Last Updated on January 1, 2022 by
Affordable Car Rental in England – Renting a car in the U.K. can sometimes seem like a daunting process.
It’s easy to worry about getting ripped off or being oversold.
Because of this, you might decide to skip renting a car altogether, which can end up leading to a more stressful and complicated trip than necessary.
Affordable Car Rental in England
Whether you live in the UK or are visiting on holiday, read on, and we’ll show you the best money saving tips that you need to know when it comes to renting a car anywhere in the U.K.
Compare Services Online
Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to check prices of multiple car rental companies at the same time.
By using UK no 1 comparison services, you can compare over 500 suppliers at the click of a button and save significantly.
Keep in mind that many times when you pay for a rental car in advance, it is often nonrefundable.
With that said, it is also typically much cheaper to rent beforehand than doing so at the actual rental office.
Consider these costs before actually putting money down so you don’t end up having any regrets later.
Avoid Renting Car at the Airport
Renting a car at an airport location is definitely convenient.
Unfortunately, many airports will include surcharges and other fees that can make the cost more expensive than renting at a standalone location.
Be sure to do your research beforehand though.
Although this is common, it is not always the case and sometimes the cost of renting at an airport vs renting elsewhere is nearly identical.
And airports like London Heathrow are open 24/7, which can definitely be helpful if you are in a bind and decide you need a car immediately upon arrival.
Also, remember to consider the cost of hiring a taxi or other service to actually take you to the car hire service, as this might end up equaling those airport fees.
Check the Age Requirements For Renting a Car in England
In the UK, rental car companies prefer to rent to drivers between the ages of 25 and 70.
Several companies may refuse to rent to people outside of this age range.
Other services will rent to younger and older drivers but they will most likely throw on some hefty fees too.
Minimum age limits are more common than maximum limits but drivers over 70 should still check beforehand as those extra fees are typically for insurance purposes.
Fill Up Before Returning Your Rental Car
Although it may seem more convenient to simply take the car back and have the car hire service fill up the tank for you, that is also an excellent way to pay way too much in unnecessary costs.
In fact, you could end up paying two, three, or even four times the price of filling up the car yourself when you let the rental company do it.
When looking at those costs, it is rarely worth not taking the extra few minutes and filling up the vehicle on your own.
Leverage Your Memberships
There are many popular international rental companies operating in the United Kingdom.
If you happen to be a member of one, this is definitely the time to see what kind of perks you are able to get.
But it doesn’t just stop at car rental memberships.
Check with your airline and hotel and see if there are any advantages you can get through them as well.
Also, see if the company you work for has partnerships set up.
Look into possible memberships that your credit card company has set up.
Yes, this will require some research and time on your part, but the benefits could definitely be worth it.
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