Finding affordable car hire is easy with these expert led tried and tested tips. Experience the joy of the open road on your next holiday, for less.
Renting a car on holiday gives you the freedom to travel on your own terms. If you want to visit a remote beach, go hiking in a national park or get off the beaten tourist trail, having a hire car makes life so much easier.
You don’t have to work out complicated bus and train timetables. You’re not limited to places you can get to on foot. And you don’t have to try flagging down a taxi once you’re ready to head back to civilisation.
The problem is, hiring a car can sometimes be a hassle in itself. Getting booked and making sure you have the right cover – without overpaying – can be complicated. But with our tips in your back pocket, you can save on car rentals every time.
What car rental insurance do I need?
When it comes to car rental insurance, travellers have several options to consider, including purchasing additional coverage from the car rental company, or opting in advance to use a third-party insurance provider. It’s important to know which options work best for you and your trip.
Most car hire companies will try to sell you an insurance policy, so you don’t have to pay out if there’s an incident. While it’s definitely worth taking out cover, it can be overpriced to do it through the car hire company. It can even end up costing as much – if not more – than the car itself.
Skyscanner expert Kacper Trela offers some advice to help you save on car insurance.
Get insurance in advance to make some big car rental savings
“Don’t overpay – even similar levels of cover may cost differently across different partners. Normally it is cheaper to purchase your cover on a broker website than directly at the desk with the provider. Bear in mind, that the 3rd party coverage is normally a “refund” type product (where the cost of the repairs will still be taken from your deposit, and you need to claim it back from the coverage provider) whilst purchased directly from the car provider (whether at the rental desk or online) are usually “waiver” type product – which means you don’t need to pay anything.”
Don’t pay twice – when you purchase the “refund” type of product on the broker’s website, then the car rental company won’t see that and may still offer you additional coverage at the desk. You are welcome to accept or reject it as you wish – just make sure that whatever coverage you have in place you are happy with.”
Check your credit card fine print for a quick car rental hack
“You may be already covered,” Kacper Trela says “many premium credit cards have some sort of car rental coverage built in, so you won’t need to purchase anything else. Just make sure that the level of coverage is sufficient for you. Also make sure about the conditions of the coverage, as some card providers require that you pay for the rental using that card to “activate” the coverage. Finally, some of the travel insurance policies include “rental excess protection” – they will cover your liability up to the limits specified in the policy – make sure that you have sufficient coverage. E.g., if the excess is $1200 and your policy covers only up to $1000, you will still need to pay remaining $200 out of your own pocket.
“Check for the level of cover, as sometimes the more basic policies exclude “vulnerable” parts of the car (e.g., tires, glass/windows etc.)”
Remember that car hire advice for the USA will be different to other countries
“Travelling to the US?” Kacper Trela says that “rules are slightly different than in other countries. It is important to have coverage that will cover the entire value of the rental vehicle. Also make sure that the 3rd party liability insurance is at a sufficient level.
State minimum are often low and are unlikely to cover the entire claim. We recommend that you have at least $500k-$1m in 3rd party liability when driving in the US for the peace of mind.”
Look at multiple locations to find the most affordable car hire
Most car hire companies have multiple locations in a destination, and prices can vary wildly between them. For example, if you’re in Australia and heading to Milan this summer, you’ll save 30% booking off airport rather than at the terminal or in the city centre. You’re more likely to find cheap car hire if you use a broader search – for example, if you choose ‘Edinburgh’ from the dropdown instead of ‘Edinburgh Airport’.
Picking up your car in the city could work out cheaper as you don’t have to worry about airport fees. However, you might find cheaper deals at airports as there are usually more rental companies based there so prices need to be competitive.
At the airport, it’s usually cheaper to choose a car rental company based off-site, with a free shuttle to and from the pick-up/drop-off point. When you search for car hire with Skyscanner, look for the ‘pick-up’ filter (when available). This is where you can find options like ‘meet and greet’ or ‘free shuttle’. Just bear in mind that some destinations don’t have this option.
When is the best time to book your car hire?
