Holiday car hire: how to avoid the add-ons that can double your bill
(The Guardian Money News)

From saying `no´ to satnavs and child seats, to checking the vehicle thoroughly, there are ways to avoid unnecessary costs and stressGreece and Portugal are the priciest places to hire a car this summer, while Florida is the cheapest, according to a survey of holiday hotspots. Research also revealed just how much the various add-ons - from child seats and satnavs to the rental firm´s own excess insurance - can add up. It found that in some cases they can easily double the cost, although many can be easily avoided or reduced.Sorting out car hire can be one of the most stressful parts of arranging a holiday. Even with a relatively good-value deal there is the worry that when you arrive the desk will have closed for the evening, or run out of cars or given yours to someone else etc, or you will be subjected to unpleasant hard-sell tactics. And when you get home there´s the fear that money will be whipped off your credit card to pay for damage you didn´t cause or for mysterious `traffic violations`. Continue reading...