Hire a car at home this summer

Hiring a car is typically something consumers do on foreign shores, for the simple reason that at home they have a vehicle of their own, perhaps.

However, Europcar.co.uk is urging holidaymakers to think outside the box and hire a car on home soil this summer, advocating the cuts in costs such a move could bring about.

Catriona Lougher, marketing director for the firm, said: "In a bid to save cash, families are reducing costs on car maintenance and even downscaling their car to a more economical vehicle.

"This means that when it comes to that UK holiday, hiring a bigger, safer car for the trip makes enormous sense as does using a company that will deliver the car to your home address for free. With this in mind, we've put together some top tips on how to get the best out of car hire in the UK this summer."

The first tip the car hire firm has to offer motoring holidaymakers is to book early, as it says that the best deals for summer get snapped up months in advance and reminds travellers that rates can very from day to day.

Brits are also advised to consider not only how many passengers they will have in the car, but the volume of luggage too. Furthermore, they may want to consider extras such as hiring sat-navs and putting both parents on the insurance, Europcar.co.uk said.

The firm adds that it supplies all its hire cars with a full tank of fuel and gives customers the option to be able to return the vehicle on empty, with Europcar.co.uk charging on average five pence under the high street pump value.

However, holidaymakers should not get swept up in the details and forget the essentials, such as having ID when collecting the car. A photo-card licence will be needed along with the paper counterpart and to ride with Europcar.co.uk drivers must be 21 - there is a small surcharge for those under 25.

Meanwhile, the Post Office's Travel Services' Motoring on the Continent report has discovered that for those determined to head to foreign shores this summer Portugal is the cheapest European nation to hire a vehicle in, with the price of this pursuit have plummeted by 21 per cent.

Florida meanwhile has become a more expensive place to hire a car due to the rise in the cost of fuel in the US and the exchange rate of the weaker pound against the dollar.