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Hiring a car can be quite problematic, especially given that there so many options to consider and so many providers out there. As a result, it's all too tempting to simply stick with the first deal you come to. People end up saddled with hidden charges and dodgy deals by doing this so here are some tips and tricks to help you avoid ambiguous details and find cheap car hire in the UK.

First and foremost, know what you're looking for. It's no use hunting down car hire services if you don't know what you want in the first place. Do you need a family car or will a simple hatchback do the job or will you need something a little more substantial, say a four-wheel drive? There are many makes and models out there, all at varying prices, but make sure you only pay for what you need. If you're looking for car hire UK companies are available in all major cities.

It seems ridiculous, but do look around. Word of mouth recommendations and price comparison websites are all good places to start. To avoid unnecessary costs when taking out car hire UK comparison sites can often be helpful. Although price comparison websites, by and large, will search for the very best deals, not everything will be listed so do some of your own research too. When using such websites be specific. Make sure you input exactly what you want and exactly how much you're willing to spend to avoid thousands of results that must be laboriously searched. The majority of comparison websites search all the top car hire companies, but do remember that local businesses may not be listed. Local car hire companies can often reduce costs and supplementary charges by not being featured on flashy comparison websites, so it's always good to check there first.

Two great places to look are phone books and local newspapers. You'll often find advertisements from local services at a much lower rate here so it really pays to check. As a general rule, contact a good number of companies and make plenty of enquiries before making any decisions. FreeAds are of course great, too and there are sometimes good Cheap Car Hire deals to be had here. Failing that, there are always car hire ranks and booths in city centres and airports so be on the look out!

If you're under the age of 25 on the day of taking out the hire car you will unfortunately be charged what is known as a Young Person's Surcharge. This can sometimes be a considerable amount on top of your base fee so be sure to ask your provider about this if in doubt. This is an inevitable cost, but it can vary from company to company.

Hire car insurance can often be a huge problem. The standard insurance that will be included in the hire car's price will most probably carry huge excess. Insurance varies from company to company, so make sure you know what you're getting before you agree to hire the vehicle. Some companies' policies will not cover damage to the windscreen or tyres! Supplementary policies are usually available and this is where people end up paying extortionate amounts for things they don't want or need. Examples include Collision damage waiver (CDW) and Theft Waiver (TW). Search around for deals before accepting the hire car company's policies as you can often find cheaper options elsewhere. It's good to search online to seek out the best deals but confirm options by telephone just to be sure of what you're getting.

Filling the vehicle with fuel has always been and most probably always will be the most expensive thing when taking out a hire car. Previously, you would pick up the car with a full tank and return it refilled. These options are still available from some operators, but look around. This meant that you were able to find the best fuel prices and economise accordingly. Nowadays, however, it's common practice for companies to charge you up front for fuel and to return the car empty. This is usually very expensive and many companies inflate costs by up to 30% - quite a hefty sum. Not only that, but the car will never be quite 'empty 'and therefore you'll lose money on a certain level of fuel left unused in the tank. This is one of the most common ways for customers to lose money when hiring cars, so look around for flexible options and the lowest prices.

When looking for car hire UK companies are in abundance. They can be found online, or in local publications but the best deals are usually encountered by doing some good old fashioned research. Be savvy and persistent and you won't go far wrong. Cheap car hire is available, but knowing your options and what you need is a step in the right direction.

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