Car-rental firms treble prices at Christmas

CAR-HIRE companies are jacking up their prices over the Christmas period by up to three times their usual rates, forcing customers to pay up to €400 extra.

Five of the country’s leading car-rental firms increase their prices over Christmas and New Year by up to 225% from their kiosks at Dublin Airport, new figures show.

Yet at Belfast International Airport, prices from the same companies increase by a maximum of 57% over the festive season, consumer watchdogs said.