Holiday car hire turns a good trip into a great one, giving you the freedom to explore beyond the resort, reach the hidden beaches and hill towns, and travel on your own schedule rather than the bus timetable’s. The trouble is that hiring a car on holiday is also where unwary travellers get stung, by counter upsells, fuel-policy traps and sky-high excess charges. This guide shows you how to get cheap holiday car hire and avoid the rip-offs, so you keep the freedom and lose the stress. Compare deals from trusted suppliers in one search, with no hidden fees and free cancellation on most bookings, from around £4 per day in the best-value destinations.
How to Get the Best Holiday Car Hire Deal
The single biggest saving on holiday car hire comes from booking ahead. Prices rise as the pick-up date nears and cars sell out in popular spots, so lock in your hire when you book the holiday itself, especially for high-demand countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal. As a rule of thumb, booking around a month before you travel tends to secure a below-average price.
Two more tricks make a real difference. First, always choose a rate with free cancellation, then check the price again a couple of weeks before you go: if it has dropped, cancel and rebook at the lower rate, travellers routinely save a meaningful amount this way. Second, pay upfront when you book rather than at the desk, which is usually cheaper and protects your rate against last-minute cancellations. Finally, a small manual is almost always cheaper to hire and to fuel than a large automatic, and picking up and dropping off at the same location avoids a one-way fee.
Avoid the Holiday Car Hire Rip-Offs
The classic holiday car hire sting happens at the counter. Every rental includes basic Collision Damage Waiver, but it comes with a high excess, often well over £1,000, and the desk will offer to waive it for a daily fee that can cost more than the car itself. The smart move is to buy a standalone car hire excess policy before you travel, which does the same job for a fraction of the price and refunds any excess you are charged. Buy it at least a day before you collect the car, as some insurers will not sell once you are abroad.
Watch the fuel policy too. The fairest is like-for-like (collect full, return full), while full-to-empty policies make you prepay for a tank you rarely use up. Inspect the car and photograph any existing damage before you drive off, decline unnecessary extras you can bring yourself such as sat-nav or child seats where practical, and read the agreement before signing. For a fuller rundown, our blog post on 5 key tips to avoid holiday car hire rip-offs walks through the traps in detail.
What You Need for Holiday Car Hire
To hire a car on holiday you need a full, valid driving licence held for at least a year, a passport or photo ID, and a credit card in the main driver’s name to cover the security deposit. Most suppliers set a minimum age of 21, with a young driver surcharge for under-25s, and some premium or larger vehicles require drivers to be 25 or older. UK and EU licences are accepted across Europe without an International Driving Permit, though some countries further afield require one alongside your licence.
Match the car to the trip. A compact is ideal for narrow island lanes and tight city parking, an estate or small SUV suits families with luggage, and a 4×4 only earns its higher cost where the terrain genuinely demands it. Bigger is not better on holiday car hire when fuel and daily rates are higher and the streets are narrow.
Popular Holiday Car Hire Destinations
The best value for holiday car hire is found in the classic sun-and-drive countries, where competition between suppliers keeps prices keen. These are perennial favourites worth comparing, with typical low-season starting rates to search from.
from £8/day Portugal
from £12/day Greece
from £6/day Cyprus
from £5/day Croatia
from £4/day Italy
from £11/day Malta
from £9/day Turkey
from £9/day Florida
from £20/day
Heading to the islands? We also compare holiday car hire across the Balearics and Canaries, including Mallorca, Ibiza, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, all from around £7 per day.
For independent advice on hiring abroad, the Which? car hire guides are a useful read, and the UK government’s driving abroad advice covers licence and documentation rules by country.
Frequently Asked Questions: Holiday Car Hire
When is the best time to book holiday car hire?
Book as early as you can, ideally when you book the holiday itself, and at least around a month before you travel for a below-average price. Prices rise and cars sell out as the date nears, especially in high-demand countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal. Always choose free cancellation so you can rebook if the price drops.
Should I buy car hire excess insurance separately?
Almost always yes. A standalone car hire excess policy bought before you travel costs a fraction of the waiver sold at the rental desk and refunds any excess you are charged for damage or theft. Buy it at least a day before pick-up, as some insurers will not sell once you are already abroad.
How can I get cheap holiday car hire?
Book ahead, pay upfront rather than at the desk, choose a small manual over a large automatic, and pick up and drop off at the same location to avoid one-way fees. Comparing trusted suppliers in one search finds the best rate, and booking with free cancellation lets you rebook if the price falls before you travel.
What do I need to hire a car on holiday?
A full driving licence held for at least a year, a passport or photo ID, and a credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit. The minimum age is usually 21, with a surcharge for under-25s and a higher age for some premium or larger vehicles. UK and EU licences are accepted across Europe without an International Driving Permit.
How much does holiday car hire cost?
It varies by destination and season, but cheap holiday car hire starts from around £4 per day in the best-value countries such as Croatia, Cyprus and Greece in the off-season, rising in summer and in higher-cost destinations. Booking ahead and adding excess cover before you travel keeps the total down.
Compare Cheap Holiday Car Hire
Holiday car hire is the difference between seeing a place and really exploring it. Book ahead, take excess cover before you fly, watch the fuel policy, and the freedom is yours without the rip-offs. Getcarhire.com compares cheap holiday car hire across trusted suppliers in one search, with no hidden fees and free cancellation on most bookings, so you can lock in the right car at the right price and get on with the holiday.
