When travellers imagine the perfect trip, they often see themselves driving a car. First, the set of wheels meets modern tourism trends in the UK. Second, it gives you the freedom and comfort you deserve. That is, you can get wherever you want at any time of the day. And even if for some reason the use of your personal auto isn’t possible, you can rent it. 

Yes, the big availability of such vehicles makes it possible to pick them up anywhere in the United Kingdom. As a result, you may plan your next ride regardless of your starting destination. Whether you're cruising the streets of London, speeding along Corwall's coastal highways, or exploring the natural beauty of the Lake District, hiring a car is a big advantage. 

However, finding an affordable car hire can be a challenge. Increased post-COVID demand pushed prices up. Plus, an insufficient vehicle fleet also hurts the total cost. But can we somehow influence the pricing and lower the final rate? The answer is YES! Stick to the following simple strategies to arrange cheaper car hire for your upcoming trip! 

Prefer early reservation 

The cheapest way to hire a car in the UK is to reserve it ahead of time. The best deals appear between a few weeks and a few months before the trip. Why is this happening? 

So, advance booking advantages lie in the company's pricing policy and how they plan their vehicle fleet. For the provider, the ideal scenario is to know early on the future demand and available supply. Therefore, they lower prices, thereby encouraging customers to book. In turn, agencies in this way can predict which vehicles they will have in stock on certain dates, making it easier for them to plan their vehicle fleet for the future. Therefore, determine the approximate date of your trip, and start looking for a vehicle at least one month in advance. 

Consider the starting day and the seasonal factor

Prices may vary both between weekends and weekdays, as well as between low and high seasons. For example, London, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, and Edinburgh are popular among business travellers who often collect four wheels on weekdays. And as you know, increased demand pushes the price up. The same goes for tourist destinations such as Brighton or Newquay, where you get a higher weekend cost due to the increased flow of road travellers. 

As for the seasonal factor, rates can change by 30-75% between peak and low demand periods. This means you will save a lot if you plan your trip for the off-season.

Shop in nearby locations 

You have to work hard to find the lowest car rental prices possible, but it's worth it. If the destination where you want to pick up an auto has several locations, check them all, as rates for similar deals may vary even if they belong to the same company. 

Usually, airport-based collection points are more expensive. Agencies have to pay extra charges for the use of airport space and pass these costs on to customers. In this regard, downtown locations often offer more cost-effective deals, with a difference of up to 10-30%. However, this is not always the case, so check the rates for all pick-up spots on the ground yourself. 

Benefit from long-term options 

Suppliers set lower daily rates for vehicles you wish to book for a week or longer. You may even notice that 5-6 day trips can cost more than 7-day keeps. Hence the conclusion: reserve your auto for at least a week to enjoy the discount price. 

Decide on the right size 

You may accidentally overpay if you take a larger vehicle than you actually need. The best deals for car hire are usually Mini, Economy, and Compact vehicles available at a cheap price. They accommodate 4-5 people in the cabin and 1-3 pieces of luggage in the trunk. If these specs are enough for you, prefer offers from the mentioned categories. Otherwise, choose the smallest size that suits you in terms of passenger and luggage capacity.

Compare similar deals from different providers 

Different companies have different pricing policies and as a result, rates for similar offers. Therefore, we recommend comparing prices from several agencies with suitable models in lineups. 

For example, you are going on a family trip and want to hire a car for 7 people. If you fill out a search form at Rental24.co.uk, the search engine finds offers from all companies at once. This way you can see car hire deals from multiple suppliers within a single page, compare them, and choose the best - without wasting time and long hours of surfing the official companies' websites. 

Try to avoid non-standard conditions 

As a rule, the Terms and Conditions of suppliers have points with special conditions under which the price rises. It can be under 25 and one-way deals. Thus, find alternative solutions if possible - this step will save you from £10 to £30 per day. 

Explore existing discounts and promotions 

You get a bigger chance for an affordable car hire option if you catch a discount or take advantage of a promotion. Some cut the final rate by 10-20%, while others provide free products and equipment in the deal. 

So, your UK road trip may be cheaper than you expect. Apply our tips to find an affordable car hire deal, and use other possible tricks to make the price more budget-friendly. For example, select the "pay now" option when making a booking, which saves an additional 10-15% of the total cost.