Top 5 Essential Items For Winter Driving

Top 5 Essential Items For Winter Driving

We all know that driving in winter can be dangerous and there are a lot of things we can do to make sure we are doing it as safely as possible. We even carry a boot full of products to help us if we get stuck, or at we should do.

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  • Anti freeze
  • Screenwash concentrate
  • De-ice spray
  • Ice-scraper
  • Foldable shovel
  • De-mist pad
  • Snow socks
  • Torch and batteries

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  • First aid kit
  • Jumper cables
  • Blanket
  • Visibility vest
  • Gloves
  • Scarf
  • Warm clothes
  • Water

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There are endless lists of what you should and shouldn’t do and what to carry in your car, all of which are useful in their own way, for me I just carry the essentials unless there is a chance I might end up in Alaska, so here are our Top 5 Essential Items For Winter Driving.

1. Mobile Phone & Charger

Doesnt tend to appear on a lot of these lists but we think this is the most important tool to have incase of an accident or emergency. We do not condone the use of mobile phones while driving but we do think you should always be prepared and be able to contact the emergency services or family when the car is parked.

2. Shovel

While it might not look like much, a compact folding shovel is plenty big enough to use when digging your car out of the snow. This little shovel could be the diference between spending the night at home infront of the fire or curled up in the car at the side of the road.

3. Food

It’s exceptionally rare for anyone to be stranded during a winter blizzard for more than a day. Long-term rations aren’t really necessary, but keeping a few energy bars and a plastic bottle or two of sugary energy drink wouldn’t hurt. Why the latter? The electrolytes and sugars significantly lower the concoction’s freezing point, ensuring you’ll still have liquid when you need it.

Non-perishable, high-energy food like unsalted canned nuts, dried fruits, or hard candy. These types of foods can last long periods of time in your car, and can be especially useful if you become stranded.

4. Sunglasses

They aren’t just for the summer months. When wintery precipitation coats every surface in water, snow, and ice, extremely bright reflections cause sun glare which seriously impairs vision. This reflective glare is particularly dangerous while driving. Keeping a pair of “shades” in your vehicle will help you see on those sunny winter days.

5. De-Icer & Scraper

There should be no excuse for not having these in the car. De-icer isnt just for clearing your windscreen first thing in the morning. Your windows could freeze up after being parked for 10 minutes depending on the temperature. De-icer can also be used on locks and other car parts to help in very cold conditions.

So there we go, although there are many things that you can and possibly do carry in your car during winter, providing you have our Top 5 Essential Items For Winter Driving among them then you will give yourself a better chance of reaching your destination.

Look out for more tips on winter driving coming soon.

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Car Hire Insurance & Excess Explained

Car Hire Insurance & Excess

There are many publications jumping on the bandwagon and creating stories about hidden extras and retrospective charges made by car hire suppliers. The car hire industry is not without it’s flaws but this scaremongering is getting a little out of hand.

The first topic i would like to try and clear up for you is Car Hire Insurance. Insurance is mandatory for every vehicle driving on the roads in the UK and abroad. The insurance policies work in the same way as yours for your home, personal car or even mobile device.

Part of your rental cost is made up of your insurance premium usually listed as CDW or Collision Damage Waiver. This is fully comprehensive insurance that means, if you are involved in a traffic accident then you and the others involved are covered if it is your fault. If this were to happen then you would be liable for an Excess, as you would be if you were to claim on any other insurance policy such as the ones above.

This excess can be anything from £100 to £2000+ depending on the supplier you are using and the vehicle you are intending to hire.

That is the basics covered, you can drive away after paying your rental cost including CDW without having to pay any more (security deposit aside). You do have options to reduce your excess liability with most if not all suppliers. These are OPTIONAL services, only in very rare circumstances would reducing the excess amount be mandatory.

The Insurance Excess Is Too High

On the most part, insurance excess amount are high. What we need to understand here is that you are not just paying a nominal fee to drive a car around on holiday. You are renting a vehicle worth £10,000, £20,000 even £30,000 and more.

