UK Car hire at Xmas

[suze2000]

Hi guys, looking for a little advice.

We are off to the UK (LHR) to see the family and then to Scotland for castles/windswept landscapes/whiskey and thence back to LHR to head home.

Hubby wants a 4WD/AWD in case of ice in Scotland... the cheapest I can find is 1000 pounds (without CDW) for the three weeks, which seems insane to me compared to what I would pay here. Is this the best we can do? (okay I found one that was 650, but it was limited mileage and we plan to drive a fair way) Does anyone have any suggestions to reduce the cost of car hire? I did try breaking it up into a couple of sections, but it wasn't any better as far as I could tell.

ETA: this is for three weeks over Xmas

 

[suze2000]

Hi guys,I posted my own thread for this but nobody has replied. Not quite on-topic, so I thought I might post it here:


We are off to the UK (LHR) to see the family and then to Scotland for castles/windswept landscapes/whiskey and thence back to LHR to head home.Hubby wants a 4WD/AWD in case of ice in Scotland... the cheapest I can find is 1000 pounds (without CDW) for the three weeks, which seems insane to me compared to what I would pay here. Is this the best we can do? (okay I found one that was 650, but it was limited mileage and we plan to drive a fair way) Does anyone have any suggestions to reduce the cost of car hire? I did try breaking it up into a couple of sections, but it wasn't any better as far as I could tell.

 

[Denali]

Hi guys,I posted my own thread for this but nobody has replied. Not quite on-topic, so I thought I might post it here:


We are off to the UK (LHR) to see the family and then to Scotland for castles/windswept landscapes/whiskey and thence back to LHR to head home.Hubby wants a 4WD/AWD in case of ice in Scotland... the cheapest I can find is 1000 pounds (without CDW) for the three weeks, which seems insane to me compared to what I would pay here. Is this the best we can do? (okay I found one that was 650, but it was limited mileage and we plan to drive a fair way) Does anyone have any suggestions to reduce the cost of car hire? I did try breaking it up into a couple of sections, but it wasn't any better as far as I could tell.

Hello. I found SUVs really hard to find/hire but one day parked next to an american that had an Audi Q3 who said he got it from Hertz (I asked because I wanted a SUV).

Having spent 3 weeks in Scotland in April, they arent a SUV nation - most people drive freakishly small cars, it did my head in. Ended up hiring a Jag via Avis Prestiage but my complaint is I thought the boot would have been bigger.

Also, quite a lot of the roads are single lane so as I was warned before we went to Scotland, you dont want too big a car so go for safety features and comfort/space but without the SUV tag. Good luck!

 

[QF WP]

Hi guys,I posted my own thread for this but nobody has replied. Not quite on-topic, so I thought I might post it here

You only posted it at 9.24pm last night - give members a chance to answer. I'll also go and put it in the correct Forum (now done!)

 

[Quickstatus]

.Hubby wants a 4WD/AWD in case of ice in Scotland...

There are cars which are AWD

In Uk these are usually
Subaru Outback
Skoda Octavia Scout

This is a good list. But whether car rental company has them is another matter
Best cars for winter

 

[docjames]

Was look at Hertz and Avis for an uncoming trip and seemed to be a 'CX-5" category (mid size SUV). May have also included XTrail.

 

[suze2000]

The car does not have to be big. We only drive an HRV currently, just needs four driving wheels. The concern is the insane pricing. Perhaps we are spoiled here, but only used to paying a couple of hundred dollars each week in Australia.

Are we trying to book too early or too late?

 

[docjames]

FWIW I've got a Skoda Octavia wagon (or equiv) in June for a week for GBP215.

What time of year? Xmas? You may be paying the xmas tax.

For the same dates as mine, it looks like an XTrail is GBP272. For GBP1000 I can get a Volvo XC60 from the "prestige" range.


I find the trick is often to try and find the best deal you can initially, then check regularly for better pricing (as a new booking). I reduced mine by about GBP50 by doing this.

Cant explain why GBP1000 is the charge unless it's Xmas - what are your actual dates?

Edit: A week rental from 28/12 is pricing at about the same.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

FWIW I've got a Skoda Octavia wagon (or equiv) in June for a week for GBP215

Isn't OP being quoted GBP1000 for three weeks? So fifty quid a day.

 

[docjames]

I posted for comparison - GBP333/wk vs GPB215 (for a lower grade car).

Dates and rental location(s) will also be a factor.

 

[opusman]

If you're looking at the major rental websites, it's often worth checking the prices in other countries as it can often vary wildly. A few weeks ago I needed a car for a weekend in Spain; cheapest I could get through Spanish or UK websites was about $250 equivalent, but on the Avis AU website I got it for just under $100.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

I posted for comparison - GBP333/wk vs GPB215 (for a lower grade car)

Ah, got it. The price didn't seem too bad for the time of year and a specified car.

 

[suze2000]

Thank you both, the comparison price and the advice to check other country does is very useful. The 1000GBP price was upfront payment, so reluctant to book.