Latest news with #carhire
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
My son's lack of credit card saw him denied our hire car at the airport
Dear Gill, Last October I booked and paid for a hire car on Crete through Holiday Autos, nominating my son Robin as the main driver. As Robin does not hold a credit card, I chose a car firm that would accept a debit card. The rental cost £393 and included an insurance policy with AXA to cover the damage excess charge. On arrival at the Centauro rental desk, the agent insisted that Robin produce a credit card as security otherwise the car would not be released to us. This is despite showing proof that Robin had the necessary funds in his bank account. My son's partner offered to become the lead driver, as she had a credit card, but this was refused. We contacted Holiday Autos customer services and they spoke directly to the Centauro agent, but to no avail. Despite complaining to Holiday Autos, we have failed to get a refund for the original rental. Can you help? – John Muggridge Dear John, Holiday Autos is part of the CarTrawler organisation and, to its credit, it did investigate John's complaint efficiently, especially as he had taken out its Premium Customer Support for an extra €5 at the time of booking. However, Centauro was adamant that Robin didn't have sufficient funds in his bank account to cover the €1,400 (£1,180) damage deposit. I have seen proof that €1,400 had been deposited into his account the previous day. However, it would appear that the agent wasn't happy that this sum demonstrated that sufficient funds would remain after holiday spending to cover any damage, and so she refused to release the car. Although Robin had taken out insurance to reduce his excess to zero with AXA, if the car had suffered damage he would still have had to pay Centauro's invoice, and claim the cost back from AXA. Nearly all car rental companies – now including Centauro – demand a credit card so that a damage deposit can be ring-fenced against spending through the pre-authorisation process (a practice also introduced by accommodation providers). A few do still accept debit cards as security, but rather than ring-fencing the deposit, they will debit the damage excess amount from the card and it is not always refunded speedily following the car's return. Given the continuing lack of clarity on Centauro's own website, I asked Holiday Autos to take the issue up with the company at a higher level. Holiday Autos was aware of Centauro's recent change of policy to refuse debit cards, and recognised the confusion this may have caused. 'We remain committed to supporting our customers through their rental experience,' said a Holiday Autos spokesperson, 'and in this instance as a gesture of goodwill we have processed a full refund.' Your travel problems solved Gill takes on a different case each week – so please send your problems to her for consideration at asktheexperts@ Please give your full name and, if your dispute is with a travel company, your address, telephone number and any booking reference. Gill can't answer every question, but she will help where she can and all emails are acknowledged.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Will you pay less for car hire this summer? How much a rental costs in 12 popular holiday hotspots in 2025
It is one of the most stressful, time-consuming, and convoluted parts of any summer holiday - and arranging car hire is also an expensive facet of any well-earned trip abroad. This became an even bigger issue once pandemic-related travel restrictions were lifted, which saw huge demand and a lack of supply of rental vehicles send prices skyrocketing at the peak in 2022. So, the big question many Britons will be asking as they day dream about cocktails by the pool and strolls along the beach is: will I be paying through the nose to rental a car in summer 2025? Well, there's some good news... According to an annual study of vehicle hire prices across a number of popular holiday destinations, car hire costs are likely to be less than you paid last year. The historical report, compiled by reveals the average cost of week's rental in summer 2025 is £369 - which is around £11 less than a year ago and a massive £283 cheaper than 2022. We exclusively reveal how much you can expect to pay to book a motor for a seven-day getaway in 12 summer holiday hotspots... Can you expect to pay less for car hire this summer? We reveal how much a rental vehicle will cost in 12 popular summer hotspots in 2025 AVERAGE COST TO HIRE A COMPACT CAR IN 12 POPULAR SUMMER LOCATIONS Location Avg Car Rental Price 2019 Avg Car Rental Price 