10 ways to reduce car hire costs

A recent survey conducted by iCarhireinsurance.com revealed that a mere 38% of UK drivers take advantage of comparison sites to secure the best rates when looking for cars to hire. But comparison sites aren’t the only ways to save….here are 10 other ways:

1. Early Bird Gets the Worm, But Last-Minute Deals Shine Too: Booking your car hire early ensures you get your preferred vehicle at a favourable rate. However, don’t overlook last-minute checks for price drops if your chosen provider offers free cancellations. For example, for a week’s early summer hire in Faro, Hertz quoted £265, while Sixt quoted £110.
2. Avoid Main Transport Hubs: Consider renting from locations slightly away from primary airports or train stations. This often results in considerable savings that outweigh the cost of an extra taxi ride.
3. Save on Excess Protection:

How roadside assistance saved me from a costly dealer visit

Roadside assistance isn’t just for breakdowns. Two warning lights and a three-week wait for a diagnostics test at a main dealer was worrying me. I asked the dealer if the car was safe to drive and they said to call our roadside assistance and they will confirm……..here’s the whole story:

As I was driving along, I was greeted by an amber ABS light and a “DSTC temporarily off” warning. Naturally concerned about the safety implications, my first thought was to take it to the dealership. I recalled the hefty fees from past visits, typically, just the diagnostic visit costs around £145, and that doesn’t even include the parts, but safety first, especially as my kids use my car!

When I called the dealership, the service person informed me that a diagnostic appointment could take up …