Spain car rental really cheap?

[TimberWolf]

Might be worth a read.

It was thanks. For one thing I (re)discovered from one of the gripes that paying by debit card is fraught with difficulties, or at minimum extra costs. I havn't owned a credit card since the banks started charging for them a decade or so ago. What a PITA. I've phoned the company I was considering using (a third party agent) and they say some of the companies they use will accept Visa Debits cards but will charge between 30 and 60 Euros to do it - which is more than the car rental cost. I suspect there may be a hefty deposit to pay too.

[TimberWolf]

It looks as if the car rental company (Goldstar, the agent let slip which car rental company is would probably be) has a common word connecting customers reviews, and that is "avoid" Admittedly one might take in to account that more people take the time to write negative reviews than positive ones. They also appear to sting people with a 75 Euro petrol fill up for a Corsa, but will gladly accept a car returned with a full tank without reimbursement. Ye old petrol trick. That and my failed attempt at reaching their website which is hanging does not bode well. Now I remember why I rarely rent cars.

[gingerjedi]

We went in March and hired a 2010 Focus £45 for 3 days, we only paid for corsa/clio but it was out of season and they had 1000's of cars in the airport car park so got a free upgrade.

There's a massive seasonal difference in price, I'm sure the same car was at least 3x that in August.

[TimberWolf]

We went in March and hired a 2010 Focus £45 for 3 days, we only paid for corsa/clio but it was out of season and they had 1000's of cars in the airport car park so got a free upgrade.

There's a massive seasonal difference in price, I'm sure the same car was at least 3x that in August.

Which car hire firm? I think hiring a car is out for me though because of the need for a credit card. The irony there is that I don't have a credit card because of a bad credit history, but because I don't like to use or get into debt. Well, that an the fact that the card companies started charging for the cards and I never looked back after switching to a debit card.

[MrMark]

Apparently car rental prices soared at the start of the recession in Spain, as rental companies pared their stock down to a minimum. They must now be expecting a return to mass tourism levels of yesteryear; fools!

[TimberWolf]

Apparently car rental prices soared at the start of the recession in Spain, as rental companies pared their stock down to a minimum. They must now be expecting a return to mass tourism levels of yesteryear; fools!

It is, at least for the time being, cheaper to fly to Spain from the UK than it is to catch a local train in the UK or even drive far in the UK. So it's a cheap place to fly for a holiday.

[PRC1964]

Malaga to Gib should be fine. Just don't show any signs of fear.

Oh, and yes, do not attempt to drive into Gib. It's much better to risk the La Linea gitanos than to get stuck in the border queue.

[Clippy]

It is, at least for the time being, cheaper to fly to Spain from the UK than it is to catch a local train in the UK or even drive far in the UK. So it's a cheap place to fly for a holiday.

Don't forget though, aviation fuel is subsidised.

But I know what you mean, went on a stag trip a few years ago.

Flights to Vegas were cheaper than flights to Eastern Europe which was our first choice.

It was a no brainer to go to Vegas and turn the trip from a weekend into a week.

[dude69]

I've been looking at car rental prices in Spain and am having trouble believing the quote I'm getting. £28 for 3 days for a Corsa or similar. What's the catch? Is car hire usually this cheap, specifically in Spain? Admitted I will also have to buy a £2.99 / day damage insurance excess waiver policy. Maybe some "extras" will appear when I hit 'book'? Has anyone had any experience/problems renting cars in Spain? I do realise taking out car rental on the spot with AVIS and the like is a more expensive proposition.

CHEAP CAR HIRE in the UK, Europe, USA and more - Holiday Autos Rentals

Make sure they don't charge you for a full tank (no refunds when you return) - most do, so check the small print veeeeery carefully.

[Sysman]

I think hiring a car is out for me though because of the need for a credit card. The irony there is that I don't have a credit card because of a bad credit history, but because I don't like to use or get into debt. Well, that an the fact that the card companies started charging for the cards and I never looked back after switching to a debit card.

I think you are correct in the UK, but it may be different abroad. I tried switching to a debit card and had problems with hotels because the technology didn't seem to be as reliable as credit cards for some reason. All else was fine except for when trying to rent a van for a house move. No joy at all there.

My reason for scrapping credit cards was more to do with avoiding currency fluctuations when I was earning local currency abroad. New country, no credit history, I didn't want to depend on a card in sterling, and I found I could get by without one nicely. I may be missing out on the occasional internet bargain, but given what they cost per year I can live with that.