Car hire prices have fallen by half, say Which?

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The value of automobile hire will probably be far decrease in lots of standard vacationer locations in 2024, new knowledge suggests.

Figures analysed by Which? present that the price of hiring a automobile is now as much as 47 per cent cheaper than throughout the identical durations of final 12 months.

Which? analysed knowledge from over 3,000 week-long leases from 13 standard airports together with Palma, Faro, Larnaca and Orlando, and located that 11 of the airports had decrease prices this Easter than they did in 2023. Nine of the airports had decrease prices for the upcoming summer time.

The greatest worth falls got here in the summertime interval, the place rental in Rhodes, Greece was 38 per cent cheaper – a fall of £160 – and Alicante, Spain, the place prices have fallen by 34 per cent (£116).

Over Easter, Funchal in Madeira noticed probably the most noticeable drop in prices, with a 35 per cent drop from £412 in 2023 to £266 this 12 months. Lanzarote noticed a fall of 33 per cent, whereas Corfu noticed the most important proportion distinction, with 47 per cent fall from £158 final 12 months to £84 in 2024.

Prices did rise in some instances, with Rhodes seeing a £28 enhance for Easter 2024, and Malaga, Nice and Malta seeing modest rises of between 4 and 9 per cent for the summer time 2024 interval.

Which? credited the value falls to the easing of provide chain and manufacturing points that had been affecting the automobile hire market for the reason that pandemic.

“Now that many of those supply chain issues have eased, companies have finally been able to replenish their stocks,” stated the patron champion.

“At the same time, the brakes have been put on the used car market, meaning car hire companies are more likely to hold onto older stock for longer, rather than opting to resell. With an oversupply of vehicles comes cheaper prices for holidaymakers.”

Nevertheless, rental prices are nonetheless increased than they had been pre-pandemic, with Easter prices up 51 per cent in comparison with the identical interval in 2019, and summer time prices up by 53 per cent.

Naomi Leach, deputy editor of Which? Travel, urged customers to e-book with respected firms and pay attention to the techniques some suppliers use.

“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.

“Even when prices are low, the worst companies might still employ dodgy tactics like adding on unfair fees or pressuring you to purchase extras that you don’t need. Book with a reputable company or use a trusted broker to ensure you’re getting a fair deal.”