As the holidays are approaching, we have been looking for a site for you to rent a cheaper car.
No need to go to the classic rental companies who charge very high prices.
Instead, go to car rental brokers or car rental comparators.
To my surprise, car rental brokers have much cheaper prices than conventional car rental companies.
Yet brokers only offer rental from these same rental companies, Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, Avis, etc.
You know them as well as I do...
If the differences are around 10 € per day, the observation is final after having made several simulations. For proof this comparison. We compared a car rental at Biarritz airport from January 4 to 9, 2013.
At Sixt, the cheapest vehicle is a Twingo at €204.91.
At EuropCar, the cheapest vehicle is a Fiat 500 at €234.00.
At Avis, the cheapest vehicle is a Citroën C1 for €249.00.
At Hertz, the cheapest vehicle is a Chevrolet Spark at €249.00.
On the other hand, with car rental comparators, you can book at much more attractive prices.
At Cardelmar, there is a Citroën C1 at €184.38. At Opodo there is a C3 at 207, 31 €. At AutoEurope we offer a C3 at 213.90 €.
Before getting started, it's worth checking the consumer reviews. I prefer to see what I'm getting into before paying rather than finding myself at my vacation spot without a car or with a bad surprise.
We have read a large number of reviews on general sites like Ciao or on more specialized sites like TrustPilot.
Whether for CardelMar or for others, we noted that overall the opinions are positive but that a recurring problem is reported by consumers. Upon arriving on site, some customers find themselves having to pay supplements. Unscrupulous local agencies? Supplements not communicated by the comparators?
We think it's more related to poor communication between the comparator who makes the reservation and the payment, and the rental company who provides the car.
To avoid falling victim to these costly mistakes:
1. Check your Voucher carefully before leaving to make sure that these are the conditions you have subscribed to.
2. Call the agency where you are going to pick up the vehicle to confirm that the car will be available.
3. Send them by email the Voucher in pdf so that they validate it and answer you by email that it is ok for them. Take it with you to show them in case of dispute when you arrive on site.
Have a good trip! And tell me how your rental went in the comments (as well as your stay).
