Booking your rental car at the right time can save you a considerable amount in fees, but when is the right time to book? Unfortunately, there’s no universal advice which suits everyone when it comes to booking your rental car at the right time.
Generally, the best time to book a rental car will depend on where you’re travelling to, when you’re booking your car hire and what type of vehicle you want to lease. With numerous variables affecting the price of vehicle hire, you’ll need to tailor your booking time depending on your needs.
Renting a car abroad
If you’re hiring a car whilst travelling abroad, you’ll need to consider whether you’ll be at your destination during a particularly busy time. If you’re travelling to a holiday hotspot in the middle of the summer holidays, for example, there is going to be a high demand for vehicle hire, so booking early may be your best bet.
Similarly, if you’re travelling to areas which are consistently busy, such as Paris, Los Angeles or London, booking early can help to minimise the fees.
However, if you’re heading somewhere quieter or you’re travelling out of peak season, you may get a better deal if you hold off. Whilst waiting until the last minute can be risky, booking a couple of weeks in advance could be advantageous in quieter destinations.
Choosing your vehicle
If you aren’t fussy about what vehicle you hire, you could wait until nearer your departure date to make a booking. However, if you’re looking for something specific, booking early is usually recommended. Car hire firms, such as Henfield Hire, have an array of vehicles, so you can choose from luxury cars, spacious minibuses and large vans, depending on what you need.
Look for free cancellation offers
When you book a hire car in advance, you don’t want to see the prices drop just before you’re about to take possession of the vehicle. Before you book, check whether your car hire firm offers free cancellations. If so, booking early gives you the security of having car hire guaranteed, but also gives you the flexibility of cancelling your booking if cheaper options become available.
Alternatively, some car hire companies will offer to match the price if it drops between the time you make a booking and the time you’re actually hiring the vehicle. Again, this gives you a secure booking, whilst ensuring you get the best price.
How far in advance should you book?
When you’re hiring a vehicle in busier locations, booking up to three to six months in advance is often recommend. Whilst this may sound excessive, there is a consistently high demand for vehicle rental in large towns and cities, and waiting to make a booking could leave you paying high fees.
However, booking more than six months ahead can actually cost you more. Unless you have very specific requirements, booking three to six months before you want to hire a vehicle is a good way to benefit from lower prices and ensure you have a selection of vehicles to choose from. Get Top Savings on used Vauxhall cars on CarSite
