Hi all, have just been checking  the general forum and it seems like there will be a shortage of hire cars for the summer months, as the hire companies are not buying new cars this year. Anyone who has flights booked get in early to hire your car, and do shop around.

We booked ours in Jan for 4 weeks end of july to mid august and got it for 311 euro, have just checked the price now and it is over 600euro for the cheapest quote.

Best of luck

Tricia

Hi Tricia

Thanks for advise but I think it is too late we have looked to hire a car for August and everybody is 3 times as expensive as last year we cannot beleive this has happened we dont know what to do now to book or to wait .  Most companies also need you to pay now and so you carnt book a car and then keep checking if the price comes down.  What do you think ?

Debbie

Hi Debbie

We booked our car hire for August back in November when we booked our flights. We got a great bargain at 215 euros for 3 weeks for a Ford Focus, collecting in Malaga & returning to Almeria. The cost now is 564 euros!!!

Our booking is with Auriga Crown through www.doyouspain.com

When booking with Doyouspain, you pay nothing until you collect the car so it does give you the opportunity to shop around or just keep tracking their website for any reduction in price.

I had a booking for 2 weeks over Easter which again, I made in November but due to price reductions in Jan & Feb, I changed it on 4 occasions to get the cheaper rates.

Noreen

Thanks for that Noreen  we will check that web site out.

We are used to checking flights to get the best offers but didin't realise we

should do the same with car hire as it has always seemed reasonable.  It seems like car hire

companies have got greedy like the airlines and are now charging for every little thing but we now

know to book early to get the best deals.

Thanks again

Debbie

Hi all

We made the same mistake in booking late for the week before easter. Most companies did not have anything available and those that did were quoting nearly 2000 euros for three weeks. We tried all the main companies, including Doyouspain, carjet, travelsupermarket, Atlas,Hertz and any others that came up on the web, without luck. We found one for 400, but was not confirmed and then told after the weekend  that it wasn't available. We then managed to hire a car for 1 day from alicante to mojacar and then 3 days for the return from mojacar to alicante with Europcar. We used the bus to get about during our stay.

I would take the advice and book with doyouspain and change later if you find one cheaper.

Hi all,

Yes we too have made the same mistake.  We got quotes in January for a big Ford C Max and it was 444 euros for 3 weeks now it's nearly 700.  We usually book with Auriga Crown and we should have booked back then but we didn't.  After much surfing and getting quotes from every car rental place that we can find we have now booked through Hertz which use Solmar at Murcia and we have managed to get a Mercedes B class 180 (or Similar) for £450.  It's not as cheap as the quote from January but because of the exchange rate it would have been pretty much the same when we had paid by credit card when we got there. We have paid upfront and I have vowed not to look at car hire again between now and then so that I don't see if they drop the prices or not.

If you look on line too you can find discount codes for Hertz which give you 10% off from certain airports.  Every little helps!

All the best

Helen

We have also booked with doyouspain and getting the car through auguria. I would book now with them if you can Debbie, as Noreen said they do not charge anything up front and you could keep looking  with them and other companies and see if anything comes in cheaper nearer your travel time.

When we booked orginally we were quoated over 400euro and I went in a couple of times and received a price reduction. I have never used Hertz but Helens price dosnt seem  bad, give them all a try. Have you tried brava and car trawler.

Let us know how you get on.

Tricia

We spent all day Wednesday looking or rather Kev did with me just looking on and he found a deal with Carjet for 12 days collecting from Auriga Crown car hire at Almeria airport for a Clio diesel or similar for 219 euros which seems too good to be true but we have read through it and it seems to be ok, main thing is insurance but it says it is all inclusive. Last year we booked through Hertz in Majorca and when we arrived we were only insured third party and had to pay another 160E for fully comp and extra for me to drive and so we are a bit wary about that happening again. 

My mum and step dad have gone to our apartment it was a last minute thing to cheer them up after a long winter.  We got them brilliant flight times and price to Almeria airport.  Dave picked them up and took them to the supermarket and they have settled in.  Mum says Dave is fantastic and they feel really at home with the area and know Dave is only a few minutes away if they have a problem or they need a lift anywhere.

Debbie

We always use Auriga Crown Debbie and we have never had a problem so I'm sure you will be fine.

On the other hand we have never used Hertz before so I am a little apprensive as you always are when you try someone new but I did double check the insurance etc before we booked just incase so fingers crossed.

I'm sure your Mum and Step Dad will come back feeling alot happier after their wee break we always do.  One of the perks of having a place in the sun is being able to do something like you have when needed and it's also handy having Dave at the other end to know they are being well looked after.

Helen

Don´t know if this is of any help.  Try Crown Rent A Car SL, they are on Mojacar Playa near to the Irish Rover.  I know they used to deliver cars to Almeria airport and they had an office in Torrievieja for dealings with Alicante and Murcia airports.  It is a while since I had any dealings with them but a phone call or email can´t go amiss.  0034 950 478 976 or mobiles 0034 686 929 861 and 0034 686 929 864 or email book@crown-rentacar.com

P.S.  I have the phone numbers (and some email addresses) of several more Mojacar based car rental places that may also deliver to the airports, if anyone wants them send me a PM

We have always used Auriga through doyouspain but  I know Auriga have changed their policy re insurance. They had always offered extra insurance for damage to underneath the car,loss of keys, clutch etc for 20euro (I think), this policy was optional, now if you do not take out this extra insurance you must pay a deposit of 300euro on your credit card which will be returned to you if there are no problems with the car on its return. Just something to be aware of.

Tricia

Have you tried www.insurance4carhire.com ?

For around £50 per year you can insure all those extras.

It covers the excess for accidents as well.

If you hire a car fairly regularly it soon pays for itself just from the peace of mind perspective.

Noreen

The last couple of times we have hired cars from Alicante we have been offered an extra insurance of 35E to cover punctures and windscreens and they said made us fully insured maybe if we took out the £50.00 that Noreen has suggested we wont have to pay that ?

Debbie