Car hire ‘up to 320% dearer for Christmas’

CAR rental companies jack up their prices by as much as 320% during the Christmas period, Fine Gael claimed yesterday.

In the latest survey posted on its rip-off.ie website, the party contends the cost of hiring cars in Ireland during the festive period is increased to exorbitant levels.

Fine Gael enterprise spokesman Phil Hogan said the latest survey was triggered after a complaint made to the website by a young emigrant returning from Australia for Christmas.

“We decided to do our own check on five car rental websites in five cities for the coming festive season. The results suggest that travellers are being taken for a ride by these companies when they come to Ireland at Christmas,” said Mr Hogan.

The survey examined car rental in five cities - Dublin, Cork, Belfast, London and Sydney.

“Dublin and Cork are the only cities where prices rise dramatically over the coming Christmas period, with increases ranging from 320% down to 37%,” said Mr Hogan. The most dramatic increase was by Avis in Cork, where the cost from December 23, 2005, to January 5, 2006, is 320% higher than for the period from December 5, 2005, to December 18, 2005.

“In Dublin, Avis’s price rises by 37%, while in Belfast, London and Sydney there is no increase.”

He said Budget also showed steep rises. Dublin prices are 309% higher for the same period.

In Belfast, Budget’s price increases by 38%, while in London and Sydney there is no difference in price.

Both Thrifty (ranging from 47%-142%) and Irish Car Rentals (131%) showed similar hikes.

Hertz charged 93% more in Cork and 49% more in Dublin, while in London, there was no increase for Hertz. In Sydney, prices increased by 19%.