Car‑Hire Prices Are Finally Back to “Normal” (Or at Least Almost)
The latest eye‑popping survey from iCarhireinsurance.com shows a dramatic slowdown in the global car‑hire boom. Across 12 big‑ticket destinations—Australia, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK, and the USA—the average cost of scooter‑ish rides has slipped to £380 a week for a compact family car (think VW Golf). That’s a drop of roughly 27 % from 2023 and a tidy 42 % from 2022.
When Prices Look Like the “Good Old Days”
- In 2019 a similar trip cost around £310.
- 2022 prices were a whopping £652 a week.
- We’re back close to the pre‑pandemic baseline: just about £380 today.
Where to Grab the Cheapest and Most Expensive Rides
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top 12 spots, ranked from cheapest to most expensive:
- Australia – £297
- Spain – £306
- Germany – £311
- Turkey – £360
- Italy – £446
- Switzerland – £460
- France – £523
Beware the Halloween‑Price Extras
While the base rates have softened, the optional extras at the desk still suck a lot of cash out of travellers:
- Excess protection (the “no‑fault” safety net): £168
- Tyre and windscreen cover: £33
- Extra driver: £64
- Sat‑nav gadget: £71
- Child seat: £67
Stacking everything up brings the bill to a staggering £403 in extras alone, elevating the overall weekly cost to around £783.
Why the Overcharged “Protection” Is a Good Move to Skip
The lock‑in “car‑hire excess protection” available in‑person is, on average, over £200—more than six times the price of a solid third‑party policy from iCarhireinsurance.com.
- Weekly European insurance: £33.15
- Annual European policy: £41.99
If you don’t buy that expensive protection, you’re looking at a potential £1,500 liability for theft or damage—a number that’s no joke.
Quick Tips From a Hotline Expert
Ben Wooltorton of iCarhireinsurance.com says, “It’s a breath‑of‑fresh‑air seeing rates choking down to near 2019 levels again. But don’t let yourself be dragged into a mortgage‑style extra‑fee nightmare.”
“Check rates as your trip approaches—many companies offer free cancellation 48 hours before pick‑up. Grab your own sat‑nav and child seat, avoid the copy‑and‑paste extras at the desk, and think about chipping in on a specialist insurance policy instead.”
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