2022 Avg Car Rental Price 2023 Avg Car Rental Price 2024 Avg Car Rental Price 2025 Germany (Munich) £212 £378 £365 £311 £307 USA (Florida) £231 £650 £406 £362 £350 Croatia (Dubrovnik) £289 £806 £421 £342 £320 Spain (Barcelona) £258 £609 £433 £306 £316 Turkey (Dalaman) £292 £299 £444 £360 £325 Portugal (Faro) £428 £784 £517 £375 £254 Australia (Sydney) £229 £500 £550 £297 £365 Greece (Crete) £460 £775 £563 £417 £429 UK (London) £183 £743 £577 £366 £400 France (Nice) £417 £731 £599 £523 £399 Italy (Milan) £364 £617 £650 £446 £382 Switzerland (Geneva) £353 £933 £711 £460 £576 Average Cost £310 £652 £520 £380 £369 Source: Average price across Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz & Sixt for 26 Jul - 2 Aug, hiring a 'compact' car similar to Ford Focus or VW Golf The car hire excess insurer has been monitoring the cost of vehicle rental in the same 12 popular destinations before the outbreak of Covid-19. This makes it one of the key identifiers for the average cost of car hire and whether pricing is rising or falling. And while 2022 saw the average week-long rental ring in at an eye-watering £652, costs have gradually been on the decline since then. However, this year's average is still some way short of pre-pandemic pricing, when a seven-day hire of the same 'compact' class of car - think a VW Golf-sized motor - in the 12 destinations was just £310. This year's report looks at average prices for the peak period of 26 July to 2 August - the first full week after schools break-up for the summer hols. Averages are taken from six of the biggest rental companies: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. The best value destination of all is Faro, Portugal, which services the hugely popular southern-coast Algarve region. A compact model for the busiest week will cost £254 in 2025. This is a third less than last year, when average prices were £375. Munich, Germany, is the next cheapest option for those who prefer city-based breaks. A Golf-equivalent for a week-long stay is £307, down marginally from £311 12 months earlier. The study looked at prices for family cars from six rental firms - Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt - in 12 popular destinations this summer Another in-demand holiday location where pricing is reasonable is Barcelona, Spain, where a seven-day rental of a family hatchback is £316 - however, this is an increase of £10 on 2024 pricing. Dalaman in Turkey, famous for its sandy beaches, blue water, and historical sites, is another hotspot where an week rental is £325, down from £360 in the peak period in 2024. In contrast, the most expensive place to hire a car for a week is the prestige destination of Geneva, Switzerland, where a compact car will cost holidaymakers £576. This is up £116 on last year, though is almost half the price it was during the 2022 peak (£933). Rental costs in Crete, Greece is subject to a slight year-on-year increase to £429 in summer 2025, while Nice in France (£399) and Milan, Italy (£382) are also towards the steeper end of the 12 locations but prices are much lower than they were 12 months earlier. People travelling to the furthest destination in the analysis - to Sydney, Australia - will pay more this summer than they did last, with the cost of car rental down under up by £68 to £365. For those travelling from overseas to London for their summer getaways, the cost of renting a compact car for a week during the peak holiday period is up from £366 last year to £400 this time around. Ben Wooltorton from said it is 'encouraging' to see average rental prices falling closer to pre-pandemic levels, though warned holidaymakers to take additional measures to avoid being stung with additional charges. 'Hiring a car is a brilliant way to explore your holiday destination, and with prices stabilising, more travellers will be able to include it in their plans. 'That said, holidaymakers should keep checking car hire prices for potential late deals and avoid unnecessary rental desk extras. 