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Summer car hire prices drop - cancel and rebook to save hundreds
Which? is encouraging car hire customers to cancel and rebook, after our new research found that rates for the school summer holidays have fallen by up to 44% in key holiday destinations.
Based on data from Which? Recommended Provider Zest Car Rental, and thousands of bookings at 13 popular holiday-destination airports, we found that prices dropped by £56 a week (on average) compared with rates in March.
Find out which car hire companies you can trust with our tables of the best and worst car hire providers and car hire brokers
The biggest price drops are at Spanish megahubs. At Alicante airport prices are down by £122, and at Malaga airport by £104.
Popular family destination Orlando has also seen a £90 drop.
Where to find cheap car hire this summer
| Airport rental location | Weekly summer rate booking in March 2024 | Weekly summer rate booking in July 2024 | Last-minute booking average saving |
| Alicante, Spain | £278 | £156 | £122 |
| Malaga, Spain | £269 | £165 | £104 |
| Pisa, Italy | £303 | £208 | £95 |
| Orlando, USA | £399 | £309 | £90 |
| Palma, Mallorca | £274 | £197 | £77 |
| Malta | £236 | £162 | £74 |
| Corfu | £391 | £323 | £68 |
Pricing data from Zest Car Rental, based on thousands of bookings made in March/July 2024 for rentals during the six weeks of school summer holidays 2024.
Why you should rebook your car hire?
Many brokers and operators allow you to cancel your booking without penalty up to 48 hours before the pick-up date. That means you can rebook exactly the same car, for the same dates, but at a cheaper rate.
Before you cancel, check the prices with your provider (and elsewhere). While car hire rental rates have gone down on average, it’s important to be sure that this is true for your particular booking. Check availability, too. Some cars, particularly more economic models, can sell out.
If the car you want is available and the price is cheaper, cancel and rebook.
Which car hire firms let you cancel and rebook?
Many of the major car hire firms have different T&Cs depending on where you hire the car, so check your booking confirmation for details.
All our Which? Recommended Providers offer free cancellation:
- Zest car rental (worldwide) – cancel for free up to 48 hours before the rental
- AutoReisen (Canary Islands) – cancel for free at any time
- Cicar (Canary Islands) – cancel for free at any time
Why have car hire prices come down?
There are simply too many car rental companies and too many cars available in many popular holiday destinations. There are three main reasons for this:
- When prices were very high in 2022, car rental seemed like a very attractive business. Lots of new companies were set up, while existing brands expanded.
- The supply issues caused by a manufacturing shortage of new vehicles have largely been resolved. Car hire companies have finally been able to replenish their fleets after selling off stock during the pandemic.
- The demand for second-hand cars has dropped. Car rental companies usually sell off vehicles after a couple of years, but they're having to hold on to them for longer.
What car hire scams should I watch out for?
In Which? Travel’s latest survey, a whopping 83% of people told us they were worried about getting ripped off when hiring a car.
In recent years, we’ve seen companies apply underhand new charges, such as the late drop-off fee, the refuelling fee and charges for existing damage. This year there's been a rise in ‘cleaning fees’, applied because the car has not been returned in an immaculate state.
Booking with a recommended car hire company or a trusted broker is your best defence against car hire rip-offs. But you should still be aware of the scams you might face and how to avoid them.
For peace of mind, check our guide to avoiding car hire rip-offs before you book.
