Debit Card Hire, Available For Locals In Ireland

Arranging car hire with a debit card in Ireland has always been particularly hard, and up until now we’ve only been able to arrange for hirers flying in and out of the country, with no way of helping those that actually live in Ireland. This is now no longer the case, and we’ve made an arrangement with one of our suppliers to offer debit card car hire to locals across the country!

Locations In Ireland

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The only requirement is that you must be over 25 (no max age limit either!), have an Irish licence and be able to present some proof of employment – such as a recent wage slip.

These options are also all paid upon arrival and have a low deposit of just 250.00 EUR held on the debit card for the hire, so you don’t have to have a huge amount tied up on your card.

As this is quite a specialist option it cannot be booked on our website, so please ensure you contact us directly to arrange something. Either by emailing us to sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or giving us a call on 0113 88 00 748 or +353 (0)14 366 927

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Winters Around The Corner, Drive Carefully

Winters Around The Corner – Drive Carefully

The cold weather wave which is due to hit Britain this week reminds me winter is just around the corner. You’re probably used to it by now, the constant “drive safe” warnings you get over the winter period but it’s important to raise awareness and do our bit here at Indigo Car Hire to ensure that drivers are safe for this cold snap. It’s important to make sure that your cars can cope with the cold weather, it’s not too long until the roads become a more dangerous place.

Ice, snow, wind and rain are all factors that increase the amount of accidents, the figures in 2017 showed that 32 people were killed and 3912 injured when there was snow or ice on the road surface, that’s a significant figure. To avoid being one of these statistics make sure you keep your vehicle adequate to tackle the cold snap.

Make sure if you are the owner of a vehicle that the tyre treads are of adequate size, you should also consider winter tyres! Another few things to keep in mind include tyre pressure, vehicles brakes, steering, electrics and keeping your fluids topped up such as oil and water. If you are unsure on how to check all these its worth visiting a SEAT retailer as they will offer you a full winter tailored check for £29 where they will advise you on any parts that may require replacing. On top of which for doing so as a reward you will be given a one litre Castrol Edge oil top up kit which is valued at £18, free of cost.

Stay safe this winter in the sub-zero temperatures make sure your car gets checked, for £29 its worth that peace of mind. There are also a couple of precautions you can take, the usual drive slowly, consider winter tyres and possibly chains, make sure you are signed up to breakdown service and ensure that you have a blanket and some previsions in your car in case of a breakdown.

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Zero Deposit Car Hire Now Available in New Zealand

Zero Deposit Car Hire Now Available in New Zealand

One of the most frustrating things about hiring a car on holiday is having to block a large amount of money on your card for the deposit– money that could be put to much better use as funds for your vacation. Historically it’s been particularly bad in New Zealand too, with many supplier’s requiring deposits upwards of $4000 in some cases.

At Indigo we’ve been working on an arrangement to change this, and are finally happy to announce that we can now offer zero deposit car hire at all the major airports – no strings attached! Hopefully any questions you have will be answered below, but if not just feel free to contact us directly.

Which locations are available with zero deposit?

We can arrange this option at all 4 major airports in New Zealand, listed below:
Auckland Airport
Queenstown Airport
Christchurch Airport
Wellington Airport

Am I restricted in the type of cars I can rent?

No, as the long as the supplier stocks the car, you can rent it. Here’s a few examples of the type of cars on offer:

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What are the age limits on hiring a car with zero deposit?

It’s available to anyone over the age of 21 with no max age limit for senior drivers. We even have options for hirers with probationary / new licences in certain circumstances too.

Do I still need to have a credit card to rent?

Not at all, as long as you have a standard Visa / Mastercard debit card then this is all you’ll need to rent. The rental cost itself is just paid upon arrival at the desk with no other charges or deposits!

It’s important to note that this zero deposit option is also not available to book on the website, so if you’re interested you’ll just need to contact us directly through it – either through our chat function, email sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk, or by calling us on 0113 88 00 748.

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Plovdiv Airport Car Hire Offers

plovdiv-airport-carhire

Having worked with suppliers in Bulgaria for a few years now. We are very pleased to announce that we can now arrange car hire at Plovdiv Airport.

Plovdiv is the European Capital of Culture for 2019 and from what we can see is a well deserved title. This is obviously going to increase tourism to the ancient city and we couldn’t have planned our timing any better.

We all know by now that the standard services off by Indigo and our partners is 2nd to none, however the extra deals that we manage to arrange are where we surpass others in the industry. We listen to our customers and know what you need. This is why we have also arranged these special services.

