Car Hire FAQs

How does TravelSupermarket’s car hire comparison tool work?

To help you cut costs on car hire, we compare deals from the UK’s top car hire companies and brokers. The companies on our site include Avis, Alamo, Enterprise and Sixt. Once you’ve found the best car hire deal for you, we’ll direct you to the car hire company’s website so you can book with them.

What do the car hire prices shown on TravelSupermarket include?

The prices that you see on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (such as one-way surcharges) and all deals on the site have a fair fuel policy – also known as same-to-same or full-to-full policies – so you can book knowing that there won’t be any hidden charges. All prices are based on the most up-to-date information we have from the companies on our website.

Are there any extra costs to be aware of when hiring a car?

All mandatory fees are included in the car hire prices you see on TravelSupermarket – including one-way and young driver surcharges. But there are other extra costs you should be aware of when hiring a car as they can push the price of your bill up if you’re not prepared.

While insurance is included when you hire a car in Europe, the excess charges may be eyewatering – these are the amounts you’ll need to pay before the policy kicks in. To reduce these charges to a small sum or even zero, you can take out a separate excess insurance policy. You’ll be offered this at the desk when you pick up your vehicle, but probably at a premium. So, save money and avoid the sales pitch by taking a policy out online and in advance.

Depending on where and who you are travelling with, you may want other extras such as a sat-nav or child car seat. Daily hire charges for these can be steep, so bring your own car seats from home plus your sat-nav or use your smartphone for directions – you can use both Google and Apple Maps in offline mode if you download the areas you’ll need in advance.

Can I pick up a car at one location and drop it off at another through the companies on TravelSupermarket?

Yes, many of the car hire companies on TravelSupermarket allow you to pick up a car at one location and to drop it off at another – which is also known as one-way car hire. To compare one-way car hire deals on TravelSupermarket, use the car hire comparison tool but make sure you uncheck the “return to same location” box.

There will often be an additional fee for dropping your hire car off at a different place to where you picked it up from as it will have to be delivered back to its starting location, but comparing deals and booking early will help you to keep your costs down.

Is it more expensive to pick a hire car up from an airport?

It can be more expensive to pick a hire car up from an airport due to the addition of premium location surcharges, so looking at options just off the airport site with a free shuttle included or taking public transport or a taxi to another location might save you money. However, factor in the price of this extra transport, plus the time and effort this will take.

On the other hand, there are likely to be quite a few car hire companies at an airport meaning prices can be competitive to entice you to book. Use TravelSupermarket’s comparison tool to compare your options so you can make an informed decision on the best deal for you.

Do I book car hire through TravelSupermarket?

No, TravelSupermarket is a comparison site. This means we allow you to compare car hire deals from the UK’s top car hire companies including Avis, Alamo, Enterprise and Sixt. Once you’ve found the best car hire deal for you, we’ll send you to the relevant company’s website where you can book.

How do I make a change to my car hire booking?

If you’d like to make a change to your car hire booking, you’ll need to contact the company that you booked with and not TravelSupermarket. You should have received an email confirming your booking, and the company’s details will be on this. Can’t find the email? Check your junk or spam folder. If it’s not there, the name of the car hire company should be on your bank statement or credit card bill, depending on the method you used to pay.

How do I cancel my car hire booking?

If you’d like to cancel your car hire booking, you’ll have to contact the car hire company that you booked with and refer to its terms and conditions. As we know that plans can change, 95% of the deals you’ll find on TravelSupermarket come with free cancellation.

Do I need a credit card to pick up a hire car?

When you pick up your hire car, you’ll be asked for a card to put a security deposit on. This is in case of damage to the vehicle. Credit cards are accepted by all car hire companies for this, although some will accept certain debit cards too. Check what the requirements are with the company you have booked with before you arrive, bearing in mind that this can vary depending on the country you are hiring the car from and the type of vehicle you are hiring. The card must be in the name of the main driver who booked the vehicle.

Is there anything that I need to do when I pick up my hire car?

Read the small print of the documentation you are given at pick up to make sure it’s what you expected, paying particular attention to the price, date and location of your drop off and the fuel policy.

Before you drive away in your hire car, make sure you give the vehicle a full inspection too, looking out for any damage. This should include the wheels and bumpers as well as its body. Take photographs and videos as evidence in case you need them and report anything to the company you are hiring the car from that they haven’t already mentioned.

Check how much fuel your car has, too. This way, you won’t be hit with any unexpected bills when you get home.

Why did the price of my hire car change so much after booking?

The price of hire cars can fluctuate depending on availability. So, if there are plenty of vehicles left in your rental location, hire cars could get cheaper the closer you get to your rental date. Book a deal with free cancellation so that you can cancel and rebook to take advantage of the saving if you spot that your hire car is now significantly cheaper.

Can I cross borders with the car I book?

In many cases, you will be able to cross borders in a hire car but this will depend on the rules of the company you are hiring it from, the country you are renting it from, the countries that you would like to drive to and the type of vehicle you are hiring. Always check the terms and conditions of a rental before booking.

Is going with a local car hire provider safe?

If you find a great deal with a local car hire provider that you’ve never used before, check reviews online to give you an idea of the experience you’re likely to have. Pay particular attention to the reviews about the car hire location that you are looking to pick your vehicle up from.