Carrentals.co.uk Warns Holidaymakers to Book Car Hire Sooner than Later
Bank holidaymakers who plan to rent a car during their travels may be charged higher prices or not be able to find a car during a time of car hire shortages in key locations, according to Carrentals.co.uk, the leading car hire comparison site. The site has already reported shortages in key locations like Malaga and Alicante for this month.
Fears over the recession have led to many car rental companies cutting stock levels in a bid to save money due to falling demand. The problem now is that customers who are ready to travel again are suffering price increases and no availability during the peak of summer travel.
Carrentals.co.uk managing director Gareth Robinson said, “Lack of car hire availability is proving to be a big problem for many travelers this summer. The car hire companies have scaled back in light of the credit crunch, but visitor numbers during peak periods have held up. It’s customers who are being let down, with some paying hundreds of pounds more for their car than they did a year ago. Travelers need to book early and look beyond the big brand names. We compare up to 50 rental companies on our site, meaning that if one supplier has sold out one of the smaller suppliers may still have some availability. It’s all about shopping around and booking in advance to avoid getting caught out.”
Robinson added, “The popular Bank Holiday locations such as key resorts in Spain are already busy, so travelers may well find that any cars they can book are charged at a premium. If you’re desperate for a car, do try looking a little further afield - for example at a downtown location, rather than the airport - it may be less convenient for pick up, but the price could be significantly less.”
Holidaymakers who visit Carrentals.co.uk will find that car hire in Orlando right now starts at just £15 per day for a week. Car hire for a week at other key holiday locations include: Newquay from £17 per day, Crete from £18 per day, and Malaga from £23 per day.