Car Hire Tips UK

Car hire is widely available throughout the Spain from all the major car rental companies. Despite being a very popular holiday location for western Europeans, Spain is one of Europe’s least densely populated countries (about 1/3 that of the UK) in Europe.

In fact Spain has become such a popular destination that many Europeans have chosen to live there on a permanent basis. Figures vary but Spain is reported to have in excess of 4.5 million (about 10% of the population) foreign residents.

A country of much natural beauty and diverse climate, it’s little wonder that Spain has become so popular as a holiday destination for other Europeans. The consequence of this is that Spain is very well served by all the Car Rental agencies, with good representation across the whole country.

Driving in Spain
If you’re planning to rent a car while in Spain there’s some basic information you’re going to need to get you on your way. Firstly, and quite importantly if you’re British, get ready to drive on the right hand side of the road. That’s the wrong side if you’re British! This means you should always overtake on the left.

There are many laws unique to driving in Spain that you need to know about, such as people who wear glasses must always carry a spare pair with them. Another is that motorists must carry a set of replacement bulbs (your car rental provider will do this one of course)

Stationary trams may not be overtaken when passengers are getting on or off. Also, on uneven dates in one-way streets in towns, vehicles should be parked on the side of the road where the houses bear uneven numbers. On the side where houses bear an even number, parking is allowed on these dates.

It is compulsory for front and rear seat occupants to wear seat belts if fitted. It’s also strongly recommended to carry a warning triangle at all times.

Speed Limits
The common speed limits are 50km/h (31mph) in built up areas and 90 to 100km/h (56 to 62mph) everywhere else, except motorways where it’s 120km/h (74mph).

Drink Driving
As with most countries nowadays drink driving is heavily frowned upon in Spain and the limit is quite low (currently 80mg) at the same level it is in the UK so it’s not worth taking any risks.

Credit Cards
Credit cards are still not accepted everywhere in Spain (although that is changing fast) so don’t be surprised if you turn up at a petrol station and have to pay in cash for your fuel.

Car hire is widely available throughout the Switzerland from all the major car rental companies. Switzerland, with its unique French, German and Italian cultural differences has something to offer everyone.

From dramatic landscapes, the highest mountains in Europe and its quaint country settings to historic castles and heritage - all of these located so close to one another. The most popular areas are the Engadine, the Berner Oberland, the Valais and the Ticino.

The Alps cause many climatic variations throughout Switzerland. In the higher alpine regions temperatures tend to be low while the lower land of the northern area has higher temperatures and a warmer summer.

Driving in Switzerland
If you’re planning to rent a car while in Switzerland there’s some basic information you’re going to need to get you on your way. Firstly, and quite importantly if you’re British, get ready to drive on the right hand side of the road. That’s the wrong side if you’re British! This means you should always overtake on the left.

Local Laws
A “vignette” must be displayed in your windshield in order to use the motorways.

Rear seat belts must be used.

Vehicles going uphill have right of way on narrow mountain roads.

Speed Limits
The common speed limits are 50 km/h (31mph) in built up areas, 80 km/h (50mph) out of town, and on motorways it’s 120 km/h (74mph).

Drink Driving
As with most other European countries drink driving is heavily frowned upon in Switzerland and the limit is quite low (currently 80mg) at the same level it is in the UK so it’s not worth taking any risks.

With much talk in the media about the environment and the ecological impact of virtually everything we do, it’s time to take a look at the car rental industry to see how “green” car hire is and what the rental firms are doing to become more eco friendly.

Most of the major car rental companies have already recognised the growth in customer demand for low emission cars and have started to change their fleets to accommodate.  The range of low emission cars currently available is quite limited, both in options and rental locations, but it’s growing quickly with changing patterns in customer demand.

So, who’s doing what?