You do have options, if you would like a little peace of mind or reassurance that if you were to be involved an accident or damage was to be caused to the vehicle then you wouldn’t be liable for such a huge amount. You can reduce it, sometimes even remove it altogether.

Your first option is excess reduction aka Super CDW, Platinum Cover or something else along those lines. This is an ‘Extra Insurance’ for a daily fee of between £20 and £30 per day and means your excess will be greatly reduced or taken away altogether. This means that if damage to the car was to occur, then you would have a lower or zero liability. Obviously providing their terms and conditions are adhered to. EG, you didn’t take their Mini Cooper on the beach or up a mountain!!

The Excess Reduction Is Too Expensive

Your other option is an excess reimbursement policy. This is a totally separate insurance arrangement that you would arrange yourself and not with the rental company. You can arrange cover per day for a short trip or annual multi-trip cover for about £50. This works differently to the above ‘reduction policies’. In fact your liability to the car hire company will not change, you will still be liable to pay them the excess amount outlined on your rental agreement but you can then claim this amount back via your own policy.

Obviously there are different policies out there to consider and you should select the option that best suits your needs. if you have any questions about insurance excess and/or insurance protection policies then please contact one of our team today. We are here to help.

5 Tips To Help With Car Hire Insurance

1. Always read the terms and conditions of rental before signing the rental agreement, no matter how busy or how eager to get to the pool you are. Some insurance do not cover parts of the car like rubber and glass.
2. Always check the car with the rental agent and ensure ALL, no matter how small, damage is listed on the vehicle check out sheet.
3. Drive the car like you own it, not like a rental car. Look after it, do not smoke inside it.
4. If you are involved in an accident or the vehicle is damaged, do as you would do with your own car. Take details, photos, witness ect. Call the police if needs be and then report it to the rental company.
5. Always get the supplier to check for damage and sign the check in form to show no damage was present on return, if not it could bite you down the line.

Summary Of Phrases

Fully Comp | Fully Comprehensive Insurance | The insurance cover included with all rental vehicles, which covers damage, theft and 3rd party libility. This usually comes with and Excess.
Excess | The amount you are liable for in the event of an accident
CDW | Collision Damage Waiver | All rental cars have this included in the prices
SCDW | Super Collision Damage Waiver | A daily fee to reduce your liability (European term)
Super Relaxed | A daily fee to reduce your liability (Spanish term)
LDW | Loss Damage Waiver | All rental cars have this included in the prices (USA term)
SLDW | Super Loss Damage Waiver | A daily fee to reduce your liability (USA term)
Excess Reimburement | A seperate insurance policy to protect your excess amount

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My flight is delayed, is there a penalty?

my flight is delayed

If you are hiring a car from an airport and your flight is delayed, you need to contact your provider as soon as you are aware.

There will be a direct contact number on your booking confirmation for the location in question. Call this number and let them know the details. If your delay means you get there late but still within the office opening hours then there should be no real problem. They will hold the vehicle for you. But, only if they are aware of the delay.

However, if your delay means you are now arriving outside of the normal operating hours then one of a few different possibilities will occur. Most suppliers will give the local office the power to make their own decisions in these situations. This will be based on staffing levels, costs ect.

1. If your delay means you will be arriving very late, they may suggest that you collect the vehicle the next morning when they are due to open. Depending on the opening times, this could mean a long stay in a boring airport or even checking into a hotel for the night.

2. They may offer to keep the office open until your expected arrival time to enable you to continue your journey without much more disruption. This more often than not would come at an extra cost of around £25/£30 charged as an out of hours fee.

3. They may offer to keep the office open and not levy a charge. This is wholly down the suppliers discretion and isn’t always the same every time.

Top Tips To Avoid Problems If Your Flight Is Delayed

Supply your flight number when booking your vehicle, this way they are aware of delays (most of the time)

Call the supplier to let them know of any delays as soon as you are aware of them, even if you have provided your flight number

Book your hire car for a time that you expect to get to the desk, after clearing customs and baggage claim. If you book your car for the time your flight is due to arrive then you are going to be late, even without a flight delay.

Check the suppliers closing time, if your flight is due to arrive 5 minutes before they close, realistically you are not going to make it.

