Both residents and visitors to Ireland are set to be fleeced yet again for the convenience of hiring a car over the Christmas period, a survey by the Consumers Association of Ireland (CAI) has revealed.

CAI’s John Cradden's annual survey of car hire costs compared the prices for hiring a car from Dublin airport in the days prior to Christmas (5-18th December) with the Christmas holiday period of 23rd – 5th January 2007).

Checking the prices for these two periods on the Irish websites of global hire firms Avis, Hertz, Budget, Argus and National Car Rentals, our survey found that most prices doubled over the Christmas and New Year. One firm, Budget, which has a reputation for reasonable prices, charged a staggering 225% more for the same car that could be hired for a reasonable €165 earlier in the month.

The CAI also compared these prices with those of hiring the same class of car over the same periods, with the same firms, from Belfast International Airport and Paris CDG Airport.

The price increases for Belfast over the Christmas and New Year were much more modest (between 0% and 57%). But what is even more galling for consumers in the Republic of Ireland is that if you hired the same car over the same Christmas holiday period from Paris airport, there was absolutely no increase by these same global hire firms.

CAI’s Chief Executive, Dermott Jewell stated that: “Yet again we see this sector hike their prices outrageously without any additional benefit to the customer and with a complete disdain for the negative effect upon tourism. It is profit that is the focus but with greed at its core. It is important therefore that we let our family members coming home and friends visiting for Christmas know that they must look at all possible transport alternatives before giving business to these outlets.”

The CAI’s car hire costs survey also looked at general car hire costs from Dublin airport over a typical month in November. The survey showed that consumers should shop around for the best deal as overall prices (including fees and charges) varied greatly among the 10 companies we examined.

The cost of hiring a ‘compact’ class car (eg. Ford Fiesta) for a week during the month of November ranged from €99 from Budget Car Rental to €165 with Enterprise Rent a Car. For a full-sized car (eg Ford Mondeo or Toyota Avensis), the cost ranged from €165 from Argus Rentals to €238 with County Car Rentals.

CONTACT:

Dermott Jewell : 01 – 497 8600
Consumers’ Association of Ireland
43-44 Chelmsford Road,
Ranelagh
Dublin 6.