Avis Sweden has invested in more than 400 of the new ethanol-powered Saab 9-5 BioPower cars, along with around 75 Ford Flexi-fuel and 20 Toyota Prius. In the US, Avis have added 500 Nissan Altima Hybrid vehicles and 1,000 Toyota Priuses to their fleet. In the UK they have reduced their rental fleet emissions by 4%. Avis has also been a carbon neutral company since 2000.

Hertz have introduced a “green collection” which allows you to choose from a range of cars that offer a weighted CO2 output level of less than 140g/km and achieve 40 - 65 MPG, depending upon vehicle size. This weighted CO2 level is already below the 2008 voluntary levels set by the EU for the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. This collection is available from 50 selected outlets across Europe.

Holiday autos have also launched a range of hybrid cars in selected locations across Europe through its rental partners. If you want to go really green though and live in London, why not try out an electric car. Future Vehicles (www.futurevehicles.co.uk) was one of the first to set up in this market, offering cars within the M25 area.

Car hire at Heathrow Airport is available from all the major car rental firms who are mostly situated along the Bath Road at the airport’s perimeter. Heathrow is the largest UK airport and the third busiest airport in the world so there’s plenty of competition about for the millions of customers who pass through the 5 terminals each year.

The car rental firms car parks are all outside the airport itself and most offer a shuttle bus between the terminal building and their rental office. These shuttle buses are complimentary and run very regularly so you shouldn’t have to wait long.

Once you get to the rental office you could find yourself in a queue during busy times so try and factor in a short wait into your travel time if possible. Also, at a busy location like Heathrow it’s worth looking at the rental companies loyalty schemes as sometimes they offer an express checkout service (usually at no extra cost) providing you book in advance.

Heathrow Airport is used by over 90 airlines which fly to 170 destinations worldwide. The airport is the primary hub of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and a major hub for bmi. Of Heathrow’s 67 million annual passengers, 11% travel to UK destinations, 43% are short-haul international travellers, and 46% are long-haul.

The busiest single destination in terms of passenger numbers is New York, with over 3.4 million passengers travelling between Heathrow and JFK / Newark airports in 2006. The airport has five passenger terminals (imaginatively named Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) and a cargo terminal.

Heathrow is also well served by public transport links with the Heathrow Express train service and links to the London Underground both being accessible from the airport itself. So a money saving option might be to take a short journey on public transport to a rental location away from the airport as this could save you money.

All the rental companies have to pay Heathrow operator BAA for the privilege of being allowed to sell their services with the airport and that airport “surcharge” is passed on to their customers in one form or another, so you can often get a better deal if you’re prepared to make the extra effort to get to a local rental station.

A lot of people also rent cars at Heathrow when they get there. At busy times (which is a lot of the time at Heathrow!) this can be the most expensive way to book, so if you can plan ahead, it’s definitely worth booking in advance at this airport.

Car hire in France is widely available from all the major car rental companies.  France is the world’s most popular tourist destination (78 million in 2006) boasting dozens of major tourist attractions, like Paris, Côte d’Azur (the French Riviera), the Atlantic beaches, the winter sport resorts of the Alps, the Castles of Loire Valley, Brittany: Mont Saint Michel.

France is also renowned for its gastronomy (particularly wines and cheeses), history, culture and fashion.

Driving In France
If you’re planning to rent a car while in France there’s some basic information you’re going to need to get you on your way. Firstly, and quite importantly if you’re British, get ready to drive on the right hand side of the road. That’s the wrong side if you’re British! This means you should always overtake on the left.

Stopping for someone waiting at a zebra crossing is a fineable offence for holding up traffic. The crossings indicate where it is best to cross. Also, do not overtake a tram when it is stationary with passengers getting on or off.

It is compulsory for front and rear seat occupants to wear seat belts if fitted. Carrying hazard warning lights or a warning triangle is compulsory. It is recommended that visitors equip their vehicle with replacement bulbs.

Traffic on major roads has priority. Where two major roads cross, traffic coming from the right has priority as warned by the sign ‘danger priorité à droite’. Where there is no sign, give way to the right.