NEVER blame the rental company for the flight being delayed. You may have booked via the airline but they are very separate companies. The rental assistant didn’t make your flight arrive late. The additional costs if indeed there are any, are to pay the wages of the employee who stayed after work to wait for you.

If you do have a problem with having to pay extra, the airline should be the target for your claim if your flight is delayed. If you are unsure about any of the above information then please contact us. We are happy to help.

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Golf Holidays In Spain: Costa Blanca vs Costa Del Sol

golf holidays in spain

Spain is one of the premier golfing destinations in Europe, divided into two main areas. When booking Golf Holidays In Spain, golfers have a choice between the Costa Blanca or Costa Del Sol. Before deciding on which one you should choose, lets take a closer look at the benefits and downsides to each area.

villamartin golf holidays in spain

The Costa Blanca on the coastal region of Alicante of eastern Spain boasts 18 golf courses.

Great international transport links are prominent, with the recently revamped Alicante, El Altet internationals airport and the Murcia, San Javier Airport offering year-round airport access, with most golf courses within easy reach of either airport. Enjoying around 300 days of sunshine a year, the areas provide truly remarkable conditions throughout the year, with the busiest months for golfers coming in Spring and Autumn.

Unlike the more established Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca is more traditional and quaint Spanish towns and superb Spanish restaurants are never far away. Heavily populated in urbanised areas away from the Spanish towns, there is a large ex-patriot community made up of British, Irish, Scandinavian, German and French couples and families.
Golf courses and generally well maintained and provide a good test of golf.

The infrastructure for golf on the Costa Blanca is well behind its rivals on the Costa del Sol, with only a handful of golf courses boasting an on-site hotel. It is also worth noting that only Villamartin has hosted a European Tour Event 1994 and it is here where the Costa Blanca can´t compete with the more famous courses of the Costa del Sol.

valderrama golf holidays in spain

Famed for its large, luxurious towns and resorts the Costa del Sol is a golfing haven.

Boasting almost twice as many golf courses than the more northerly Costa Blanca, the choice is incredible. The climate is very similar to that of the Costa Blanca, although it is generally considered to be breezier and slightly chillier in the winter months due to the influence of the Atlantic. There is a downside to the infrastructure, and unlike the Costa Blanca, there is only one international airport at Malaga.

A large contingent of ex-pats are ever present and probably spend more time throughout the year than those on the Costa Blanca. Golf on the Costa del Sol is geared more towards elite golfers, with many golf courses considered truer tests of golf than those found on the Costa Blanca. Several courses have hosted European Tour events, with the most notable being the Ryder Cup that was held at the prestigious and world famous Valderrama.
It is this that sets the Costa del Sol apart from the Costa Blanca, the quality of the golf courses and the intricate designs of many, give it the edge.

Having said that, if you are looking for golf courses in great condition without a high price tag, then the Costa Blanca offers exactly that. Great golf at a more affordable price. If you want to play some of the best golf courses in Spain then you must visit the Costa del Sol, but be prepared to pay for it, with higher green fee prices.

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Car hire for new drivers available in the UK

Car hire for new drivers available in the UK

Newsflash: New drivers, Indigo Car Hire has good news for you! Starting from now, Car hire for new drivers is available in the UK.

A common question we are asked is “how long do you need a driving licence to hire a car?” The answer to that question is that drivers who have held their licence for less than 12 months are able to hire a vehicle in the UK at all major airport locations and some downtown. Until now, hiring a car in the UK would have been possible only if the drivers held their driving licence for at least two years. This kind of policy was restricting the access to the car rental services to many possible customers. Many new drivers who want to test their vehicle before buying, or hiring short term until something else comes along were either restricted or over charged.

However, we at Indigo Car Hire have managed to arrange a deal in the UK and now it is possible to hire a vehicle even if you have just passed your practical test. This specialist service was made possible by our company in partnership with one of the major suppliers in the UK. So, if you have only held your driving licence for a few days or for less than 12 months and you would like to hire a vehicle in the UK, give us a call and we can sort it out for you.

