Choosing a car
Once the paperwork is settled, the question is what to book. The class decides how the week drives; the terms decide what you finally pay. Both matter more than the headline daily rate.
Articles in this section
1Economy or SUV: choosing between the twoThese two classes sit at opposite ends of the same decision. An economy car is cheaper to rent, fuel and park; an SUV carries more, sits higher and copes with rougher…
2Renting a minivan: what to knowA minivan is the answer to a specific problem: five or more people travelling together with luggage. Below that it is usually more car than the trip needs.
3Renting a convertible: what to knowA convertible is booked for the drive itself rather than for transport. That makes it a good choice on coastal routes and a poor one for airport runs with luggage.
4What full insurance covers on a rental carRental cars come with basic cover that leaves you liable up to an excess. Full-cover packages reduce or remove that excess — but not the exclusions, which is where most…
5Adding an additional driverAnyone who will take the wheel has to be on the contract. This is not paperwork for its own sake: an unnamed driver invalidates the insurance entirely, whoever…
6Free cancellation on a rental bookingFree cancellation buys flexibility while plans are still uncertain. What matters is not that the option exists but exactly when it expires — the deadline is usually well…
7Unlimited mileage on a rental carMileage caps are easy to overlook and expensive to discover late. Whether the limit matters depends entirely on the shape of your route, not on the length of the rental.