Car Hire

Hi

We are coming out to SG end of next week to complete our purchase. We are flighing into Alicante and back home again from San Javier and need to hire a car to pick up/drop off from the airports.

Can anymone recommend a local company who won't want to charge for a tank of fuel i.e. FULL/FULL or lay claim to £600 on my credit card for excess?

Penny & Greg

HI penny and greg

we will be in a similar position soon and we have been doing a bit of Internet trawling.

.marmenorcarhire seem to tick a lot of the boxes.you can pick up and drop off at your chosen airports.

hope all goes well with your completion .Hope  to see you over there soon

cheers Jim and Audrey 

Have used Centauro in the past - very good but possibly a tad expensive even with their loyalty scheme. Tend to use Do You Spain now which seems to be very competitive and allows you to "untick" any supplier you do not want to use.We would always avoid Goldcar and the cheaper "local" to Alicante ones - check where the pick point is if using a cheap Alicante supplier; they can be away from the airport!! The Do You Spain web site also allows you to decide whether you want to return with an empty or full tank. We always chose the latter.

In our experience all suppliers will take a card imprint to cover excess insurance and petrol, but that is not something to fret about, especially if, for a very nominal cost, you take out an annual insurance policy back in the UK to cover any uninsured losses - never ever take out the cover offered by the supplier, you will pay through the nose. We have never had an issue with having the cost of the full tank returned - good idea though to take a photo of the speedo when you return the car. Also take photos of any bodywork blemishes when you pick up your car, and make sure they have been noted on the documentation you walk away with. We use Insurance 4 car hire to cover the excess insurance, but there are others that may be as good and competitive. If you take out this type of insurance (strongly recommended), make sure you advise the staff at the car pick up office that you have your own insurance to cover any excess insurance, and make certain they do not ("unwittingly" ?!) slip this extra cover into the paperwork you sign. Exceptionally admitted, but it has been known! Happy hiring!

Try bravo car hire

We hire cars tried could of other companies but tend to go back to economy car hire used mainly Centro and sol a mar. Sol a mar awkward at Alicante as its a ride from airport bit easier at San Javier but you still have to wait for them to transport to and from airport.  Century in airport. More expensive but  easier and reliable. They all charge extra for insurance. It depends on you about fuel.  But you must be aware of charge if you take back to different airport. 200 Euro charge is the norm read small print.  Lucky I noticed when we went to Barcelona  planned to drive down then fly back from Alicante but went by train and had extra night  in Alicante for less than that.     

I was told by someone they do accept year insurance bought through money supermarket but not trusted that. We paid one year through the hire company but when collecting car they won't accept.  

Good luck 

Trisha 

Try British car hire company there's some in Spain there small they are cheaper than Spanish company no cards need 

Try a car hire I found hes name is Steve Berry he's number is 634095327 he's price start at 10th a day 

The ones at the San Javier or Alicante airport seem to be very reasonable 

The ones at the San Javier or Alicante airport seem to be very reasonable 

I arranged car hire yesterday for when we come out in March I got car Renault Megan or similar for £25.00 for 9 days from a company called rental cars in UK as we don't use credit cards I will pay 157 euros when I pick it up at Alicante airport for full insurance no liability at all its from Firefly in arrivals lounge

Unless you have paid for the Firefly "Supercover" insurance, I suspect you will only be covered for the standard items eg 3rd party, CDW (Collision Waver Damage) & Theft Protection - look closely at the Firefly web site. Particularly for multiple trips I think you will find that taking out specialist (annual) "excess" car hire Insurance back in the UK (for a very nominal fee) is cheaper than taking out say the Firefly "Supercover". We use" insurance4carhire.com" but there will be others.

We pay the additional insurance on collection it depends on length of trip as to amount you pay  but it covers everything, but and they don't freeze the 1,000 € or more two companies rated 2 and 3 thousand euros from your card in small print why we don't use them.

  Which we know they do in most of these companies if you don't buy their insurance.  Heard on 3 occasions people arguing when collecting car about credit card needed or the amount they will freeze on account..  The  Spanish way is different to English so even if you may have insurance bought in uk.  It may not cover or be valid....watch some of these holiday watchdog programmes.  The same programmes are working on getting the regulation of rental companies to drop the prices.   It used to be so much less when we first used them   only twenty thirty now often 100 but we still think Peace of mind sometimes is better than thinking you may be fine for a few extra euros.  Then something happens and they chase you and I know if they can't make contact the  fine  triples the quadrouples..... What we won't use are child, baby car seats we paid 80 euros for one last year rather than take one from home which would have been free on plane but didn't want bother.  The state of the choice of seats was appalling.  When we got to our home there we scrubbed and washed it.   

One thing you must always read small print.....  in English or get it translated.