'Bringing your own sat nav or child seat and arranging standalone excess reimbursement before you travel could save you hundreds.' It's analysis found that adding car hire excess protection increased costs by an average of £189, a sat nav by £72, putting an additional driver on the policy hiked prices by £68, and the inclusion of a child car seat is another £70. Tyre and windscreen excess cover is also another £53. In total, these amount to £451, taking the average rental cost to a more difficult to swallow £821. Savvy holidaymakers should purchase insurance excess cover beforehand, which costs just £3.49 per day or £41.99 for annual European cover - a significant saving on the £189 you'll be stung with at the hire car provider's desk at the airport. The cost to rent a vehicle soared post-pandemic when travel restrictions began to ease. This was due to rental firms selling their fleets of vehicles to stay afloat in 2020 when demand hit rock bottom as flights were grounded and people were restrained from travelling overseas. However, when restrictions were eased and travel was once again permitted, hire car companies were unable to replenish their stock due to the huge decline in new vehicle production. But now that car makers are back to full production capacity, rental firms have been able to turn over their vehicle fleets as per the pre-Covid norm.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Can you expect to pay less for car hire this summer? Here's how much a rental costs in 12 popular hotspots in 2025
It is one of the most stressful, time-consuming, and convoluted parts of any summer holiday - and arranging car hire is also an expensive facet of any well-earned trip abroad. This became an even bigger issue once pandemic-related travel restrictions were lifted, which saw huge demand and a lack of supply of rental vehicles send prices skyrocketing at the peak in 2022. So, the big question many Britons will be asking as they day dream about cocktails by the pool and strolls along the beach is: will I be paying through the nose to rental a car in summer 2025? Well, there's some good news... According to an annual study of vehicle hire prices across a number of popular holiday destinations, car hire costs are likely to be less than you paid last year. The historical report, compiled by reveals the average cost of week's rental in summer 2025 is £369 - which is around £11 less than a year ago and a massive £283 cheaper than 2022. We exclusively reveal how much you can expect to pay to book a motor for a seven-day getaway in 12 summer holiday hotspots... Can you expect to pay less for car hire this summer? We reveal how much a rental vehicle will cost in 12 popular summer hotspots in 2025 AVERAGE COST TO HIRE A COMPACT CAR IN 12 POPULAR SUMMER LOCATIONS Location Avg Car Rental Price 2019 Avg Car Rental Price 2022 Avg Car Rental Price 2023 Avg Car Rental Price 2024 Avg Car Rental Price 2025 Germany (Munich) £212 £378 £365 £311 £307 USA (Florida) £231 £650 £406 £362 £350 Croatia (Dubrovnik) £289 £806 £421 £342 £320 Spain (Barcelona) £258 £609 £433 £306 £316 Turkey (Dalaman) £292 £299 £444 £360 £325 Portugal (Faro) £428 £784 £517 £375 £254 Australia (Sydney) £229 £500 £550 £297 £365 Greece (Crete) £460 £775 £563 £417 £429 UK (London) £183 £743 £577 £366 £400 France (Nice) £417 £731 £599 £523 £399 Italy (Milan) £364 £617 £650 £446 £382 Switzerland (Geneva) £353 £933 £711 £460 £576 Average Cost £310 £652 £520 £380 £369 The car hire excess insurer has been monitoring the cost of vehicle rental in the same 12 popular destinations before the outbreak of Covid-19. This makes it one of the key identifiers for the average cost of car hire and whether pricing is rising or falling. And while 2022 saw the average week-long rental ring in at an eye-watering £652, costs have gradually been on the decline since then. However, this year's average is still some way short of pre-pandemic pricing, when a seven-day hire of the same 'compact' class of car - think a VW Golf-sized motor - in the 12 destinations was just £310. This year's report looks at average prices for the peak period of 26 July to 2 August - the first full week after schools break-up for the summer hols. Averages are taken from six of the biggest rental companies: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. The best value destination of all is Faro, Portugal, which services the hugely popular southern-coast Algarve region. A compact model for the busiest week will cost £254 in 2025. This is a third less than last year, when average prices were £375. Munich, Germany, is the next cheapest option for those who prefer city-based breaks. A Golf-equivalent for a week-long stay is £307, down marginally from £311 12 months earlier. The study looked at prices for family cars from six rental firms - Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt - in 12 popular destinations this summer Another in-demand holiday location where pricing is reasonable is Barcelona, Spain, where a seven-day rental of a family hatchback is £316 - however, this is an increase of £10 on 2024 pricing. Dalaman in Turkey, famous for its sandy beaches, blue water, and historical sites, is another hotspot where an week rental is £325, down from £360 in the peak period in 2024. In contrast, the