KAYAK.co.uk reveals how Brits can plan to maximise savings when hiring a car and offers tips to reduce extra costs in the five most popular car-hire destinations for British travellers.
- Orlando, L.A, Geneva, Faro and Palma de Mallorca are Brits’ favourite destinations to hire a car when travelling
- January and December are the best months to hire a car in these cities, with potential savings of up to 63%
- Travellers can save as much as 58% by buying extras such as GPS, instead of adding them on to a car hire
London, 18 September 2017: A common frustration for travellers when hiring a car is all the extra costs, which add up fast to increase the total price significantly after reserving a booking. To help Brits plan for these costs, travel search engine KAYAK.co.uk has analysed its data to identify the most popular car hire destinations for Britons and the best time to hire a car in these destinations. It has also compared the prices of hiring a car downtown against those offered at the airport. Finally, the travel experts have examined how travellers can reduce extra costs, comparing the price of buying extra items outright versus renting them for 7 days in each of the top five car hire destinations.
January and December: the best months to hire a car for British travellers
In each of the five most popular car hire destinations for British travellers, the winter months of December or January offer the biggest savings. Orlando, the most popular destination, offers rates up to 27% cheaper for bookings in January as compared to the most expensive month. However, even these savings are dwarfed when compared to those on offer in the other top car hire destinations. In Los Angeles, the second-most popular destination, rates are from £12 a day in December, up to 59% less when compared to the most expensive month, while Palma de Mallorca offers the greatest savings, with its December rates of just £9 a day nearly two-thirds (63%) cheaper than the most expensive month.
Hiring a car in the city is often cheaper than at the airport
The analysis clearly shows that it’s often more cost-effective to hire a car in the city rather than at the airport, with four of the five top destinations offering cheaper car hire prices in the city. The only exception is Palma de Mallorca, where prices in the city are equal on average to those at the airport. On the other hand, in Orlando and Los Angeles, average savings reach double digits, at 14% and 15% respectively.
Add-on charges: Is it worth it to buy your own, or should you pay to add-on?
When comparing add-on costs for extras such as GPS and child safety seats, the most important factor is the destination. Looking at destinations in the United States, the low cost of GPS units can make it more worthwhile to buy one (£39 in both Orlando and L.A.), rather than pay for a 7-day rental (£92). Doing so could save travellers up to £53, a 58% savings margin.
In European destinations such as Faro and Palma de Mallorca on the other hand, it is cheaper to rent a GPS (£63, £77) than to buy one (£117, £89).
Even for larger equipment like child safety seats, it might be worth looking at purchase options in certain cities, rather than adding one to a car hire. In both Palma de Mallorca and Orlando, a car seat can cost less to buy (£54, £37) than to rent for 7 days (£62, £71), with savings in Orlando reaching as high as 48%. However, in Los Angeles, Geneva, and Faro, it would cost less to add-on rather than buy.
With so many different charges which can accumulate when booking a car hire, it’s important for travellers to keep track of all the possible ways they can avoid markups. Sometimes, simple changes in a search can make a big difference in the final cost of a booking.
John-Lee Saez, KAYAK Travel Expert, says: ‘Extra costs when travelling can add up fast, and hiring a car is no exception. Its great to see the sorts of savings which can be secured simply by choosing a car hire in the city versus at the airport or buying an extra item rather than renting it. These kinds of travel hacks all add up to give travellers additional money to spend on their holiday. By using the search filters for cars on KAYAK.co.uk, British travellers can narrow down their search to find the right offer and easily avoid extra costs’.
Note to editors: The analysis is based on car searches and clicks on KAYAK.co.uk between 01.06.2016-01.06.2017 for travel between 01.01.2017 – 31.12.2017. Prices for car hire in the airport vs in the city are based on desktop research on carried out in August 2017 for travels 6.10.2017 – 8.10.2017. Extra costs are based on desktop research between 01.07.2017-01.08.2017. Currency conversions apply and are based on average rates for August 2017. This material is meant as a guide only. Once a booking has been made, the car make and model can vary depending on the provider and availability. Prices are subject to change, may vary or are no longer available anymore.
