Three quarters (72%) of Britons planning to go away this August Bank Holiday are intending to stay on UK shores, according to new research by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA). Young people and Londoners are the most likely to be heading off for the long weekend, and the most likely to be hiring a car when doing so.
Younger holidaymakers aged 18-34 are leading the charge of staycationers, with 77% planning a UK break. Visiting friends and family as well as convenience emerge as the main reasons they will stay in the UK – and they are almost as inclined to hire a car (24%) as take the train (27%). This younger generation are also the most likely to be looking for a bargain, with one in four (26%) listing ‘value for money’ as their main reason for hiring a car, more than any other age group. 55 year olds and above are the least cost-driven and the most image conscious; 33% say they like hiring a car because it means they can drive a car they normally wouldn’t be able to.
Staycations are particularly popular among Londoners; 80% of people in the capital planning a Bank Holiday getaway will be staying in the UK, more than in any other part of the country. Many of these Londoners will be avoiding public transport and taking to the roads, with car rental (35%) trumping train travel (33%) as the preferred method of transportation in the capital.
Gerry Keaney, Chief Executive of the BVRLA, said: “This Bank Holiday most people will be staying local, which we suspect is a knock-on effect of the vote to leave the EU and the increasing cost of holidaying abroad. It is encouraging to see that plenty of UK holidaymakers are planning to rent cars, particularly young people and Londoners. Furthermore, we expect the actual numbers to be even greater, as planned train strikes tip the scales in favour of car hire this Bank Holiday. We advise anyone planning to hire a car to do their research and reserve their vehicle in advance. This gives them the time to weigh up their options and make an informed choice. We would also urge consumers to look out for the BVRLA logo when choosing a provider. Consumers who hire from a BVRLA member will have the peace of mind that the rental company offers high quality vehicles, adheres to a rigorous code of conduct and offers a dispute resolution service for further protection.”
The BVRLA research comes just days after the WTTC issued its own global tourism update which revealed that Britain would experience one of the strongest travel and tourism growth rates in the world this year. WTTC said travel and tourism would grow by 3.6% this year, well ahead of growth rates in North America, France and Europe as a whole.
The BVRLA has issued the following tips for Bank holidaymakers renting a car:
1. Only use a BVRLA member as you are guaranteed a quality assured company that operates to a professional code of conduct.
2. Do your homework. If you’re relying on a price comparison site when getting quotes, pay close attention to what isn’t included in the price.
3. Read the terms and conditions of your contract with the rental company.
4. Understand how you’re covered in the event of an accident or incident. Know the difference between the excess waivers offered by rental companies and the policies sold by third-party excess-reimbursement insurers.
5. Find a fuelling option that suits you. Remember what you agreed to in order to avoid gifting the rental company a free tank of fuel or paying an extra charge to have the tank re-filled.
6. Tell the rental firm how you plan to use the vehicle – such as taking it abroad.7. Arrive prepared. Remember to turn up at the rental desk with the credit card you used to make your booking and your driving licence.
8. Know what you’ve booked. Ensure you have thought about whether you are prepared to pay for any extra cover or an upgrade.
9. Check the vehicle over before you drive away. Don’t sign any paperwork until you have read it through and are happy with it.
10. When returning your vehicle, allow plenty of time to check over the vehicle’s condition with a rental agent present.
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