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Car Hire Guide - things to think about when hiring a car in Europe.

Many independent travellers choose to make the journey to Europe, either in their own vehicles or by making use of car hire during their trip. If you are going to Europe by plane or train then you will probably want to hire a car on arrival.

If you’re looking to hire a car for your holiday, it’s best to shop around for the best deal. But this can be time-consuming. At Drive-Alive we have chosen to take advantage of the excellent Car Trawler software to search the market for the best deals throughout Europe.

There are a wide variety of car rental companies on the market; many can be found at airport arrival lounges, while others are centrally located in towns and cities. Car rental can either be pre-booked before you travel or arranged upon your arrival, depending on your travel plans.

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So if you are thinking of hiring a car, whether for a long journey abroad or just to get around your holiday destination, it's worth considering a few things before you travel:

• Most car hire companies do not apply a distance limit, but this is something you need to look out for if you are likely to cover a high meileage.
• Be aware that most car hire companies charge an excess to cover any damage to the vehicle, including those firms working with us. This varies from car hire firm to car hire firm, but can be a considerable sum. It is possible to pay extra to cover this excess, but again, this is not cheap even if you pay for it at the time of booking.
• We strongly advise you to use one of the UK based companies that offer cheap cover against these excess charges, and we recommend icarhireinsurance. One low online payment covers excess on damage to the rental vehicle, theft, and damage to windows and tyres.

If you are intending to take your own vehicle across into Europe, it’s best to ensure you and your vehicle are covered by insurance and breakdown cover, as well as giving the vehicle a health check before you travel. It is also strongly recommended that you take out Breakdown Direct Breakdown Insurance. If you suffer a mechanical failure on holiday in Europe it can be hugely expensive. You may incur towing charges as well as parts and labour costs, and in extreme cases the vehicle might need to be repatriated.