Requirements For Renting A Car In The UK

Like most of the specialist services there are particular requirements for renting a car in the UK, this deal is subject to few restriction:

  • Full valid UK driving licence
  • A Passport is often required, particularly at airport locations
  • Proof of address, such as a utility bill or council tax
  • You’re required to get a DVLA code
  • You must contact us directly, don’t book online, as supply is limited
  • The driver must be over 25 years of age
  • You must have a credit or debit card

This is a service we can provide at most of the main airport locations in the UK plus London and Edinburgh city locations.

Top New Driver Car Hire Locations

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If you do not see the location you require in the table above, please contact our team today as this table is not exhaustive and we have many more locations across the UK.

For more information about our specialist services and Car hire for new drivers available in the UK, please contact us over the phone on +44 (0)113 880 0748, email us on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk

or chat with us online using the function at the bottom of this page.

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Driving Tips & Rules In Spain For Drivers From The UK

Driving Tips & Rules In Spain

Driving in Spain is very similar to the majority of countries in the EU. Which means it can be tricky, especially for those from the UK. Therefore, we have created a list of tips and rules to help make driving in Spain safer and easier for you.

Road Info

The road network in Spain includes six motorways (autopistas) which connect Madrid with all the regions of the country: Basque Country, Catalonia, Valencia, West Andalusia, Extremadura and Galicia.
There are also 3 costal highways: Ferrol to Vigo, Oviedo to San Sebastian, Girona to Cadiz.

Motorways: (Autopistas) are marked with and A or E and the road number.
Roads Tolls: Known as (Autopistas de peage) are labelled with AP and the road number.
Exits: (Salidas) are numbered.
Dual Carriageways: (Autovias) are marked with an E and the road number. They do not always have a central reservation between lanes
National Highways: (Carreteras nacionales) are marked with N or CN and the road number
Country Roads: (Carreteras comarcales) are marked with a C and the road number

Driving Rules

Driving Side In Spain

In Spain you should drive on the right side of the road. When coming towards a roundabout, give priority to traffic coming from the left.

Seat Belt Requirements

Wearing seat belts is mandatory when in the front seats of all vehicles. passengers in vehicles manufactured after June 1992 must wear seatbelts in the rear of the vehicle and of course the front.

Travelling With Children

Children under the age of 12 and measuring up to 135cm tall must be seated in a suitable restraint which is adapted for their age and size. Children above the age of 12 taller and than 135cm can use the normal seat belt.

General Driving Rules in Spain

  • Talking on the phone while in the drivers seat is prohibited, even when parked
  • Radar detectors are prohibited
  • Warning triangles are mandatory
  • It is prohibited to sound the horn in urban areas
  • Driving in bus lanes it is restricted
  • At road junctions, priority is clearly marked and all road signs/signals must be obeyed
Unusual Driving Rules
  • While driving in Spain it is forbidden to wear flip-flops or open-backed sandals
  • If you are required to wear glasses, you need to carry an additional pair when driving
Speed Limits In Spain
  • Urban: 50km/h – 31mph
  • Rural: 90km/h – 56mph
  • Motorway: 120 km/h – 74mph
Alcohol Limit

The alcohol limit in Spain is 0.05% (0,25 mg/l). For drivers with less than 2 years’ experience and for freight vehicles drivers the limit is 0.03% (0,15 mg/l). Exceeding the limits is a serious offence and can lead to prison sentences and driving licence suspension.

Driving Licence Requirements

Drivers from the EU with less than one year in Spain can use their domestic licence. It is important to have also an id card or passport with you. The drivers outside EU must have international driving licences.

Emergency Numbers
  • Police: 112/091
  • Fire: 112/080
  • Ambulance: 112/061
  • AA breakdown: 00 800 8877 6655
Fuel Costs

Here are the fuel prices recorded in the beginning of June 2017:

  • Unleaded 1.194 EUR/l
  • Diesel 1.077 EUR/l
  • LPG 0.606 EUR/l
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Congestion Charge & Hire Cars: Everything You Need To Know

You will have to pay the daily charge if you drive within the (CCZ) London Congestion Charge zone between 7am & 6pm, Monday to Friday.

