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Sally is a key member of the MoneyMaxim editorial team. She is a frequent hire-car user and often goes on holiday with her family. With an interest in getting great value for money, Sally shares her hints and tips for travelling and insurance.
With the Christmas decorations put away and the arrival of not just a new year but a new decade, many people's thoughts have turned to the summer. Have you planned where you are spending your holiday this year? Will you need a hire car? You can benefit in several ways by searching for your summer car hire now.
Car hire prices often go up the closer to summer we get. As demand for certain vehicles increases and the amount of those cars available goes down, the car hire companies usually put their prices up. You may opt to wait to see if you can get a last minute bargain but this is at risk of discovering there are no cars available at all. And many car rental firms may increase their prices further when they know customers have little choice rather than reducing them! Book early to take advantage of lower prices.
Car hire companies only have a limited number of vehicles so the later you leave booking your hire car, the less cars are available for you to choose from. You may have to look at a larger or smaller vehicle than you were planning. By searching for your car hire at the beginning of the year you are more likely to be able to book in your ideal location with your preferred car hire company. Beat the crowds and get the hire car you want.
If you are looking for something special such as a sports car, or if you just want a larger vehicle to fit all your family and the luggage, then you may find you need to reserve your car earlier while it is still available. 7-seaters are in high demand over the summer season and they therefore tend to run out more quickly. Car hire companies don't usually have as many larger vehicles or luxury cars in their fleet compared to compact or intermediate sized cars. Book your 7-seater car hire now so you don't miss out.
At this time of year, when it's a buyers market, you are more likely to find special offers - such as a free additional driver or speedy check in - bag a deal that gives you more flexibility by booking early.
You can still keep your eye out for a better deal even if you book your summer car hire in January. Many car hire packages come with free cancellation. By selecting one of these offers, if you find a car hire that you prefer, you can cancel the first booking and go with the new one without losing any money. MoneyMaxim provides a filter for 'free cancellation' packages. No more hunting through each car hire offer to check whether you can cancel for free or not! Choose free cancellation and keep your options open.
MoneyMaxim can help you with all your car hire needs. We compare many of the leading brokers including AutoEurope, Holidayautos, Enjoy, Argus Car Hire and our own in-house car hire broker Clarify Car Hire. This allows you to compare all the deals available at the same time. Just put in your pick up location and dates for the rental and we will do the searching for you.
We want to help you find the car hire deal that you want. If you have any queries regarding car hire, our customer service team are here to help. Contact us via our online chat service or on the phone. Just call 0118 321 8197
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