Car Hire Guide
Car hire in the UK has never been easier-and cheaper. At present, car rentals in the UK make up 15% of a company’s annual travel budget with the figure likely to go up in the coming years. The mot well-established national firms in the business of car hire are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National and Thrifty.
Car hire business attracts not only the big players, but regional firms as well. Although these have fewer locations, their services are often at par with the best. Value and Payless are the biggest names in this category. Many companies today offer car rentals only to repair shops with Enterprise as the largest firm in this segment.
Corporate accounts are one of the best ways to reduce car hire expenditure. There is no sign-up fee and you can save as much as 20% on every car. They come with lower rates and a host of other benefits. Dealing with one or multiple car hire firms depends on the annual car rentals expenditure of your company. If it is more than £15,000, you should deal with one firm and obtain insurance and other discounts. If your expenditure is much lower, you can deal with several firms and choose the one that offers the best rates at a given time.
Car hire insurance is often an issue for many companies. The collision damage waiver (CDW) purchased from an agency is often very expensive. You can go for other options like obtaining insurance through a credit card or negotiating insurance cover as a part of the rental agreement. Many large companies offer collision and liability insurance as a part of their insurance package.
Car hire rates vary with the type of vehicle and rental agency. The best cars do not often cost a lot more than average ones, but specialised vehicles like trucks and coaches are more expensive. Avail of mileage caps where you can hire a car for as low as £3 per if it is within a hundred mile area. Hourly rentals, too, are a good bargain for those brief business visits.
Tip: Most companies offer identical services in the car hire market. Go for one that quotes the lowest price.
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