As we have been renting out holiday homes for countless years, we have also rented cars many times, often a somewhat frustrating experience.
There is no simple formula for getting the best car at the best price without anything unexpected happening, such as extra fees. Since 2005, we have been in Catalonia at least twice a year. We usually fly to Barcelona and pick up a rental car there.
Price is of course the most important parameter, but before booking, we recommend reading “Things to consider before renting a car”, as “additional drivers”, “child seats” and other extras can vary considerably in price.
But the biggest hurdle is insurance. Anyone who has rented a car has probably experienced having to consider various more or less transparent “insurance offers” when picking up the car, even though you believe you have already booked insurance online.
Websites that provide an overview of prices from different car rental companies can be a good starting point. For example: Rentalcars.com or Expedia.com
It is tempting simply to book one of the good deals that appears, BUT this is where we have had many bad experiences. When picking up the car, there are often additional charges, and you may have to make quick decisions about various extras and options.
We have had the best experiences when booking directly on the rental company's website. So ONCE you have found a good price, we recommend booking directly on the company's own website and, if possible, choosing one of the more established companies (e.g. Sixt, Avis, Europcar, Hertz) or another company you have had good experiences with.
We also recommend that BEFORE renting a car, you consider the following points, as these are choices you will typically have to make when renting a car.
Some rental companies do not have their cars located at the airport itself, but at a car park some distance away, which means you have to take a shuttle bus.
If you want to avoid this, only choose cars where the pick-up location is stated as "AT THE AIRPORT" (inside the airport).
The cheapest cars normally have an arrangement called "full to empty". The advantages of "full to empty" are the price and also that you do not have to fill up the car before returning it, which means you do not have to find a petrol station on your way to the airport. However, as it is difficult to calculate your final refuelling so that you can return the car completely empty, you will probably return the car with some petrol that you have paid for but will not get to use.
When picking up the car at the airport, you will always be offered the option of extending your insurance (at an additional cost) so that you are fully covered (i.e. no excess). It can be a good idea to understand what insurance you have purchased in advance, so you know what to answer.
Also check what your private insurance covers, as you may already have some coverage included. Many private insurance policies already cover a considerable part of the insurance package they are trying to sell you!
If you require child seats, cross-border driving, a roof box or similar extras, these are normally booked in advance. Make sure you know what you need before booking and make your reservation accordingly. Prices for these extras can also vary considerably.
It can be nice to have more than one person able to drive the car. Be aware that this may be included in some offers, while in others it can result in a relatively large additional cost.
If you have rented a holiday home a little further inland, it may be worth not choosing the very smallest car, as some mini cars can struggle a little with the Catalan hills.
But having said all that, we have almost always ended up with some lovely cars!! :-) - It can be nice to try driving a different car from the one you are used to.
Lyngby Torv 5
DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby
Denmark
Bertel Dahlmand Stahn
Owner & Contact person
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