This also applies to hire car drivers, if you are collecting/returning a vehicle within the CCZ or travel within it at any point during your rental. You are liable for the charge and should follow the same instructions as if it were your own car. Failure to pay may result in an administration charge on top of the fine you may receive.

If you are intending to hire a car and will be travelling into the CCZ regularly, then it will be worth asking your supplier for a rental vehicle that is exempt from the charges. See more below..

What is The CCZ?

The current London congestion charge zone covers the area within the London Inner Ring Road which includes both the City of London and also the West End. Although primarily a commercial area, out of London’s population of near 9,000,000 there are over 130,000 residents within the CCZ.

Click Here For A Map

Starting at the northernmost point and moving clockwise, the major roads defining the boundary are Pentonville Road, City Road, Old Street, Commercial Street, Mansell Street, Tower Bridge Road, New Kent Road, Elephant and Castle, Kennington Lane, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Park Lane, Edgware Road, Marylebone Road and Euston Road (other roads fill the small gaps between these roads). Signs were erected and symbols painted on the road to help drivers recognise the congestion charge area.

What Times Are The Charges In Force?

The CCZ is active between the hours of 07:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday. It is not active on Weekends, Bank Holidays (England) and from the 25th December (Christmas Day) to the 1st January (New Years Day) inclusive.

How Much Is The London Congestion Charge?

The standard charge is £11.50 per day if paid by midnight on the day you enter the CCZ. if you pay by the end of the following day then this increases to £14.

You can reduce this charge by setting up an account with CC Autopay. This is an automated system that allows you to register up to 5 vehicles and pay monthly for all travel within the CCZ. Consequently, this reduces the charge to £10.50 per day per vehicle.

If you have more than 5 cars to register or a business you can register with Fleet Auto Pay. By doing this you will be charged £10.50 instead of £11.50.

Failure to pay will result in a Penalty Charge Notice for £130, this can be reduced to £65 if paid within 14 days, but will increase to £195 if it remains unpaid after 28 days.

How To Pay The Congestion Charge

You can pay the congestion charge online via the TFL website up to 90 days in advance of your expected journey, on the day of travel or by midnight on the following day.

As well as online, you can pay the Congestion Charge via CC Auto Pay, by telephone, by text message or using the new smartphone app.

CCZ Exemptions, Discounts & Refunds

Refunds are usually available to those who pay in advance and whose plans change. Reimbursements are available to NHS patients who are assessed to be too ill to travel by other means (this will need to be substantiated), NHS staff and fire fighters using vehicles on official business. Residents living within a specified distance or inside the CCZ are eligible for a 90% discount which is charged via CC Autopay.

Do I Need To Pay The Congestion Charge?

The automated system gives free travel to registered vehicles which meet certain emission requirements.

  • Vehicles that emit 75 g/km or less of CO2 and meet the Euro 5 emission standard
  • Vehicles with nine or more seats
  • Motor-tricycles
  • Two-wheeled motorcycles (and sidecars)
  • Mopeds
  • Accredited breakdown companies and roadside recovery vehicles
  • All-electric vehicles (BEVs)
  • Eligible plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)

If you drive a plug-in electric drive vehicle, you will qualify, if your vehicle is registered with the DVLA and is on record with a fuel type of “electric”. Alternatively, if your vehicle is a “plug-in hybrid” and it is on the Government’s list of PHEVs eligible for the OLEV grant you will qualify.

Examples Of Cars Exempt From London Congestion Charge

Here are some examples of no congestion charge cars. With that been said, this is not a full list so make sure to research yourself if you want to find out more.
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Which Cars Can I Hire In Dubai & The UAE?

Which Cars Can I Hire In Dubai

After announcing last week that we are now able to provide vehicles in Dubai and the UAE, we have been asked multiple times – Which Cars Can I Hire In Dubai?

Our answer most of the time is, just the usual, you know small cars, family cars ect. But, it is a little different in Dubai. The UAE is one of a few places on earth where if you have deep enough pockets you can pretty much have whatever you would like.

