Rental car prices in Europe have fallen by an average of 22 percent over the past two years, according to research by the website FerryGoGo and car rental company EasyTerra.
If you travel to your holiday destination by plane, train or ferry, you can often make good use of a rental car there. Rental car prices had risen very rapidly since 2019, but the downward trend started two years ago. Yet prices are still on average 49 percent higher than five years ago.
In the cities surveyed in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, a small rental car costs an average of 87 euros per day this summer holiday. In 2022 that was still 111 euros, but in 2019 it was only 58 euros.
When renting a car for several days, the prices per day are lower this year than in 2023.
Also read: Parking at the airport becomes more expensive in the summer: on average €82 for a week
Summer holiday car rental prices in 2024
The table below shows prices of rental cars in 34 cities included in the study. These are mainly popular holiday destinations and port cities.
In Norway you will pay the most for a small rental car this coming summer: on average 138 euros per day. Prices in Norwegian cities have continued to rise sharply since 2022.
Prices fell fastest in Ireland. Compared to two years ago, it now costs an average of 60 percent less to rent a car.
Rental car prices have also fallen in Amsterdam and Rotterdam: by 33.5 percent and 26.8 percent respectively to just under 80 euros per day.
If you take the ferry, it might be worth leaving the car at home. Because taking your own car on board a ferry can also be expensive. Especially if you only need a car for a few days, a rental car can be cheaper.
