car hire - when's best to book?

[Leslaki]

Gpoing to Italy in Aug and not sure if it's cheaper to book the car hore now or nearer the time? Have heard 2 conflicting reports - one that the prices go up nearer the time, the other that they start to go down! Both comments from Avis!!! Hmmmm.... Have looked into using tesco vouchers and using them for Avis through Airmiles but they are twice the price doing it that way! Charging £800 whereas Avis direct are around £400!
Cheers me dears!

I'm not sure that car hire prices fluctuate in the way that airfares do. If I was going to Italy in Aug I'd book now before they get sold out. HolidayAutos are good.

Try travelsupermarket.com or argus car hire. Both scan various car hire companies, including the locals to get the best deals. You can end up with an Avis car, even cheaper than the Avis website are offering.

You do need to check that it's on-site hire though, and not some company that are going to make you get on a bus to get your car.

I would book a good few weeks before going, but I wouldn't panic too much yet.

Incidentally, if you're going somewhere like Sicily, where there might be limited cars, then yes, I would book soon. If you're flying into a big international airport then it's less important.

I recently used HolidayAutos to hire a car in the UK. The car was hired from National/Alamo as it was a good reduction on the National/Alamo own web prices.

thanks! Not panicking but don't want to leave it a few months then think bugger, it was half that pric back in Jan!! Not got the luxury of spare cash to play with!!!