Through our usual channels we have access to a large fleet of rental vehicles in Dubai ranging from a Chevrolet Spark all the way through to a Drop Top Rolls Royce Dawn via pretty much every other car you can think of.

What Can I Get For My Budget?

With a weekly budget of between £120 – £150 you can hire a fairly basic city car, such as a Ford Figo (Ka to you and me) a Mazda 2, a Nissan Sunny or any other similar car. generally 3 door hatchbacks without air conditioning.

For £200 – £300 per week you can hire a larger vehicle with the much needed air conditioning. Cars such as the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Renault (Dacia) Duster or even an Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

With a slightly larger budget a larger range of vehicles becomes available. For £350 to £450 per week, you can hire an SUV like a Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi ACX and Ford Escape. Larger saloon cars also fall into this price bracket. Mercedes C Class, Infiniti Q50 and the Chevrolet Impala are available at this price.

That pretty much covers the types of vehicles that we book day in day out for our regular customers.

What If I Want Something A Bit Special?

For those not looking for regular, lets have a look at what you can hire if the budget is not at the top of the priority list.

Mercedes E Class Saloon will cost approximately £450 per week.

Audi A6 Avant will set you back around £700 per week.

A premium 4×4 like a Mercedes ML is approx £800 for 7 days.

The Mercedes S class limo or Audi A8 LWB are both around the £1100 per week mark.

If you are still reading and wondering whats next, there is a whole plethora of luxury badges available that all come with luxury price tags.

None more than the Rolls Royce Wraith or Rolls Royce Dawn Drop Top which will set you back £5500 and £8500 per week respectively.

Rolls Royce Dawn

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Car Hire Marrakesh Airport With A Debit Card

Car Hire Marrakesh Airport With A Debit Card.

Morocco is one of the few countries where we have struggled to provide our usual levels of service, until now. After lots of hard work we are very pleased to announce that we can now offer Car Hire Marrakesh Airport With A Debit Card.

This is of great interest to me because i’m flying there in a couple of months on holiday and I do not hold a credit card. What is also great are the other services that come along with it too.

Unlimited Mileage: Allows you to explore Marrakesh and more of morocco.
Additional Driver: For just €5 per day you can insure another driver to share the load and really take advantage of the unlimited miles.
Young Drivers: Those age 21 – 24 can hire at the low additional cost of €5 per day (capped at €30) providing you have held your licence for 2 years.
Fuel Policy: The standard Full-to-Full policy applies, and the Fuel deposit is only €5.

Contact Us Regarding Car Hire In Morocco

If you are looking to hire a vehicle in Marraksh or somewhere else in Morocco then please contact, booking online will not guarantee you will find the right supplier. You can call us on 0113 88 00 748, email us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or chat with us online. We are here to answer your queries and to ensure you book with the supplier that meets your requirements.

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Great News For Older Drivers Visiting Ireland

We have some great news for Older Drivers Visiting Ireland. Our supplier who allows drivers up to the age of 99 years old at no additional cost has expanded.

There are now over 30 locations in Ireland which pretty much covers the whole of the country. If you are over the age of 70 and struggling to hire a vehicle then look no further than Indigo Car Hire.

What makes this facility even better is that unlike other suppliers who allow older drivers, there is no additional fee or increased deposit. In fact, this supplier has one of the lowest deposits in the whole of Ireland. Just €250 is held on your credit card. Yes, i’m afraid that is the only down side, the driver must be a credit card holder.

Car Hire Locations In Ireland

Athlone
Ballsbridge
Dublin
Cavan
Cork
Cork Airport
Cork North
Donegal Airport
Drogheda
Dublin Airport
Dublin City Centre
Dublin North
Dublin South
Galway
Kerry Airport
Kilkenny
Killarney
Letterkenny
Limerick
Mullingar
Naas
Sligo
Swords
Tralee
Waterford West
Wexford

Contact Us Regarding Ireland Car Hire Over 75

If you would like more information hireing a car in Ireland when you are over 75, please feel free to contact our reservations and customer service teams. You can call us on 0113 88 00 748, email us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or chat with us online. We are here to answer your queries and to ensure you book with the supplier that meets your requirements.

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