Caitríona Redmond: Renting a car on holidays? Don’t get caught by extra car hire charges

Planning on renting a car on holidays? Here's my advice on best practices and how to avoid potential hefty extra charges

Planning on renting a car on holidays? Here's my advice on best practices and how to avoid potential hefty extra charges

Car hire itself can be cheap, but the real cost comes when paying for insurance. Without ample insurance, you may be charged thousands for damage that is not your fault.

Most car rentals will include insurance as part of a package price but it’s at the most basic level. This covers you for driving the car and liability for damage to yourself and others. Think of it more like third-party fire, and theft, as we have at home. You can still be liable for the excess if the car itself is damaged or stolen.