Press release
Rental desk rip-offs: Inferior car hire cover seven times the price of comprehensive policies, Which? finds
4 min read
Guy Hobbs, Editor of Which? Travel, said: "Our analysis found major rental firms are charging extortionate fees for poor quality cover. With the price of hire cars rocketing this summer, it's worth trying to avoid these rental desks' rip-off policies. "Car hire companies make their money from extras, like insurance, and Which? has previously found some unscrupulous providers resorting to pressure selling tactics. "If you hire a car this summer, avoid the pressure from pushy agents and buy your own policy from a third-party beforehand."
Notes to editors
- In June 2022, we obtained quotes for a week's car rental from Malaga airport. We selected the most comprehensive super collision damage waiver (SCDW) available.
- We calculated the policy scores by rating the 16 most important elements of the policy, including tyres, windscreen and underbody cover, flat battery cover, admin charges, car jacking, towing cover, personal accident cover and more.
- Full results -
- Research from Which? showed the average weekly rental rate shot up from £119 in March 2019 to £280 in March 2022.
- Guy Hobbs is acting editor of Which? Travel while Rory Boland is on leave.
Which? advice on buying car hire insurance Car hire is very competitive and the major rental companies compete on the headline price on comparison sites. They make their money from the extras that they sell, like insurance, and Which? has previously found some unscrupulous providers resorting to pressure selling tactics. Which? recommends that you buy your own excess reimbursement policy from one of the best third-party insurance providers, then just say no at the rental desk. Explain that you don't want any extra cover and that you understand the need to pay up to the excess limit if you damage the car (safe in the knowledge that you can claim it back). The more expensive alternative is buying insurance from the company renting you the car. This is called a damage waiver, or super collision damage waiver (SCDW).
About Which? Which? is the UK's consumer champion, here to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone. Our research gets to the heart of consumer issues, our advice is impartial, and our rigorous product tests lead to expert recommendations. We're the independent consumer voice that influences politicians and lawmakers, investigates, holds businesses to account and makes change happen. As an organisation, we're not for profit and all for making consumers more powerful. The information in this press release is for editorial use by journalists and media outlets only. Any business seeking to reproduce information in this release should contact the Which? Endorsement Scheme team at endorsementscheme@which.co.uk