From purchasing a SatNav on eBay to packing your own child car seat, ensure you get the most from your holiday car hire!
DO YOUR RESEARCH
With the peak holiday season almost upon us, many guests leave the booking of their car hire at Alicante to the last minute. But, as with booking flights to Alicante, the prices tend to rise the closer you are to departure, especially during school holidays. In addition, popular family car models tend to get booked early, leaving you with less choice. When looking to hire a car at Alicante Airport, you have the choice of going direct to a well-known car hire firm such as Avis or Hertz. However, the best deals are usually to be had by using a broker such as Holiday Autos or Do You Spain. But, the key to getting a good deal on car hire at Alicante is to shop around as prices can vary on a day to day basis. In addition, ensure you know exactly what is and what is not included in your car rental policy.
ALWAYS GO FOR THE FULL/FULL OPTION
Many car rental companies encourage you to take their full tank of fuel at the start and tell you to return the hire car empty as they suggest this is easier and more convenient. In actual fact, this is a way of making money out of every customer! The car rental companies charge high prices for a full tank and then most people return it with around a quarter of a tank, meaning when the car rental company fill up for the next customer they only have to put in in three-quarters of a tank of fuel. Car hire rental companies such as Holiday Autos, Auto Europe, Car Jet, Hertz and Do You Spain offer the full/full policy at Alicante Airport, meaning a much better deal for your money. More details on this subject can be found on one of our earlier articles.
DON’T BOOK AN EXTRA DRIVER
If you are going on a long trip, then it is preferable to have an additional driver to share the mileage. But, as all Alicante Holiday Villas properties are just 10 minutes from Alicante Airport there is no need for an extra driver, enabling you to save on this additional cost.
BRING YOUR OWN CHILD CAR SEAT
If you are travelling with a baby or toddler, then ensure that you either bring your own car seat or be prepared for some hefty rental charges from the car hire companies. These can cost around £35 per week. Alternatively you can book one through our child equipment supplier from 21 Euros per week.
THE CAR HIRE INSURANCE RIP-OFF
Many car rental companies throughout the world use this sales technique to make you pay more than you need for your car hire as most motorists tremble at the thought of having to pay £1,000 if your hire car is stolen or there is an accident. Massive insurance ‘excesses’ are now commonplace in many countries and are a very persuasive apparatus when it comes to selling you extra hire car insurance. In addition, the extra cover offered by many car hire firms can be very puzzling. Some policies cover windscreens, windows and tyre damage while some just cover the excess, By far the best and most economical option is to buy independent excess waiver insurance before leaving home. One of the cheapest deals covering European excess, plus wheels, glass, lost keys, mis-fuelling and breakdown, costs just over £30 for 2 weeks of cover.
ALWAYS PAY BY CREDIT CARD AND IN EUROS
Most car hire companies want to take a deposit or copy of a card. When it comes to paying, always insist you are charged in Euros otherwise it is converted for you into sterling at a very unfavourable exchange rate.
SPEEDING FINES COME HOME WITH YOU
Spain’s police are incredibly hot on speeding as well as drink driving and the alcohol limit is lower than that in the UK. So just because you have a hire car, remember the car hire firm has your address, plus your passport and credit card details, so the fines will come home with you! Also something to be aware of is that you could face on-the-spot fines for some offences. For more information on driving in Alicante, please see our earlier article.
BE AWARE
It’s easy to let your guard down when on holiday, and Alicante is no exception, car rental cars are very easy for criminals to spot, so be even more careful where you park and don’t leave items on display. Thieves know that you will probably be carrying more phones, cameras, iPad’s, money etc than a resident.
CHECK THE RENTAL CAR AT ALICANTE AIRPORT
No matter how much you can’t wait to get into your pool at your holiday villa, check the rental car thoroughly when you collect it. If, in the unlikely event that you see any marks at all, insist they are noted on the collection paperwork and also take photographs preferably with a smartphone, as this will automatically add the time and date to the picture. Also ensure that the hire car has the correct safety equipment. When your holiday has come to an end and you return the car to Alicante Airport, check it carefully again and ask the staff to check it with you. If it is out of hours and no staff are around, again photo the rental car with your smartphone ensuring the pictures have the date and time. If you are told to post the keys into a secure letter box, then do so – don’t just hand them to anyone who claims to be from the car rental company – even if they appear smart and official.
But most of all have a very happy holiday in Alicante!
We hope you enjoyed the article! Remember you can search for your perfect property in Alicante by using our alicante villa search on our home page. Please don't hesitate to contact us directly for help and advice.