Olympic visitors securing early car hire

Car hire companies in London are expecting a spike in business around the Olympics, as visitors look to secure a vehicle for the Games.

Figures released by British car hire comparison site Carrentals have revealed that four times as many customers have booked car hire for the period between 20 July and 12 August, compared to the same time last year. “Our figures show a clear increase in car hire bookings around the time of the Olympics compared to 2011 and this is likely to increase further as we get closer to the games,” said Gareth Robinson, managing director of Carrentals. “The UK really is the place to be this summer with many people from the UK and overseas making the 2012 Olympics their summer holiday. However the challenges faced by the UK’s transport infrastructure, particularly in London, are something on everyone's minds,” he added.

Visitors to London are being urged to book car hire as soon as possible, to avoid paying higher fares due to lack of supply.

Trends from Carrentals show that the average time a car will be hired for during the Olympics is ten to 12 days, with 50% of the pick-up locations being Gatwick and Heathrow airports.

“Train journeys can be expensive and are likely to be very busy during the games - possibly not ideal for families and larger groups,” said Mr Robinson. “The option of hiring a car gives more flexibility, especially when travelling to different events either in London or around the UK. Those booking early can make significant savings while having a wider choice of vehicles and essential extras such as child seats and sat navs,” he added.

Hiring a car is a great way to get around while on holiday. If you are planning on hiring a car while on holiday this year, consider taking out car hire insurance. This will give you added protection while using the car, and you can also get additional cover for things like baggage and keys.

Date Created: 18/04/2012