The cost of hiring a car can vary widely depending on the provider and time of year, yet a new Opinium survey* reveals that only 40% of UK car hirers use price comparison websites—and just 32% check prices before travelling to secure a better deal.

Commissioned by iCarhireinsurance.com, a leading provider of car hire excess insurance, the survey of over 1,000 UK hire car drivers also finds that only two in five (41%) check the cost of extras—such as excess protection, additional drivers, and other add-ons—when booking their hire car.

Car Hire Cost Saving Hacks from iCarhireinsurance.com

1. Book Early but Look for Last Minute Deals - Book early and shop around to get the hire car you want at a good price. For example, for a week’s summer hire** in Barcelona, Sixt quoted £288, while Budget quoted £129.

Consider using a company that offers free cancellation, so you can cancel if a better deal becomes available. Last summer, savvy travellers could have saved over £100 on car hire by booking closer to their departure. Prices for a week’s hire fell by an average of £116 between January and July 2024*** - with potential savings of up to £266 in Milan.

2. Shop Around for Excess Protection - We Found That You Could Save Around £190 - If a hire car is damaged or stolen, the hirer is responsible for the excess amount, which can be as high as £2,000**.

A week’s standalone excess reimbursement policy from iCarhireinsurance.com costs from £33.15*** and includes damage, theft, and tyre and windscreen cover. This is a sixth of the cost compared to buying excess protection from rental companies which costs, on average, £167 for a week’s theft and collision damage excess waiver and £57 for tyre and windscreen waiver - a total of £224 according to a European survey of car rental prices**. An annual European excess reimbursement policy from iCarhireinsurance can offer even better value from just £41.99****.

3. Avoid Buying Extras from the Rental Desk – And You Could Save Around £230 – Only two in five (41%) check the price of extras when booking their hire car*. Expect to pay, on average, £73 for an extra driver, £85 for a sat nav and £71 for a child’s car seat – a total of £229**.Bring car seats from home, use a smartphone for maps and think carefully about the need of adding a second driver.

4. Take Photographic Evidence of Existing Damage – Almost two in five (39%) hire car drivers* found damage on a hire car that was not highlighted on the checkout sheet. To avoid unfair damage charges, check the vehicle thoroughly at pick-up and return, and take dated photos or video proof. 

5. Don’t Hire from the Main Airport / Railway Station – Compare the cost of hiring from the main transport hubs, i.e., the airport or railway station with the same company a short distance away, as the savings might be worth the taxi fare.

6. Use a Credit Card for Booking and to Cover the Excess – Use a credit card to gain Section 75 protection under the Consumer Credit Act. This means the credit card provider will protect purchases over £100 (and less than £30,000) and you could get your money back if there is a problem.

7. Read The Small Print to Avoid Any Unpleasant Surprises – Always read the agreement document thoroughly to make sure you are not agreeing to an upgrade or paying for the rental company’s excess protection cover if you don’t want it.

8. Check the Fuel Policy – Know the fuel policy before you drive away. If you need to return the car with a full tank, make sure you do, as the penalties can be expensive. Keep the receipt from the petrol company as evidence. 

9. Mileage Restrictions – If you are planning a driving holiday check for mileage restrictions to avoid getting caught out.

10. How to Complain – Go to the rental company within fourteen days with the complaint. If a satisfactory outcome is not reached, complaints can be directed to the BVRLA in the UK whose members, including AVIS, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, are expected to adhere to its mandatory Codes of Conduct. An alternative is to contact the European Car Rental Conciliation Service (ECRCS), which offers a free service to help with unresolved complaints, but the rental must be with a company that has signed up, i.e., Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar, Firefly, Hertz, Maggiore, National, Sixt and Thrifty.  

Ben Wooltorton, from iCarhireinsurance.com, said: “There are some good deals to be had this summer when hiring a car if drivers take the time to shop around for the best prices, and don’t waste money on extras from the rental desk which could have been brought from home such as sat navs and child car seats. It’s also worth considering buying excess reimbursement insurance before you travel from a specialist insurance provider like iCarhireinsurance.com.”

* Opinium online survey with 1000 adults who have hired a car in the UK or abroad took place between 21 – 28 March 2025.  

**iCarhireinsurance.com looked at the cost of hiring a medium compact car for a week, from 24 – 31 May 2025, in five destinations (Barcelona, Faro, Larnaca, Nice and Tenerife) with six rental companies, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz & Sixt. iCarhireinsurance.com also looked at the cost of extras including excess protection, extra drivers, child seat and sat navs.

*** iCarhireinsurance.com compared the cost of booking a medium compact rental car, e.g., a VW Golf or Ford Focus, for a week, from 27 July to 3 August 2024, if booking a week before departure on 19th July 2024, or in January 2024.

**** £33.15 based on a 30-year-old UK resident buying an 8-day single trip car hire excess policy from iCarhireinsurance.com for use in Europe. £41.99 annual price is based on a UK resident aged between 30-80 purchasing an excess Europe annual policy excluding in-country (UK) cover.