Top tips for renting a car on a family holiday

For a fun-filled family holiday, it's wise to think ahead to ensure it all goes smoothly.

Family holidays become fond memories as time goes by and stressful experiences are sure to mar these memories. A major factor to consider is how you will get around, and for families the smartest option is usually car hire. Car hire gives you the freedom to drive when and where you wish and also means that you won't be limited in terms of daytime baggage. Families will often need to try and get the best deal, but will also have to think about what they need from their car rental. We are going to take a look at some top tips for renting a car on a family holiday.

Space is a major factor and it's worth getting a vehicle that is big enough for children, bags, parasols, picnics, etc. It's always possible to rent bigger cars such as MPVs which make more sense for a family than a smaller run-around. Renting a car with five doors is also very important for families and will make life a lot easier. That's not to say it has to cost more, though; it's often possible to get a good deal on medium- and large-sized cars as they are usually in much lower demand.

Children and babies will obviously require car seats, and this will usually be an extra cost. If you are holidaying in the UK, or travelling abroad but hiring a car in the UK and then catching a ferry or the Eurotunnel, then it's possible to bring your own child seats. However, for those catching a plane and picking up the car abroad, this is not a viable option and it's worth shopping around for the cheapest car seat rental offered by different firms.

If you are going to be driving around somewhere you are not familiar with, it's worth bringing a GPS to prevent arguments over directions and to cut down on screaming kids in the back when you are lost. Firms can charge high fees to rent their GPS technology, so if you already own one, it's worth bringing it along.

Try to be as organised as possible. It's really hard with kids to leave the house when you plan to and we all know that anything can happen! However, returning a car late can result in an extra charge, so it's really important to try and be there early to return it.

Car hire doesn't have to be expensive, as there are many cheap car hire options available, even for families. Using car rental for your holiday is the best way to provide your whole family with a smooth, stress-free holiday that everyone remembers - for the right reasons - for years to come.

Photo credit: Kristian Stokholm

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