Summer holiday car hire: drive a great deal and avoid hidden fees

Unclear terms and expensive extras can turn what seemed like a cheap rental into a costly one It is not too late to get a good deal on your holiday car rental, even if you have booked already and are travelling soon. But there are many pitfalls to avoid so that you do not end up paying over the odds. A survey from Which? found that one in eight people who had hired a car in the past two years had ended up paying more than they were first quoted. “Booking car hire should be straightforward, but hidden fees, unclear terms and costly add-ons still make it difficult for travellers to compare prices and know who is really offering the best deal,” says Guy Hobbs, a travel expert at the consumer group. “Too often we hear from holidaymakers who have faced poor customer service and unexpected charges that turn a seemingly cheap rental into an expensive one.” Booking directly with a hire company will not necessarily give you the best deal, so check out as many aggregator and broker websites as possible. Those such as Carrentals.co.uk, Skyscanner, Kayak and Zest Car Rental cover holiday destinations around the world. When comparing offers, it is vital that you are clear about what you are get