Carrentals.co.uk Warns Winter Tyres Required For Ski Holiday Car Hire

Carrentals.co.uk, the popular car hire price comparison website, is warning skiers and snowboarders they should ensure their winter tyres and snow chains are included in their holiday car hire package as booked or face excessive costs or non-availability.

The majority of vehicle hire companies class snow chains and winter tyres as optional extras on winter holiday hire packages, with customers expecting these to be included at ski resorts. On finding they are not supplied, skiers are forced to place last-minute orders, incurring excessive extra costs. If not available, drivers are at risk of accidents without the appropriate tyres.

For example, vehicles rented at Geneva or Milan may not be used for winter sports packages, and winter tyres are often only necessary on mountain roads. As a result, a specific order is requested, with booking in advance recommended to ensure availability at a good price.

According to Gareth Robinson, Managing Director of Carrentals.co.uk, legal requirements for the use of winter tyres can be confusing, as individual countries have different laws. Many skiers expect car hire booked online in advance at the destination airport to automatically include the correct tyres. However, this is rarely the outcome as these are regarded as part of a ‘snow pack’ to be booked at extra cost dependent on the supplier.

Legal requirements and recommendations regarding the use of winter tyres are as follows:

Country – Winter Tyres Requirement

Austria – Compulsory from 1st November to 15th April

Canada – Not mandatory, but highly recommended for snowy conditions and mountain driving

France – Not mandatory, but recommended for mountain driving or snowy conditions

Italy – Recommended during the winter months due to unpredictable weather conditions

Sweden – For Swedish-registered vehicles, mandatory between 1st December and 31st March

Switzerland – Not mandatory but, if involved in an accident, drivers may be fined for not using winter tyres

Germany – Not compulsory, but drivers may be fined for not having fitted winter tyres if involved in an accident

USA – Not mandatory, but recommended for mountain driving or snowy conditions

In addition to winter tyres, snow chains should be carried and fitted when conditions require.

Gareth added, “Snow chains can be hired at extra cost from car rental companies but , as each company usually only holds a limited number of sets , it may be easier as well as cheaper to buy a set at a local supermarket, which can be returned if not used,”

Current ski deals include car rental at Salzburg Airport from £21 per day, from £15 per day from Milan Malpensa Airport; from £26 per day at Calgary Airport and from £24 per day from Geneva Airport.

Carrentals.co.uk compares car rental prices from brand leaders including Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Holiday Autos and Sixt. To compare the best ski deals visit www.carrentals.co.uk. .

*All prices are based on 7 day rentals from 10 January 2011 and are subject to change.

About Carrentals.co.uk

Carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and grew to become one of the UK’s leading online car hire companies by 2006, when they also booked their 100,000th customer. In 2007 they re-launched the site to create the first major online price comparator in the travel industry.

Using the latest technology the new Carrentals.co.uk site now searches over 40 different car hire websites, providing an impartial comparison of the best prices available.

In 2008 they won the Traveloution Award for the best car hire website beating off competition from established rivals. Websites searched include Alamo, Thrifty, Sixt, Holiday Autos, Opodo, EBookers, Carrentals.co.uk and EasyCar, with the Carrentals.co.uk site quickly comparing prices and allowing customers to refine their search by car type or provider.

carrentals.co.uk Car Hire Excess Insurance provided by Questor Insurance Limited

Source: Carrentals.co.uk