Hiring a Car Doesn't Have to Involve Hidden Costs

LONDON, May 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

As a recent Which? report criticises car hire companies for lack of transparency over fees, Carrentals.co.uk offers advice to consumers on how to uncover 'hidden extras'

A new report from leading consumer organisation, Which? has criticised car hire companies for confusing their customers with hidden charges, and failing to show complete transparency over fees.

According to the recent report, many car hire companies fail to disclose additional costs until after a booking has been confirmed, making it virtually impossible for customers to identify the best deals on offer. Of the 120 bookings administered across 10 popular rental websites, researchers said that the total price of car hire was unclear for more than half of them.

Which? revealed that, in particular, consumers faced confusion over charges incurred due to excess insurance costs, taxes, compulsory fuel costs and optional extras such as sat navs and additional drivers. In a number of cases, these charges were found to double the original quoted cost for the customer.

However, Carrentals.co.uk believe that all the prices are normally displayed at the time of making a booking, either in the Terms and Conditions of the booking, or in an 'extras' section.  In some instances items cannot be displayed in the first price customers see for various reasons. For example many extras are only payable locally on collection of the vehicle.

Commenting on the report, Gareth Robinson, Managing Director of Carrentals.co.uk, said: "Remember that items such as sat-navs and child seats are optional extras, so the prices for these will not be shown in the overall price, but in an extras section on the website. With regards to fuel costs, try to use a supplier who has a 'pick up full, drop off full' policy in place.

Customers must ensure they read the small print to be aware of all costs they may incur. They can then compare the full price of a booking with several suppliers to make sure they are actually getting the best deal for their needs.

Gareth added: "Generally, with regard to costs all the information is usually there. To avoid any nasty surprises make sure you read the terms and conditions before booking, if you feel there is something unclear, contact the supplier for further information."

For more information or to book visit Carrentals.co.uk