Anyone got any contacts for a 2 week hire from Alicante without the big charge on credit cards outwith booking? First time i've had to book in Europe & not too happy with some comapnies putting through a large credit card charge just in case something happens, is this the norm?
Thanks.

I hire my cars all the time from Hertz or Avis over in Spain and never have any problem with any extra charging

All the smaller hire companies rip you off with their fuel tyre and all the other crap they can think off to hike the price

Do they put through a phantom charge on your card? Hertz wanted a possible £1200 sanction on my card!
Or what am I doing wrong?

No they don't do anything like that …. thats a strange one

I just book it online and regardless of it being either a week or 8 weeks i just pay the going daily rate , have never had to sanction any charge …

I use Carjet. UK company, very friendly. They book whatever you want with a local rental firm. Centauro, Auriga Crown seem pretty good. They take a holding reservation when you pick the car up but don't charge the card.

I've used them loads of times, with cars picked up at Alicante and Valencia airports. Very reasonable.

www.carjet.com Graham

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+1 for Carjet. Have used them a couple of times in Alicante (Auriga crown deskv both times) and never had a problem....although my mate has had a few dodgy cars off them before.

I've actually started to use SIXT in Alicante now - main benefit is that there is never a queue!! worth the extra few quid they charge to get your car and be on your way while the other 100 people are still shuffling forward trying to get to the front of the other desks - the cars are usually in good shape and they don't try to charge you for a tank of fuel upfront - hire full, return full.There's usually some Spain deals on - go the sixt.co.uk website and click on "best deals" then the "international" tab and scroll down to the spain offers to see what there is.

Pretty much all hire companies will put a hold on your credit card, but normally just enough to cover the rental agreement plus the excess on the insurance (this depends on how big/flash the motor is, and if you take the CDW of course...). Hotels often do the same thing so it's nothing abnormal - they just want to be sure you have the means to pay! Last rental I had from Nice had a €3k "hold" - it was a 5 series beemer though.

Ok lads, thanks for the tips, always had the use of a relatives car when over there but have to hire one this time, I don't have a credit card so will need to see if the wife has been battering hers recently!!

I keep getting e-mails from Do You Do Spain - Just Google it.

I haven't used them but they do seem cheap.

With regard to CDW, when I read the small print on my Insurance this was already covered so have a look and if it's there don't pay twice. Geoff

+1 for carjet
+1 for Avis preferred beat and quickest way to rent tbh as its simple to sign worldwide and drop off as well as long as its not damaged

I usually plump for cdw anyway and drive like you stole it and if it's battered when you hand it back(as most end up like in Italy!) then it's well worth it to avoid hassle  FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.