fact that these vehicles are priced extra moderately (should you consider their additional dimension, consolation or engine dimension).

Store round

Costs typically range wildly between totally different rental corporations. For per week’s rent of an financial system automotive in early July from Barcelona airport, price-comparison web site www.travelsupermarket.com got here up with quotes starting from £196 to £275 (Avis and different big-name corporations had been typically the costliest, by the way in which). Different comparability web sites to assist get a steer on who affords the very best charges embrace www.automotive leases.co.uk and www.carhire search.co.uk.

Extra waiver

Whereas quotes from price-comparison web sites are very helpful, they will not embrace all of the extras it’s possible you’ll find yourself paying when renting a automotive. Most significantly, whereas most pre-paid automotive rent lately has some insurance coverage included, it usually comes with a whopping extra  –  which implies you continue to need to fork out a whole lot of kilos if there’s any harm to the automobile whereas it is in your care. Rental corporations typically provide to scale back the surplus to zero while you’re going by the paperwork on the rental desk, however for an exorbitant cost – £10 per day.

Far cheaper are separate extra waiver insurance policies offered by specialist insurers. These can cowl you for a single rental, or for plenty of leases over the course of a 12 months. www.moneymaxim.co.uk has simply launched a helpful price-comparison service for automotive rent extra insurance coverage.

Hidden extras

By which I imply issues like youngster seats and having a second driver. When evaluating quotes, it is value establishing precisely what these prices are as they range considerably by firm. For instance, some embrace a further driver for no additional payment. A baby’s booster seat can price as a lot as £6 a day to lease and, with so many airways charging for checked-in baggage, taking your individual may also be expensive. You would possibly need to spend money on a BubbleBum booster seat. Designed for kids aged three to 11, it is inflatable, so folds flat and weighs subsequent to nothing, and it is idiot-proof  –  I’ve simply tried one out! Contact 028 7136 4242, www.bubblebum. co.uk. With postage and packing, the seat prices £29.49.

Do not lease

Keep in a spot the place having a automotive is not important. Even on a villa vacation you possibly can keep on the sting of a resort. Have a look at www.vacation taxis.com to get an thought of the price of airport transfers. Or drive there in your individual automotive. Channel crossings may be very reasonably priced – on brief ferry routes, beneath £100 return for the automotive and passengers even in August. Keep in mind, although, it’s possible you’ll nicely have further prices. Many insurers cost an additional premium to increase your UK complete cowl to abroad, and European breakdown insurance coverage, whereas not obligatory, is sweet to have.

I’ve simply forked out over £100 to my insurer to get cowl for these for a visit this summer season. An excellent start line for choices for standalone breakdown cowl is www.cash.co.uk.