With the average week-long ski holiday now costing around £3,7001, finding ways to cut costs has never been more important. One easy saving could come from car hire.
According to new research from iCarhireinsurance.com, a leading provider of car hire excess reimbursement insurance, car rental prices this New Year vary dramatically across Europe.
The study analysed prices from six major car rental firms (Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt) across six popular ski destinations - Barcelona, Turin, Grenoble, Geneva, Sofia and Innsbruck - for a week’s hire of a mid-sized car (e.g. VW Golf) between 27 December 2025 and 3 January 2026.
On average, hiring a car in Sofia (£213) costs more than £500 less than in Geneva (£731). After Sofia, the most affordable options are Barcelona (£313) - the gateway to Andorra, followed by Turin (£462), Grenoble (£536), Innsbruck (£689), and Geneva is the most expensive.
Table showing iCarhireinsurance.com study of car hire costs in six ski destinations from 27 December 2025 - 3 January 2026.
| Car Rental Rate | Super Damage Waiver | T&W Excess | Extra Driver | Sat Nav | Car Seat | Winterisation | Ski Rack | Total incl upgrades | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | £313 | £228 | £66 | £75 | £93 | £88 | £63 | N/A | £926 |
| Geneva | £731 | £231 | N/A | £83 | £98 | £63 | £73 | £74 | £1,353 |
| Grenoble | £536 | £165 | N/A | £41 | £93 | £59 | £46 | N/A | £940 |
| Innsbruck | £689 | £160 | £36 | £55 | £85 | £61 | £43 | £42 | £1,171 |
| Sofia | £213 | £68 | £11 | £26 | £36 | £33 | £24 | £91 | £502 |
| Turin | £462 | £167 | N/A | £62 | £70 | £74 | £24 | £36 | £895 |
| AVERAGE | £491 | £170 | £38 | £57 | £79 | £63 | £46 | £61 | £1,005 2 |
Avoiding costly extras
The research shows that additional extras can double the cost of a week’s rental. Buying car hire excess protection at the rental desk, rather than in advance from an independent provider, costs an average of £208 (made up of a £170 super damage waiver and £38 tyre and windscreen waiver).
Other optional extras include:
- £57 for an extra driver
- £79 for a sat nav
- £63 for a child seat
- £46 for winterisation (snow tyres)
- £61 for a ski rack
Together these can add £514 to a booking — taking the total cost from £491 to more than £1,000 (or to be exact £1,005).
How to save on car hire excess protection
The biggest potential saving comes from excess protection. If your rental car is damaged or stolen, drivers can face excess fees of up to £1,500 in some European ski destinations.
Rental company excess policies average £208 (around £30 a day), whereas a week’s car hire excess reimbursement policy with iCarhireinsurance.com costs just £33.153 and includes cover for tyres, windscreens, and other vulnerable parts often excluded from rental firm policies.
Ben Wooltorton from iCarhireinsurance.com said: “Ski trips can be expensive, but a bit of planning can make a big difference. Car hire is one of those areas where costs vary hugely between destinations - sometimes by hundreds of pounds - so it’s well worth comparing prices before you book.
“A little preparation can also help you avoid unexpected costs. Accidents can happen to even the best drivers, especially on icy roads, and a £1,500 damage bill is the last thing anyone needs on holiday. Buying excess reimbursement cover from a specialist provider like iCarhireinsurance.com before you travel can help you save money and worry less.
“To keep costs down even further, avoid buying extras at the rental desk - bring your own sat nav or child seat, and only add an extra driver if you really need one.”
1 Source Ellis Brigham, 2025 data How Much Does A Ski Holiday Really Cost | How To Keep Costs Down. Average weekly ski holiday price - Flights: £388, Accommodation: £828, Food: £472, Ski Rental: £248, Lift Pass: £898, Ski Lessons: £380 and Spending Money: £500.
2 £1,005 is calculated by adding all the product averages together, not by adding the totals in each destination and then calculating the average. This is more accurate as Tyre and Windscreen cover, and Ski racks are not offered by all providers, so the average is of the providers which do offer these.
3£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.
