How to Save Money When Hiring a Car at Heathrow Airport

• By: Editor
• On: 12/Dec/2008
• In: UK Travel Tips

These are just a few quick points to help you save a few pennies on your your hire car during your visit to the UK.

1. Drop-off Location: If your drop off location is different from your pick-up location you'll often be charged an additional one-way charge. This is due to the cost incurred by the company bringing the car back to the original site.

If at all possible use the same pick-up and drop-off location. If you're flying into and out of Heathrow Airport this shouldn’t be a problem.

2. Peak Times: With peak times, comes increased demand, and of course higher prices, so if you have flexibility try to take your holidays in off-peak times.

3. Out of Hours: Some car rental agents adhere to normal office opening times. If you need to pick up your car outside of these hours you'll probably incur an additional fee. Luckily most of the Car rental agents in Heathrow are open 24-hours but not all are.

4. Age of Driver: Most car rental agencies will have an additional fee to rent to a driver who is under-25.

5. Car Type: Simple enough, just get the smallest and most economical car type you can from the options you have. Just consider the amount of luggage you have, and if it fits off you go!

6. Fuel: On shorter rental periods (3 days for Alamo and 5 for Europcar) you are expected to return the rental car with a full tank of petrol. If you arrive back at Heathrow Airport they will fill it up when you return and charge it to you. So a good way to save a little money is to fill the tank up yourself at the cheapest place you can find (you will find a list of Petrol stations close to Heathrow here).

7. Return on Time: If you return the car late you'll be charged an extra days rental just as if you returned a DVD late.

So with these tips in mind you should be able to look after the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves. Anyone planning a trip to London should take look at our car hire Heathrow Airport page.

If you have any questions, thoughts or comments on this subject matter please let us know. Just leave your message in the comment box below.