Plovdiv Car Hire Services

Debit Card Car Hire: We can arrange car hire from Plovdiv Airport without the need for a credit card. The card must meet certain requirements which you can read about on our Debit Card page.

Low Deposit: We can offer vehicles up to the ‘compact’ category with a deposit of just €200. This is a very low deposit option considering most suppliers require between €600 and €1100 to be frozen on your card.

Free 2nd Driver: Share the driving with a free additional driver and save up to €15 per day.

All of the above services are not typical of all suppliers in Plovdiv. If you want to take advantage of any or all of them then you must contact us, do not just book online. Our experts are here to help you find the best deal available.

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10 Of The Best Winter Driving Cars – Part 2

Part 2 of our 10 Of The Best Winter Driving Cars

5 – Volkswagen Touareg

The VW Touareg will be cheaper to buy than most rivals and every version comes with lots of kit. The steering is sharp, the engines are smooth and strong, and the suspension gives a great balance of ride and handling.

4 – Audi A4 Quattro

The Audi A4 is a superb road car and especially for those who drive in wintery conditions when equipped with the Quattro all-wheel drive system. No other saloon cars will come close as one of the best winter driving cars.

3 – Jaguar XF Estate

Whatever the conditions XF’s All Wheel Drive System never compromises the sheer pleasure of driving a Jaguar. There is little penalty in terms of ride quality, agility, or driver enjoyment, with the same involving handling as any XF rear wheel drive model.

2 – Land Rover Discovery

Just turn the Terrain Response® switch to snow and you wont even realise the roads are slippery. This system takes care of everything for you. Just make sure you have your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes open.

1 – Range Rover

The Range Rover has been engineered from the ground up to be the most refined, most capable Range Rover ever. With the adoption of the latest body and chassis technologies, the vehicle’s all-terrain performance has moved on to another level, both in the breadth and accessibility of its off-road capability, and its on-road handling and refinement.

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Debit Cards Now Accepted In The UAE

Burj Al Arab

We have some fantastic news, we have managed to secure a deal with a large supplier in the UAE to offer car hire using only a debit card. Until now it was impossible to hire a vehicle without a credit card in Dubai and the rest of the UAE. This deal comes with very specific requirements but does mean that car hire is now accessible to more people visiting the UAE.

How It Works

If you are paying with a debit card in the UAE, our supplier will require a deposit on arrival of 3500DHS, which at the current exchange rate is around £750. This is not uncommon in our industry, however this amount will be deducted from your card and not just held/frozen which is the usual way it works.

When the vehicle has been returned in the expected condition the process of refunding this amount will begin, you need to be aware that this process can take upto 30 days to complete, for reasons we do not know. So the first thing you need to consider is, if you want to use a debit card to hire a vehicle in Dubai or the rest of the UAE then you need to be in a position to be without £750 for a month or so.

Where Is This Available?

Other Services

Additional Driver: A 2nd Driver can be added to the rental for just 15 Dirhams, around £3 per day.
Fuel Policy: A Full to Full policy is in operation, which means you will be charged if you return the vehicle with anything other than a full tank.
Young Drivers: Drivers aged 21-24 can hire a vehicle but your insurance liability will be higher than the standard amount, please talk to us about this before booking.

If you want to hire a vehicle in the United Arab Emirates and do not hold a credit card in your name then please contact us, do not book online. You can call us on 0113 88 00 748, email us on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or chat with us online.

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The Best Road Trips to try in Dubai

The Best Road Trips to try in Dubai

Dubai, one of the busiest cities in the world is home to numerous attractions and landmarks that are sure to excite visitors from all over the world. This is one of the reasons why despite the young age of the United Arab Emirates as a whole, the city and the country is beaming with life and full of sightseeing visitors.

With the increase in the number of visitors coming to Dubai, numerous tour companies have also started growing in number. Which is actually good for the economy as a whole but is sometimes a bit overpriced and crammed. Meaning, what should be done and enjoyed in a week is somewhat being packed inside a three-day tour.

Luckily for travelers, the UAE allows people to rent and drive a car within the country as long as one has an international driving license. The Dubai airport has a number of rental cars available for hire and even within the city, one can find numerous rentals for road trips.

Why you should rent a private car instead of taking a tour?

There are certain advantages that can only be done by renting a car instead of taking the tour packages. The best road trips can be done in a private car. It is also cost effective as fuel is cheap compared to other countries. Dubai has a very good road map which makes it easier for drivers to navigate around town. There are also numerous parking spaces so visitors will not have a hard time going to places and parking their hire car.

