Question 1

How much does it cost to rent a car?

Accepted Answer

Find out how much it costs to rent a car in seconds by filling in the 3 fields above and pressing ‘Search’.

Options from lots of car rental companies will come up, giving you an idea of the average cost for your holiday. Make sure to compare what is included in the quotes by looking at the text on the right in green.

It is also important to check if unlimited mileage is included. This is normally included as standard, but some car rental agencies still apply the ‘flat-rate mileage’ rule, which is only cost-effective if you make short journeys. (Note that our search tool offers a filter option that allows you to filter by limited or unlimited mileage.)

Also compare the excess on different quotes; and whether an additional fee is applicable to drivers under 25/ over 70, should that apply to you.

For full information on extra fees and charges that are applied by some rental car companies, visit to our help centre.

Question 2

How old do you have to be to hire a car?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the country and the car rental agency, but in general the minimum age is 21. You will also need to have held your driving licence for a minimum of a year, sometimes more, depending on the destination or the category of the car rented.

In most cases, you will have to pay an additional fee if you are under 25 or over 70 years old, to cover the cost of additional insurance. The amount can vary by car rental company, so it is worth checking several companies.

Question 3

Do you have to clean a rental car before giving it back?

Accepted Answer

Generally, you are not expected to clean a rental car before giving it back, but you are expected to return it in reasonable condition. If the company considers that the car is unreasonably dirty, for example, with permanent stains on upholstery or anything considered damage, they may levy an extra charge.

As always, it is better to verify with the rental company when collecting the car what their policy is, as these details can vary from supplier to supplier.

Question 4

Which insurance to choose when renting a car?

Accepted Answer

Any quotes you receive through our car rental search tool will include the mandatory insurance options (you will see these listed in the text on the right in green).

However, excess – the amount you have to pay before the remainder is covered by insurance – can vary. This can often be reduced by purchasing extra insurance cover.

Similarly, most companies will allow free cancellation up until a certain amount of time before the booking, but you may wish to take out cancellation insurance to cover the costs should an emergency occur resulting in you needing to cancel at the very last minute.

Question 5

Should I use a credit card or debit card to rent a car?

Accepted Answer

If you prefer, you can use a debit card when booking online. However, in most cases, you will need to provide a valid credit card in the name of the main driver when you pick up the car. If the main driver cannot present a credit card at the rental office, the car may not be released and no refund given.

You can check each company’s policy by clicking on the “Important Information” link in any quote you are considering. There will be a “Payment” section and a “Debit and Credit Card Information” subsection within that. If the agency does not specify that debit cards ARE accepted, you will not be able to rent without a credit card in the name of the main driver.

There are some rental agencies that accept debit cards, in certain locations. Note that our search tool offers a filter option to show you which rental agencies may accept a debit card.

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