most expensive place to hire a car for a week is the prestige destination of Geneva, Switzerland, where a compact car will cost holidaymakers £576. This is up £116 on last year, though is almost half the price it was during the 2022 peak (£933). Rental costs in Crete, Greece is subject to a slight year-on-year increase to £429 in summer 2025, while Nice in France (£399) and Milan, Italy (£382) are also towards the steeper end of the 12 locations but prices are much lower than they were 12 months earlier. People travelling to the furthest destination in the analysis - to Sydney, Australia - will pay more this summer than they did last, with the cost of car rental down under up by £68 to £365. For those travelling from overseas to London for their summer getaways, the cost of renting a compact car for a week during the peak holiday period is up from £366 last year to £400 this time around. Ben Wooltorton from said it is 'encouraging' to see average rental prices falling closer to pre-pandemic levels, though warned holidaymakers to take additional measures to avoid being stung with additional charges. 'Hiring a car is a brilliant way to explore your holiday destination, and with prices stabilising, more travellers will be able to include it in their plans. 'That said, holidaymakers should keep checking car hire prices for potential late deals and avoid unnecessary rental desk extras. 'Bringing your own sat nav or child seat and arranging standalone excess reimbursement before you travel could save you hundreds.' It's analysis found that adding car hire excess protection increased costs by an average of £189, a sat nav by £72, putting an additional driver on the policy hiked prices by £68, and the inclusion of a child car seat is another £70. Tyre and windscreen excess cover is also another £53. In total, these amount to £451, taking the average rental cost to a more difficult to swallow £821. Savvy holidaymakers should purchase insurance excess cover beforehand, which costs just £3.49 per day or £41.99 for annual European cover - a significant saving on the £189 you'll be stung with at the hire car provider's desk at the airport. The cost to rent a vehicle soared post-pandemic when travel restrictions began to ease. This was due to rental firms selling their fleets of vehicles to stay afloat in 2020 when demand hit rock bottom as flights were grounded and people were restrained from travelling overseas. However, when restrictions were eased and travel was once again permitted, hire car companies were unable to replenish their stock due to the huge decline in new vehicle production. But now that car makers are back to full production capacity, rental firms have been able to turn over their vehicle fleets as per the pre-Covid norm.
The Guardian
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Tim Dowling: I need to drop everything so I can get back to doing nothing
I am sitting in my office shed, marvelling that an email from a car hire company I last used six years ago feels entitled to employ the subject line DROP EVERYTHING. 'It's hard to imagine,' I say, 'how a 20% reduction in rental rates for the month of June could be sufficient cause for anyone to suddenly abandon their present business, be it knee surgery, adoption proceedings or, in this specific case, Wordle.' The dog, which is lying on the step in front of the open door, lifts its head to look at me – an emboldening reminder that as long as I'm sharing space with an animal, I'm technically not talking to myself. 'Then again, I have sort of dropped everything to read this email,' I say. My wife walks up to the door, leans in and hands me a small box. 'I found these in the car,' she says. 'You requested them at some point.' The box contains wooden plant labels – essentially ice lolly sticks with one pointed end – which would have served a definite and supportable purpose about three weeks ago. 'Yeah, a while back,' I say. 'Not at all,' my wife says, turning for the kitchen. I examine the box: the back bears a photographic illustration of a properly deployed plant label, stuck pointy end down into some soil next to a seedling. On the label someone has helpfully written 'Plant Name' in a neat cursive hand. The accompanying instructions say: 'Simply push in.' 'Can it really be that simple?' I say, looking up to find that the dog has followed my wife back to the house. I gaze across the rows of seedlings I planted out in the raised bed in a frantic hurry when they outgrew their trays – some struggling, some thriving, all of them unlabelled. I convinced myself I would remember which row was which – I was wrong. But now, I realise, a solution is at hand: I can write 'Plant Name' on all my new labels, and simply push them in. Ten minutes later, my wife returns. 