Dubai City Road Trips

It is very easy and convenient to drive around and outside the city via car. Travelers will have more time to enjoy and admire the sceneries which this city and the country as a whole have to offer.

From the airport, the best places to stay in would be around the Jumeirah and Al Barsha area. It is full of hotels and accommodations for different types of tourists. It is the near Burj Khalifa as well, which is a must see if you ever plan to visit Dubai. You can drive and park inside the Dubai Mall (one of the largest malls in the world) and then head out to admire the sophisticated architecture of the tallest building in the whole world.

It will take a day to roam around the mall and Burj Khalifa. Going up the 124th floor of the building and get a 360 view of the city is a must for any visitor. Travelers can also visit the public free beach of Kite beach at night and admire another building, the Burj Al Arab. A luxurious hotel situated near the Arabian Sea.

Burj Al Arab

If you are looking for a place to eat, visitors can also drive around the Jumeirah’s The Beach and The Walk to have dinner. This place is a long strip which is very famous for its urban setting which is along the beach as well. You can swim and eat all in one place. Aside from that, there are numerous activities around the strip that travelers can enjoy.

A night bazaar shopping or a movie night by the beach is also a good option. If the activities around this strip do not satisfy the taste for adventure, there are numerous theme parks around the city that tourists can visit. IMG worlds of adventure and Motiongate Dubai are the newest theme parks around the city which are also 20 to 30-minute drive from Burj Khalifa and Jumeirah.

There is also the Legoland Dubai which is very famous especially for families. The city also has 2 very famous swimming theme parks as well which can be reached within a few minutes by car.

The famous palm islands of Jumeirah are very often offered on tours as well. The luxurious urban location can also be visited via private cars. It is actually an advantage if you’re driving instead of having to take a tour just to see the place. With private cars, tourist can take their time with the serene view of the sea and the refreshing feel of the place.

There are also short visits around the city that you can’t just see in one arranged tour, it will take multiple trips to roam these places unless you’re driving. You can visit the old ports near Creek Dubai, The Gold Souq and Madinat Jumeirah among other places. These represent the old Arab culture of UAE.

Drive to the other Emirates

Although there are numerous activities present in the city, there are also other places that you can visit outside Dubai. The whole country consists of seven emirates which can be driven to, in around 2 to 4 hours in your hire car. The Ras Al Khaimah mountains and beaches are places that visitors should not miss especially if they have lots of time.

The capital city of UAE, Abu Dhabi also boasts numerous landmarks worthy of one’s time. The Grand Mosque is one of the best places to visit and see in the country. Ferrari World, another famous theme park is located in the same emirate as well.

Ferrari World Dubai

The other emirates also have their own special places for tourists, especially families to enjoy.

Dubai and the whole country is not just well known for its extravagant urban lifestyles, it is also promoting family bonding which one can experience when they visit these different landmarks.

One can hold a picnic by the multiple parks located around the country, different theme parks for swimming and experiencing thrill rides. The beauty of nature around the other emirates is something that UAE is also aiming to promote to its visitors.

In summary, Dubai is actually better explored through road trips instead of the all in one tour. It will provide you with a better perspective of the city and the whole country. It will also give you the freedom to visit only the places that truly entices you.

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Customer Feedback Is Not Always As It Seems Pt3

customer feedback

The third post in our series about negative feedback is one that is very easily avoided. Every time we post an ‘advice’ article, one of the most important suggestions we make is around attention to details and reading/understanding what you are agreeing to.

Here is a review left on our Trustpilot profile.

Rating: 1/5
Title: Improper fuel surcharge
Review: When the company wants to offer a service, it does everything for you to do with it. But when there is an improper charge with AVIS, for example, as happened with me, I was charged for the fuel price of 70 euros and I delivered the car with the full tank as they informed, Indigo Car Hire no longer responds to emails. I’m trying to get my money and it’s been a week since they did not respond and I would like my case resolved. I have a transaction in my bank account that I stocked the day before but are not accepting this receipt. Indigo Car Hire does not pay the least attention to the customer if there is any problem.

You can see this review and many others here.

Here is what actually happened.

