Car Hire

Our team of roving staff and reviewers has hired thousands of cars from dozens of suppliers during our 20+ years of travel - and here are our top tips:

Our favourite car rental broker: Rhino

Reasons we like them:

• They offer great value, comparing prices from big rental companies and local suppliers alike
• Most suppliers allow you to ‘book now and pay later’ with just a small deposit payable to confirm
• They also have a helpful Live Chat facility during the booking process
• Many of our staff use them for their own holidays, and have never reported any problems
• When enquiring through our link, you'll see the name of the supplier, their fuel policy, and whether it is at the airport terminal or not

Things to be aware of:

• Having 2 middlemen means less precision about what car you are getting (we booked a 'Golf or similar' and got a significantly smaller Lancia Ypsilon')
• Different suppliers have different T&Cs, so be sure to read the small print
• Some extras, like GPS and additional drivers, can be pricey
• If you choose the 'Book now, Pay Later’ option, exchange rates may fluctuate before the final payment date

And 5 quick tips on booking your car rental:

1. Check the fuel policy: we think 'full-to-full' is best i.e. you collect it full and return it full.
2. Check if the office is 'on site' (within the airport): it's a bore waiting for the minibus to shuttle you to rental offices
3. Check the excess amount, and the cost of reducing it: it's usually cheaper to buy a separate annual policy to cover the excess with a company like insurance4carhire
4. Check the cost of a child seat (if relevant): it might be cheaper buying a portable booster seat such as the inflatable or the
5. Get a good road map, satnav or app if you're going off the beaten track: car hire companies (surprise surprise) charge over the odds for satnav hire

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NOTE: While we've made every effort to select the best fit, we cannot guarantee that every provider will meet your price and service expectations. Delivery of all services is the provider's responsibility and not i-escape's. In some cases, i-escape receives commissions for bookings using the links above, but we regularly evaluate our providers and are happy to hear about your experience. While we take no responsibility for the providers' services, your feedback will assist us in our ongoing assessment.