Travellers given car hire tip-off

Travellers heading to the continent this summer need not worry about extortionate car hire rates, if one expert is to be believed.

Conde Nast Traveller's executive editor holidayed in France and Italy recently and hired his vehicle from a firm which he says offered "the lowest rates with top car rental companies".

NovaCarHire provided him with two hire cars, in Paris and Rome, and did it with a smile. Mr Moncreiff says that he was "bowled over" by just how friendly and "compliant" the firm was and, better still, how cheap its prices were.

He reports that renting a Fiat mini-van for four days with built-in GPS from National Car Rental cost $368 (£169). Furthermore, to hire a branch new Fiat station wagon with automatic transmission for five days only set him back $466 (£233).

The travel expert asserted that the service and prices he received demonstrated that hiring a car abroad does not have to be a laborious and expensive experience.

Sophie Butler of the Daily Telegraph writes that this encounter does not have to be a one-off. So long as holidaymakers are discerning when hiring a vehicle they can secure a good deal.

"Be warned, your hire deal might appear reasonable at first but you could be in for a nasty surprise when you get the final bill," she adds.

Ms Butler continues to advise readers that often the original quote "bears no relation" to the price consumers will end up paying.

The secret is investigating the hidden costs, she advises.

One motorist who had his hands burned hiring a small Ford Focus told the paper that he was originally quoted £92 for three days and he ended up paying £268 – nearly three times the estimated price.

Extra money was added on, although the motorist was not sure what for as the car was returned in its original condition, with a full tank of petrol.

He said: "The total included a whole battery of charges.

"Plus cover for loss of personal possessions, for which I am adequately insured anyway and did not ask for.

"There was also an 'airport fee' of more than £32, the purpose of which has still not been adequately explained to me."

Ms Butler says that other motorists can avoid this fate by reading through the small print of their terms and conditions with a fine tooth comb.

She also advocates taking out a collision damage waiver, which means that in the event of an accident drivers will not be liable.