Firstly, I will tackle what went wrong and then come onto the comments about our service. This customer was booked in via our usual channels with no real headaches. Avis was the chosen supplier for one reason or another. Those that have used Avis before will know that when you arrive to collect the car you are offered a choice of fuel policies:

Full to Full: Meaning you pay a fuel deposit, drive away with a full tank and return with a full tank, your deposit is then refunded.
Full to Empty: Pre-pay for a full tank of fuel, drive away and return the vehicle empty or use as much fuel as you like.

In this instance the customer opted for the ‘Full to Empty’ policy. Pre-paid for the tank of fuel and drove away happy. When the vehicle was due to be returned the customer filled the tank before returning the car.

Due the to fuel policy that was selected, the system will not automatically refund the customer for the fuel because that is not what was agreed.

We were made aware of this on 11th October (Thursday PM), on Friday morning we contacted Avis to explain the situation. They understood and were very helpful, they submitted a ‘ticket’ with their customer service department who tend to take 24-48 business hours to sort any complaints.

This negative review was left for us on 15th October (Monday) before we had the chance to contact the customer to let them know the good news. We had spoken to Avis again, who advised that although it was against what was agreed, they could see there was a mistake on the customers part, the fuel tank was full so they were not out of pocket and they agreed to refund the customer. They had already processed it and the money would be in the customers bank account within 2-3 days.

In Short, within 2 working days of being informed of a problem that was caused by the customer himself, we managed to get him a full refund. We are shocked that this level of service warrants such negative feedback.

The main purpose of this post is to highlight, before signing for your vehicle make sure you fully understand what fuel policy you have opted for. Even though you may have booked a full to full option, the supplier may offer different fuel options at the desk.

Also when returning your rental car, regardless of which supplier you are placed with. We advise to always keep your fuel receipts as this would help if any fuel related customer service issues came up after the rental has completed.

What do you think? Thankfully these situations do not occur regularly, in-fact they are pretty rare. If this review and indeed this post can help us avoid it happening again then we have helped ourselves and our customers who are our #1 priority.

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Free Additional Drivers In France, Germany & Spain

Short Term Leasing

Being lumbered with the responsibility of driving can really take it out of you on holiday. You should be relaxing like everyone else. So why not take it in turns and share the burden with a friend or family member? Extra cost I hear you say? No, not with Indigo car hire. We’ve had this available for some time now in the UK and Ireland, but have been looking to expand our efforts.

Here at Indigo we’ve been working with our suppliers to solve this and we are finally happy to announce that we can now offer a free second driver in France, Spain and Germany, in addition to the options we already had available in the UK and Ireland.

Where Can I Get A Free Additional Driver?

Here are a few examples of our more prominent locations where we can arrange this:

This is not an exhaustive list, we can help from any of the major airports in these countries, as well as from numerous downtown locations in most major cities. Just call / email us for any specific requests.

There are very few restrictions on this option too:

Both driver’s must be over the age of 21.
The main driver must have a payment card in their name (can be debit or credit card!)
Both driver’s must have held a licence for at least a year

And that’s literally all you need to get on the road!

When looking to hire with a free additional driver please just call us on 0113 88 00 748 or email us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk so that we can ensure you are booked with the right supplier!

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Car Hire For New Drivers In North America

Car Leasing For 21 Year Olds

At Indigo Car Hire we have been working on expanding our options available for new drivers, and finally we are happy to announce that we are now able to offer car hire in North America to drivers that have held their licence for less than one year! We’ve put together this handy FAQ below to answer any questions you might have about USA Car Rental & Canada Car Hire:

What restrictions are in place for new drivers?

The only restrictions in place are that you must be at least 21 years old and must have received your physical licence – so even if you got it the day before you hire this wouldn’t be a problem at all! This applies to any licence written in English or EU licences, otherwise you would just need bring an international driving permit also.

What locations am I available to hire from?

We have locations at all the major airports on the 49 mainland states as well as most Canadian provinces. We also have a few downtown locations as well, just contact us directly if looking for a specific city as it would be impossible to list them all!

Are there any limitations in place on the size of car I can drive?

Not at all – you can hire any car that an experienced driver can, including luxury Mustang convertibles and large 15-seat minibuses. Here’s a handy guide on the types of vehicles we have available to rent in the US and Canada:

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In conjunction with car hire for new drivers, we can also offer the following services with it:

Debit Card Hire
Free additional drivers
Low deposits
Young and senior driver hire

When looking for new driver car hire or any of the above services please contact us directly on 0044(0)113880078 or email us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk as these options cannot be booked on the website.

North America is not the only place we have options available for new drivers also, feel free to take a look at our page for info on new driver hire available in the UK.

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