In a significant development for travellers, car hire prices have dropped across several destinations, offering potential savings for holidaymakers.
- Research by Which? analysed over 3,000 car rentals and identified price drops in 11 out of 13 destinations for Easter.
- Consumers will find Easter car rentals in Corfu exceptionally cheap, with prices plummeting by 47% compared to last year.
- Lanzarote boasts the cheapest summer rental, with costs down by 27% from the previous year.
- Despite the notable price reductions, car hire remains more expensive than pre-pandemic times.
Recent research conducted by the consumer advocate group, Which?, has revealed a downward trend in car hire prices across numerous holiday destinations. The study evaluated over 3,000 rentals at airports across 13 popular destinations for the upcoming Easter and summer holidays. This comprehensive analysis shows a general reduction in car hire costs, providing a financial reprieve for travellers.
Out of the 13 destinations scrutinised, 11 have reported cheaper car hire for the Easter period when compared to the same time last year. Corfu emerges as the most economical choice, with an average price of £84, which marks a significant 47% drop from £158 in the previous year. Naomi Leach, deputy editor of Which? Travel, cautioned travellers by stating, ‘While it’s encouraging to see car rental prices finally starting to ease after the sky-high rates of the last few years, travellers should nonetheless be cautious if they’re quoted a rock-bottom price that sounds too good to be true.’
In terms of Easter, Funchal experienced the most significant price reduction, with average costs decreasing by £146 to £266, marking a 35% reduction. Palma reported a fall of £92, bringing prices down to £227, reflecting a 29% decrease from last year. However, not every destination benefited from the drop, with Rhodes and Nice experiencing price increases by 36% and 97%, respectively.
For the summer, although fewer destinations experienced declines, the reductions were generally more acute, with five locations showing price drops exceeding £100. Rhodes leads with a rental cost decrease of £160, a 38% reduction from last summer’s £419 to the current £259. Similarly, Funchal’s prices fell by £146, Alicante by £116, Corfu by £107, and Palma by £106, underlining a noteworthy trend in decreased costs.
Even as prices have fallen significantly, they remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, with Easter rates up by 51% and summer rates by 53% compared to figures from 2019. Which? underscores the importance of choosing reputable companies or trusted brokers to avoid unethical practices, such as hidden charges or unnecessary extras.
While car hire costs are declining, they still exceed pre-pandemic levels, urging consumers to remain cautious.
