The best advice for when to book is ‘Don’t just turn up and expect to hire a car on arrival’.
At both Easter and Xmas, hire car companies are often fully-booked over a week before the event. Other peak times such as school holidays and bank holidays will also restrict your choice of car unless you book in advance. And it’s not just car availability that is affected by when you book; the nearer you book to when you need the car, the higher the cost.
If the cost and availability doesn’t spur you into booking early, it’s also worth remembering that some countries have other criteria you’ll need to meet. For instance, check whether you need an International Driving License to hire a car in the country you are visiting. Remember that applications can take up to six weeks to process.
Make sure you know the minimum age for renting a car, too. Most of Europe hires to over 21s, but some countries require the driver to be over 25 and have held a drivers’ licence for at least a year. Also, there may be an extra charge for younger or older drivers. And you’ll likely need your passport, a credit card and enough cash to put down a deposit, so make sure you have everything you need ready.
If you book early you’ll have your choice of car for less money. You’ll also find out if the country you are visiting has any special requirements for documentation, or charges for lower or higher ages.
For help with any problems, or just general advice on hiring your car, you can ask Robert Smith, owner and manager at World Wide Reservations, on
+44 (0) 7704 325 670 or at
robert@wwideres.co.uk.
