My wife & I are thinking of driving in Europe this summer. We live in London and would like to hire car here, ferry to France and then drive - probably through Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary and Romania.
We have found car hire firms that will allow this and with unlimited mileage. But the cost seems high; the standard 250 quid (approx) rental for 2 weeks for a compact 4 door but double that for the premium for travelling abroad. The cheapest deal I have found so far is 470.00.
Forgetting about flying and forgetting about the risks associated with the drive (insurance excesses and all that), I wonder if anyone else done this before and has any good advice?
Does anyone know a cheaper way of doing this? We want a driving holiday but as an example what about flying to say, France, and then hiring the car there?
All advice and ideas appreciated!
Tim
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Sorry - should add, as of quite recently I am not a car owner!
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It's probably quite expensive if you have asked for a quote to visit the last two countries you have listed.
One hire company I use will not allow Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW, Porsche or Jaguar cars and also all Jeeps and Offroaders to be taken into those two countries.
Edited by gmac on 16/02/2010 at 20:12
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Don't think it is a sensible plan to hire in the UK.
(1) If you hire over here, you're getting a RHD car for touring in LHD countries. Those of us who already own a car "put up" with this because we've already bought the car - but why hire a car with the steering wheel in the wrong place when you could hire one in europe that will be LHD
(2) If you hire on mainland europe, the insurance and breadkdown cover will be valid across all of europe. However, if you hire in the UK, the cover is restricted to the UK and you will pay a significant supplement to get european cover.
I suggest if you look for a cheap eurostar ticket or cheap flight then hire on the continent. Suspect you'll get a better deal - and the steering wheel where you need it for driving in europe.
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Yes andpick up/ drop off at different locations. That way you'll see more too.
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I've done European Fly/Drive a few times, and go along with the others - get a LHD car, and after a few clumsy moments, like opening the passenger door, groping for a gear lever that's not there and wondering where the mirror went, you'll be right at home.
Pre-book and you should be able to get a good price.
The car will be insured for mainland Europe/the EU so crossing borders is no problem - in fact between most European countries you don't even slow down on the autoroute and then notice the language change.
We're thinking of taking the Eurostar/TGV to Nice, the boat to Ajaccio and hiring a car there?
(That means leaisurely wining and dining there and back?)
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Hiring on the continent makes more sense than hiring in the UK and taking the ferry.
Consider starting somewhere other than France. From memory, rentals are more expensive in France than, say, Germany, and the premium charged for automatics or larger cars/MPVs is higher.
I'd suggest you hire an auto - no changing gear gives one less thing to concentrate on when driving on the 'wrong side', especially if you're not accustomed to driving regularly (I'm assuming this as you don't own a car).
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As hire companies in western Europe forbid the use of cars in eastern European countries (either completely or without prior written permission), you may consider starting your journey from Hungary or Romania (as I assume there are no similar restrictions going from east to west.... I trust someone will correct me if this isn't so or if there are other considerations to be aware of!)
(I'm just back from an urgent, unplanned trip - I again used holidayautos.co.uk - much cheaper than the 'preferential deal' offered by the 'budget' airline's car hire partner. )
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Going East to West will make your eyes water at hire costs.
Example BMW320d in Budapest for three weeks June/July for your 2440? you get:
4200kms included and TPFT insurance.
Road Tax is an extra 87?, service fee ??? 342? and vehicle licence fee 78.85?
Extra kms are charged at 1.05?
Same car in Germany to hire costs 1278? for the same dates, you also get:
6300kms, TPFT insurance, road taxes etc are all included in this price.
Extra kms are charged at 24cents.
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I have done this a lot, over the years and I totally recommend flying over and hiring, perhaps in Germany? 3 years ago I flew into Friedrichshafen with the Irish lot and Hertz gave a me a Megane estate for £150 for a week pus another £150 for the CDW which I declined as I had made other arrangements thru insurance 4 carhire. I was in Oberammergau in about 3 hours which was the area I wanted. Please e mail me if I can offer further comment (see profile)
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One way of reducing the cost is to buy excess insurance separately rather than in with the deal.
The excess can easily be £600 or more so this makes sense.
The cost is about £40 for a whole year rather than the £15 / day that the car rental company will offer you.
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hired a car in Krakow Poland through I think holiday autos and it was via Hertz at the airport I think. Although we could take it to Slovakia and Czech republic we were told that Ukraine and Romainia were out. Apparently very high rate of car theft in both countries according to the rental agency. Also at that time both were outside the EU - Romainia is now in I think.
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Has anyone booked a car on www.vehicle-rent.com/? I have found the best prices here but I do not know this company and I don't want to pay extra fees when I return the car.
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