The cheapest destinations for holiday car hire

If you’re planning a holiday overseas and wish to hire a car, you won’t be surprised to hear that some destinations are significantly cheaper than others.

And in good news for holidaymakers, the most popular destination for Brits is also among the cheapest for car hire – Spain.

That’s according to figures from Rentalcars.com which show that average car hire cost in Spain equates to around £21 per day.

Opting for an economy car – such as a Vauxhall Corsa – can deliver further savings, with historical data suggesting that hiring such vehicles in Spain costs just £15 per day.

Following an analysis of eight million bookings per year the cheapest destinations for car hire during peak season can be revealed.

The top ten low-cost destinations

The cheapest average car hire can be found in Slovakia, where a vehicle will set you back just over £18 per day, a price that shrinks to £14.60 for an economy vehicle.

Hire in South Africa averages out at £20 a day, with the cost climbing to £20.51 and £20.71 in Slovenia and the Isle of Man respectively. Economy vehicles are again cheaper in both locations.

With Spain next on the list, you can still hire a car in any of the remaining top ten cheapest countries for less than £23 per day on average – ranging from £21.28 in the Czech Republic to £22.96 in Romania, with Poland, Brazil and New Zeeland sandwiched in between.

The report suggests that two factors influence the low cost nature of car hire in Spain in particular – the high number of car hire firms and the low cost of living in the country.

Other ways to keep costs down

You can also work to keep your car hire costs down by booking your vehicle in advance and by having just one named driver – additional costs often accompany the naming of a secondary driver.

This is especially the case if they are younger so check the terms and conditions of the rental agreement in advance to find out exactly what is permitted.

Purchasing car hire excess insurance in advance via a third party insurer can provide peace of mind for the duration of your trip and help you to save on costly repairs.  A policy offered by Questor Insurance will protect the excess you would be liable to pay should your hire car be damaged and is far cheaper than purchasing at the car hire desk.

To find out more on how this type of insurance works and why you need it, just visit our guide ‘What is car hire excess insurance?’

Date Created: 20/09/2019