I'm off to Newcastle in the north-east of England at the weekend. (Yes, again - Lucky me!) I'm hiring a car from one of the four airport car-hire firms, only mine comes at 50% of the amount the other three companies are charging. There's no secret to this, just point and click and compute. So how on earth do they survive all these other companies, charging so much more than the dealer I'm using - two month old car, no extras - I've used them before and at the same location). Or does no one shop around any more?

Just as bizarre is that the same company charges different rates according to where you claim to book from. Last time I hired a car in Britain the price quoted by one international company though its French site was two-thirds of the price quoted through its British one, so I booked though France.Nobody at the checkout was at all concerned that I produced a British driving licence, bearing a British address, and a British credit card or that I didn't use my French address in booking.

All these companies have promo rates and different pricings at different times, decided , no doubt, by some distant computer program rather than an onsite human .

Of course there are firms on the internet that do get discounted rates for you. You never know until the booking is made just which outfit you are going to get the car from. This can prove interesting. You may find that you've got the only major company that keeps its office in a caravan, opening hours two to three pm on alternate full moons,some ten kilometres away on the far side of the airport

Yes Fred, an excellent tip. It really does pay to shop around and look at a few different possibilities. The savings can be substantial as you say.

I'm flying to Liverpool at the end of November, and of the three car-hire firms with offices at this (relatively small) airport, "Enterprise Rent-a-Car" seems the cheapest. Personally, I haven't heard of them, but I do live away from the UK and am willing to accept that if they're allowed on site at the airport, then they're O.K. Purely out of interest though, has anyone here used them before?

Enterprise is quite a big car hire firm over here Colin, you should be ok with them They have a site Manchester Airport too. Not used them but seen lots of their vehicles about. Good luck! How long you over here for?

From Wikipedia -

The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company is a privately held St. Louis, Missouri based rental car company serving customers in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Ireland, Puerto Rico and the U.K..They are also the owners of Vanguard the operator of National car and truck Rental and Alamo rent a car in North America. According to Auto Rental News, their 2006 (fiscal year ending July 31) U.S. revenue was $9.04 billion with a fleet of approximately 878,000 vehicles. The Detroit News reports [1] that Enterprise currently purchases 7% of all new automobiles sold in the United States. As of 2005, they had 5,399 "local market" locations (91% of all transactions), and 419 "airport" locations (9% of all transactions).

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is the largest rental car company in North America, and has more than 6,900 offices. Enterprise is currently number 16 on the Forbes “500 Largest Private Companies in America” list.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car customer service has been recognized by JD Power and Associates as highest in customer satisfaction for rental car companies at or near airports [2].

Additionally, Enterprise Rent-A-Car repeatedly ranks number one on the Market Matrix Hospitality Index in rental car industry customer satisfaction[3].

Thanks to both of you. As I said, I'm willing to accept that my own lack of experience of using Enterprise doesn't preclude their worthiness in ly eyes, for I researched them on-line before deciding to go with them. But has anyone actually 'used' them in the UK?

And Jenny - I should be over there from a Saturday to a Monday. Not long, I know, but I have to go to Beverley for a family matter.

Thanks to both of you once again.

My brother used them while his car was off the road and they gave him a brand new Vauxhall Meriva

All you do is ring them up they deliver the car to your location or B) Take you to the Offce and pick up there and you can leave it at another towns office when you are finished or Phone them up for collection(check this condition) PS Do get breakdown cover

Use this link 5 branches local to Liverpool
Has map locations too

Please report back, Colin.An opinion would be useful.

Certainly will Fred, and with pleasure. Though I don't make the trip until Friday 30 November. Watch this space.

Well, Fred (and everyone), I'm off tomorrow as planned, but due to a mix-up my hire car's been booked from Avis and not Ebnterprise as I wanted. A pity - pricewise, I mean, but it's Liverpool here I come nonetheless. Back in a few days!

Well, I duly went to Liverpool and found that the car-hire pick-up car-parks have been moved to the right of the airport buiding as you stand looking at it. Avis were fine. I got a free upgrade to a 2.0 litre Volkswagen Golf (with a diesel engine). It had only done three thousand miles, had six forward gears and firm, front seats that gave a lot of support. Coversely, the ride in the back, I'm told, was less than comfortable. When I returned the car I was able to check it in in the car-park itself, just like at a US airport.
The following weekend I had to return to Liverpool and this time used Enterprise. The car was smaller (a 1.4 litre Nissan Note) but the ride in the back was apparently far more comfotable than in the Golf. This car too had only done three thousand miles. The boot is very small, however, and due to unforeseen circumlstances I ended up keeping the car for ten days. Had I known, therefore, I'd have booked something larger. No in-car-park check-in back at Liverpool airport, but the staff on the desk were just as friendly and welcomling as Avis had been. All ibn all, no discernible difference (apart from the free upgrade with Avis which can happen anytime and with any company of course, and the price was considerably cheaper, so do shop around for the nest deals.

Update for tourists:

I remarked above that car hire (rental) rates varied according to where you booked from. That still applies!

I've just got quotes to to hire a Mercedes E-class saloon (sedan) from Avis at Liverpool airport.

Quote ex Avis website for the UK: £600 ($1200)

Quote ex Avis website for France : 344 euros (about £230 or $460 !) Both quotes were without fidelity discounts or 'special offers'.

Avis France graciously informed me that it would cost more booking online if I paid at the airport, rather than in advance. Then it would cost £349 (c$700) which is still almost half the UK quote, though some 50 per cent more than the first French one .For all that they allow me to cancel or vary the booking without charge provided that's done on reasonable notice ( 48 hours, I think), so the payment in advance makes little difference to the booking.

Now, when I've done this in the past I did not give any French address, nor did I present any French documents such as driving licence, passport or credit card, on taking the car. There's no reason to think they are fussed: as far as they are concerned Avis France took the booking and Avis France is paid, so that's the end of the story.

Be interesting to know what quote is given ex USA

"What quote is given ex-USA" The answer is $1055.That's still a lot more than the French quote

I returned a hire car to Liverpool Airport on Monday evening of this week. I used Enterprise, which is right next door to the Avis desk in the concourse, mainly because they're cheaper, but they don't seem to have the category of vehicle you want available. I did notice, Fred, that the Avis receptionist on duty was young and blonde. Maybe you should put on a tie when you pick up your Mercedes

I checked the Avis websites and found a far cheaper quote than your £600 (£292 I think it was) for a three-day rental around 5 April (the day of the Grand National - just a hunch!) corresponding more or less to the €280 figure I found in France. That's still a considerable saving though, and I hope everyone, including myself, will heed your sound advice and save themselves a lot of money. Well done!

quote:

Originally posted by Colin, Paris, France:
for a three-day rental around 5 April (the day of the Grand National - just a hunch!

Close. The Merc is for the Open Golf Championships, at Birkdale, north of Liverpool. Am at the Grand National but Aintree station is next to the racecourse, so I only need a runabout, if any car at all.