Traffic on a roundabout has priority and signs saying ‘cedez le passage’ or ‘vous n’avez pas la prioritè’. In some areas the old rule of traffic entering roundabouts having priority applies so be cautious where there are no signs.

If a driver flashes his headlights in France, he is generally indicating that he has priority and you should give way. This can be confusing if you’re British as in the UK it usually indicates that a car is letting you out.

Speed Limits
The common speed limits are 50km/h (31mph) in built up areas, 90km/h (56mph) out of town, 110km/h (68mph) on priority roads and toll free motorways, while on toll motorways it’s 130km/h (81mph).

Drink Driving
The drink driving limit in France is very low (50mg) which is barely 1 unit of alcohol. So, the best advice here is definitely not to touch a drop if you’re planning on getting behind the wheel.

Car hire in Austria is widely available from all the major car rental companies. Visits to Austria mostly include trips to Vienna with its Cathedral, wine pubs and romantic Waltz music events.

Worth a visit are Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart, Innsbruck, capital of Tyrol surrounded by the Alps, and the Danube valley with its vineyards, for example the Wachau or Dunkelsteinerwald, which are between Melk and Krems.

In the western part of the country the province Vorarlberg reaches the Lake Constance, in the eastern part Neusiedler See.

Of great touristic importance are the Austrian skiing, hiking and mountaineering resorts in the Alps as well as family-friendly recreation areas. The same applies to the numerous Austrian lakes.

Driving in Austria
If you’re planning to rent a car while in Austria there’s some basic information you’re going to need to get you on your way. Firstly, and quite importantly if you’re British, get ready to drive on the right hand side of the road. That’s the wrong side if you’re British! This means you should always overtake on the left.

The flashing of headlights is used as a warning.Also note that dipped headlights should be used in built-up areas at night.

Local Laws
It is compulsory to carry a warning triangle, first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

A motorway tax disc must be displayed - weekly or monthly versions can be obtained. The following motorways charge tolls: A10 Tauern motorway, A9 Pyhrn motorway, A13 Brenner motorway, S16 Arlberg Tunnel.

Seatbelts are compulsory in the front and rear. Horns may not be used where their use is prohibited by a road sign. This applies in many large towns, mostly at night and in Vienna at all times

Speed Limits
The common speed limits are 50 km/h (31mph) in built up areas, 100 km/h (62mph) out of town, while on toll motorways it’s 130 km/h (81mph).

Drink Driving
As with most other European countries nowadays drink driving is heavily frowned upon in Austria and the limit is quite low (currently 80mg) at the same level it is in the UK so it’s not worth taking any risks.

Parking
A ‘pay and display’ parking system operates in major towns for which tickets can be purchased from tobacconists.

Car rental giants Avis have just announced the opening of a new rental station in the North London borough of Enfield. Enfield is just inside the M25 and is around 12 miles north east of central London.

The new rental office is on a busy main road, just off the North Circular. The new site is a redevelopment of a former run down petrol station.

Auto Europe, a car rental consolidator founded in 1954, has grown from a 10 person operation to a multimillion dollar corporation specializing in travel services for North Americans visiting Europe. Around 2001, UK and European offices were opened to cater for Europeans looking for car hire worldwide.

With over 6,000 locations throughout Europe, Australasia, the Caribbean, Middle East, North Africa, South America, South East Asia and South Africa using major suppliers, Auto Europe is currently one of the largest networks of international transit and accommodation.

Along with standard car hire, Auto Europe offers chauffeur transfers, speciality vehicles such as 4×4 and sports cars. Peugeot short term leasing is available for those needing a vehicle for more than 17 days, often at a much cheaper price than renting. In 1996 Auto Europe expanded to offer airfare and hotel bookings as well through their tour division, Destination Europe. That segment has now grown to representing over 20,000 hotels worldwide and scheduled air departures from all major cities to Europe, Middle East and Far East.

The Pan-European operation mainly focuses on European customers looking for car hire in European and Worldwide destinations.