'I have someone coming for lunch,' she says. 'Could you possibly mow the lawn?' I swivel my chair to look at her. 'What, just drop everything?' I say. 'What is it you're actually doing?' she says. 'That,' I say, 'is not a question I feel the need to answer.' 'She's coming at one, so,' my wife says. 'Fine,' I say. All things being equal, I am an enthusiastic supporter of basic safety precautions. That said, I'm pretty certain it's not a good idea to mow the lawn in flip-flops, and yet I have already made the decision not to change out of them and into shoes. I resent having my working day interrupted, even though I'm not working. Writing involves a certain level of tactical time-wasting – you sometimes have to bore yourself into concentrating. Absorbing menial chores – cutting the grass, say – are no help. I need to get back to doing nothing, and quickly. Anyway, I tell myself as I begin, the lawnmower has a sort of dead man's handle – if I keeled over from a heart attack the blades would stop turning. What's the worst that could happen? This question is answered almost as soon as I ask it: pulling the lawnmower backwards from a tight corner, I step out of my left flip-flop and partially run it over. It's not ruined – just scarred – but the sight of it is immediately sobering. My wife's guest arrives at one. It's not clear, from my vantage point at the other end of the garden, how my own lunch plans are affected. Am I invited? Or am I supposed to wait until the guest departs, and then slither over to feed on whatever scraps remain? The dog comes out and resumes lying in front of my office door. 'What's going on in there?' I say. 'Are they eating yet?' The dog stares straight ahead, as if it hasn't heard me. How long, I think, before hunger drives me to go and investigate? The answer is: not that long. The guest, it turns out, is our friend Louise. 'Hello,' I say, looking at the plates. 'Well done for staying away for a whole hour,' my wife says. 'I've saved you some food.' 'I can't eat now,' I say, 'I'm busy.' 'He's busy,' says Louise. 'I just came in to say hi,' I say, turning to leave. 'There he goes,' my wife says. 'Flip, flop, flip, flop.' Back in my office, I sit at my desk, staring at a blank white screen and thinking about just dropping everything and hiring a car.
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Kemi Badenoch has questions to answer over use of unofficial car, say Labour
Kemi Badenoch has questions to answer about her use of a car and driver that were not part of an official government service, Labour has said. The Conservative leader has denied there were security concerns about a private car hire arrangement she had when she was a senior minister, first reported by the Sunday Times. According to the newspaper, Mrs Badenoch had access to a black Jaguar XJ and a driver throughout her time as business secretary through a car hire firm in her constituency at the time, Saffron Walden. Officials wrote to her and said the arrangement was 'not recommended', and repeatedly warned her of the security risks of not using a car and driver provided by the Government Car Service (GCS), the Sunday Times said. Civil servants were said to be wary the car could be bugged, and were concerned it was not maintained in a Government garage. Mrs Badenoch was asked about the story as she appeared on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. She told the BBC: 'I never ignored security advice – the driver was security cleared. Actually, recommended by GCS. 'It was a contract that had been in place for about five years, and I renewed that contract. 'A memo was sent by someone who was unfamiliar with the contract asking about security concerns, and other civil servants said there were no security concerns, and that's the end of the matter,' Ms Badenoch said. Leaking of the memo from civil servants warning of the security concerns was 'destructive', she said, adding: 'It's a nonsense story.' But a Labour party spokesperson suggested the opposition leader still had questions to answer. They said: 'Kemi Badenoch must explain why she hired a private chauffeur at taxpayers' expense rather than relying on the Government Car Service like other ministers. 'The Tory leader cannot just dismiss the security concerns that were raised at the time and hard working families deserve to know how much this extravagant arrangement cost. 'Kemi Badenoch has no plan for our country. The Tories have not listened and have not learned from their defeat last year.'