Whilst waiting to the last minute (24-48 hours before) can often cost more and mean less choice of vehicle, compared to booking more in advance, we know that the majority of travellers book their car hire within a 4-week window. In fact, 58.9% of Australian travellers book their car hire less than 4 weeks before they travel with 13.90% booking the day of or day before travel. For the more last-minute bookers, the good news is that there are still great deals to some of the most popular car hire destinations this summer:
| Ranking | Most popular car hire countries | Best time to book * |
| 1. | Australia | 1 week |
| 2. | UK | 1 week |
| 3. | Italy | 1 weeks |
| 4. | New Zealand | 3 weeks |
| 5. | Greece | 1 week |
*Within 4 weeks of travel. Date of booking – 1 Jan 2024 – 22 May. Tweak the pick-up time
Sometimes getting an affordable car hire deal is as simple as tweaking your pick-up time. Prices may be higher at peak hours – like just after a big flight lands. Try moving your time forward by an hour. If the price drops dramatically, it might be worth having a coffee at the airport for an extra hour, while avoiding the rush of people just off the flight, too.
| Destination | Timing | Saving** |
| Lisbon, Portugal | Push your car hire start time from 6pm to 7pm… | You could save up to 26% |
| Palma, Spain | Push your car hire start time from 6am to 7am… | You could save up to 18% |
| Milan, Italy | Push your car hire start time from 4pm to 5pm… | You could save up to 13% |
**Based on 2023 & 2024 data for daily car hire rates
Booking period: 1 June 2023 and 2024 – 30 Sept 2023 and 2024
Rental period: 1 July 2023 and 2024 – 31 August 2023 and 2024
Don’t pre-pay for fuel
One of the sneakiest hidden charges for car hire is for pre-paid fuel. This is where you pick up the car with a full tank and return it ‘empty’. The charge for a full tank of fuel is often far higher than it would be at a local petrol station and it’s unlikely you’ll drop off the car with a completely empty tank.
To avoid these charges, opt for cars with a ‘full to full’ policy. You pick the car up with a full tank and fill up just before you drop it off. Research the nearest petrol station to the airport before you start driving back and give yourself plenty of time to top up. If you don’t fill up, you’ll need to pay the car hire agency’s fuel prices – and they might penalise you with an extra charge, too.
Go for contactless pick-up
Contactless pick-up is sometimes the cheaper option, as the car hire company doesn’t have to pay someone to attend to you. It’s usually quicker, too, without the need to wait for somebody to be free to assist you.
To find affordable car hire with contactless pick-up options on Skyscanner, look for the ‘self-service pick-up’ option underneath the ‘policies’ filter. This will only appear in destinations where it’s available.
Look for membership discounts
Another quick way to save money on car hire is to find out if you have any discounts available through memberships. Many car hire companies – including Europcar, Sixt, Enterprise, National and Alamo can offer discounts.
Save money (and the planet) by choosing an electric vehicle
With the cost of petrol still soaring, choosing an electric vehicle (EV) could work out as being the most affordable car hire option. As well as saving on fuel, you’ll also be exempt from low-emission zone charges in cities. Some cities also offer free parking for electric vehicles, provided they’re plugged in to a charging point.
Whether you’re eco-conscious or just looking for the most affordable car hire, it’s easy to find cheap EV rental with Skyscanner. Look for the ‘low emissions vehicles’ filter. You’ll only see this in destinations where this type of vehicle is available.
If you’re really keen on trying out an EV, your best bet is to visit one of the world’s most EV-friendly countries. Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Norway are currently leading in terms of friendliness, with a good amount of charging points and decent electricity prices.
Ask for an upgrade
Once you get to the pick-up point, it’s worth turning on the charm and asking for an upgrade to a more luxurious vehicle, for no extra cost. It’s far more common than you think. It helps if you know how to drive an automatic, as many premium vehicles have this type of transmission. A warm smile, friendly demeanour and positive attitude also helps you to score you a cushty freebie.
If you’re offered an upgrade for a price, don’t be afraid to haggle. Go in armed with the knowledge of how much the upgraded vehicle would have cost if you’d booked it yourself. That way you know if you’re actually being given a good deal on car hire, or just being upsold.
Some car hire companies make a habit of rewarding their loyal customers. If you’re a frequent visitor to a certain holiday spot, make a habit of booking through the same company and make reference to the last time you visited while you’re picking up your car. You never know.
And finally, avoid these general pitfalls
There are a few traps that are super easy to fall into if you don’t hire cars regularly:
- Watch out for cancellation fees. Unexpected delays and last-minute changes of plan can end up costing you if the car hire company has strict cancellation fees
- Pre-read the T&Cs before booking. Reading the small print helps you to avoid surprise charges that can turn your affordable car hire into an expensive rental
- Don’t be tempted to take out extra insurance. Car hire companies can often be quite persistent on the insurance up-sell. If you already have separate cover, stay firm. It’s a good idea to have the terms saved to your phone to compare with the car company’s
- Take pictures of the inside and outside of the rental car before you drive off. You’ll be desperate to start your holiday, but having evidence that any damage existed before you even got behind the wheel could save you a lot of stress once it’s time to drop off
- Make sure all existing damage is noted on the form. If you do notice any damage, double check that it’s already been acknowledged. It could save you a lot of stress on the way home.
Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels, and car hire deals for your next trip. While you’re at it, check out some of the best roadtrips we’ve covered.