Auto Europe has 3 offices, with their headquarters in Portland, Maine, a call centre in Munich for European calls and an office in London.

Alamo Rent A Car is a car rental agency based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but has branches across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, parts of Africa, Europe, and Australia as well as some locations on various Caribbean islands.

The chain was started in 1974 with several locations in the state of Florida. It was liked by many because of its unlimited mileage program, meaning that people could travel any distance with the car they rented for no extra charge. In the United States, Alamo rents mostly General Motors automobiles.

Alamo was owned by Vanguard Automotive Group, which also owns National Car Rental.

As of August 1, 2007 it was bought by Enterprise Car Rental. Enterprise is now the owner of Vanguard Car rental which owns Alamo and National Car Rental.

The UK operations of Vanguard Car Rentals were sold to Europcar in the same year.

Alamo Rent A Car has been criticized for not providing adequate access to/from terminal buildings to rental car lot for wheelchair-bound customers. According to the United States Department of Justice, Alamo was the subject of many such complaints. These complaints eventually culminated in an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Alamo reached an out of court settlement in the matter.

Car hire is available in Ukraine from the major car rental companies. Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It lies at the northwest end of the Black Sea, with Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland to the northwest, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, and Romania to the south west and south, with Moldova in between.

Most of the country (the central and eastern portions) was formerly a part of Russian Empire; after WWII, the entire country - known as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic - was a part of the Soviet Union. Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe, albeit with a slightly declining population.

Driving in Ukraine
If you’re planning to rent a car while in Ukraine there’s some basic information you’re going to need to get you on your way. Firstly, and quite importantly if you’re British, get ready to drive on the right hand side of the road. That’s the wrong side if you’re British! This means you should always overtake on the left.

Ukraine has a bit of a reputation when it comes to the quality of both its roads and its drivers. Ukrainian traffic police are always very busy on the roads. It is common knowledge that if you are stopped, they are looking for a bribe. They will try to look for something wrong with your documents or car if there was no traffic infringement. The typical bribe these days for “minor infringements” such as speeding is 20 UAH ($4 USD). The absence of serious fines for driving violations contributes to the poor driving culture on Ukrainian roads.

Traffic police will ask to see your vehicle registration certificate, driver’s license, and passport (to check for the entry stamp). If everything is fine, they will probably ask for your immigration card. They have also been known to check for “warning triangles” and first-aid kits, which every car is supposed to have, and wheedle a bribe out of you if you don’t have it.

In general, traffic police will not stop you more often for having foreign plates, and they are not prepared to chat with you in English. If you waste too much of their time, they will usually let you go.

Car insurance is not yet compulsory in Ukraine, and you will not be checked for insurance at the border if you’re driving in from another country. Even if you were, foreign insurance companies would almost certainly refuse to insure your car in a “dangerous” place like Ukraine.

You may buy 3rd party car insurance in Ukraine for a small amount. This will cover up to $5000 in damages to the other car in accidents where you are at fault. Fully comprehensive auto insurance policies might also be available for foreigners.

When car accidents occur in Ukraine, drivers are required to leave their cars on the scene of the accident until traffic police come and write up a report. This rule creates significant traffic problems in large cities. When drivers don’t want to involve police and insurance companies, they agree on a cash settlement on the stop. One party will usually call a family member or friend and have them bring the agreed amount of cash to the accident site.

Speed Limits
The common speed limits are 60 km/h (37mph) in built up areas, 90 km/h (56mph) out of town, and on motorways it’s 130 km/h (81mph). If you get stopped by Police for speeding a bribe can get you on your way again as they appear to be commonly accepted in Ukraine

Drink Driving
While most other European countries have low drink driving limits and severe penalties if you’re caught drinking and driving, Ukraine is almost the reverse of that. They operate a zero tolerance policy on drink driving so any amount of alcohol in your system and you’re guilty. However, as with speeding a roadside bribe can often be the end of the matter. We still don’t recommend you drink drive of course, if you’re driving in Ukraine you definitely need your wits about you!