With its controversial, rich history and stunning scenery South Africa is a country that you’ll definitely need to hire a car in. If you are looking for automatic car hire South Africa has much to offer. Also, the less time you spend changing gear the more time you get to spend enjoying the country’s incredible landscape. In this article we will talk about specific car hire makes and models but remember when booking an example car is given. You are guaranteed a vehicle in the same category with the same inclusions but not necessarily the car displayed.

If you are on a lower budget for your trip but still would like to hire a car you can hire a small car such as a VW Polo. Something like a VW is a familiar vehicle to most drivers and it guarantees quality driving while you save money by opting for a slightly smaller car. If you’re going to be staying in one of the country’s cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town or Bloemfontein you’ll be glad of a compact hatchback to zip through the traffic and you’ll be saving money on fuel too.

For larger automatic cars you can hire, South Africa has more stately vehicles available for you too. An executive automatic car such as a BMW 3-Series will give your holiday or business trip a touch of class and luxury and is perfect for cruising through the incredible Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa’s highest mountain range but is equally at home in Pretoria or Cape Town.

A large country, South Africa has epic and varied driving and also borders Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe so if you want to see more of the African continent you can cruise on in but do check the terms and condition of your rental vehicle for cross border restrictions. However, South Africa is the 25th largest country in the world so you are guaranteed to not run out of incredible things to see and do if you stay in its borders for the duration of your stay.

To drive down to some beautiful coastline head for the West Coast. It has long, lonely, sandy beaches, gorgeous little fishing towns and it hardly rains so you can get that rich, golden South African tan before you drive back to your hotel.

The ultimate in-car experience has to be safari and no-one should visit Africa without experiencing a safari park. In South Africa you should head for the Kruger National Park which covers more than 7500 square miles and is world-renowned. You can even get lodgings within the borders of the park and whether you’re there for a day or a week you won’t run out of incredible wildlife to marvel at.

Austria has something for everyone, whether it’s short city breaks or longer summer or winter holidays you are looking for. For those interested in history, culture and music, the obvious places to visit are the marvelous cities of Vienna and Salzburg, home to famous composers and full of historic architectural delights. You can enjoy the sights, take advantage of the great shops and relax in one of the many delightful coffee houses. Music lovers are in for a particular treat, with many festivals and concerts celebrating the fantastic musical heritage of Austria.

The Austrian Alps are perfect for winter skiing holidays as they combine ideal snow conditions for skiers and snow-boarders with excellent resort hotels and chalets. There’s nothing better than a long day’s skiing followed by wonderful food and drink from the many restaurants and bars. But the Alps also make for a lovely summer holiday destination as well. You can enjoy walking or climbing in the rolling hills or steep mountains and taking in the magnificent scenery. The weather in summer in Austria is warm and sunny but not too hot if you are planning some long treks.

Hiring a car is a good way to explore the cities and the countryside and gives you the freedom to go where you want, when you want. If you are looking for automatic car hire Austria has a good range of vehicles to choose from. You might assume that the more expensive, top-end models from neighbouring Germany predominate in the market for automatic hire cars. While it’s true that there are many luxurious Mercedes and BMW models available for hire, you can also rent smaller and more modest vehicles if you choose. Small compact cars such as the Ford Fiesta or Nissan Micra can be rented with automatic gearboxes, as well as mid-size vehicles such as the Volkswagen Golf for Ford Focus.

Driving in Austria is easy and uncomplicated if you learn the applicable rules and regulations before setting out. Speed limits are strict and breaking them can result in hefty fines, so take care. Drink-driving can result in very severe penalties so it’s best not to drink at all if you are getting in your car. Seat belts must be worn by the driver and all passengers. Don’t, however, be put off by these warnings: they are a matter of common sense and are not much different to any other European country. Once you have made a choice from the range of options for automatic car hire Austria has to offer, you will find driving in Austria to be a pleasure.

For many people looking for automatic car hire Canada has a great array of rental options to choose from, via all the big budget brands including Avis, Hertz, Thrifty, Rent-a-car, EuropCar and other local brands. Branches are found in all the commercial airports, cities and towns and alongside many interstates and transport hubs.

Many people find that choosing a model is their favourite point of the hire experience – and in Canada, there is plenty to choose from! Cars in Canada tend to be big, thanks to the large expanses of terrain present and mixed condition roads between towns and cities. The cost of gas in Canada tends to be cheaper than in Europe too, making automatic and larger cars easier to run. The most common type of rental car in Canada is the larger saloon model – hatchbacks are less common.

Popular models include the Dodge Caliber, Nissan Versa, Chevrolet Impala, Suzuki Swift (a good economy model for city driving), a range of Chryslers for luxury driving, premium pick-up trucks such as the Chevrolet Silverado or mid-size SUVs such as the Ford Escape. Alternatively, enjoy a convertible, such as the Chrysler Sebring.

The majority of cars and trucks in Canada (and the USA) are automatic and in fact manual cars are the exception to the rule. An automatic car can be useful for those nervous about driving in a new country for the first time – particularly Brits who are used to driving on the left – and who prefer to focus on the signage and road terrain rather than worrying about unfamiliar operations or mechanics of a new car.

It’s worth researching local driving tips in Canada before hitting the roads. For example, signage in the French speaking parts of Canada, such as Quebec, may be in French and it’s useful to have some knowledge or understanding of basic road commands in French when travelling in the region. Equally, in some areas, daytime running lights are required at all times, with the risk of fast moving fog.

With care and preparation to follow local driving rules and customs, driving in Canada should be a greatly enjoyable experience, especially with the fantastic landscapes and scenery. For easy rental, have your driving license, credit card and insurance details kept quickly to hand and consider taking out special rental insurance through our third party provider to protect any excess amounts shown for CDW or Theft.

Cyprus is a hugely popular tourist destination and hire cars are a great asset when visiting this beautiful country, particularly as a transfer between Paphos Airport and the main resorts can be a long process by public transport. Hire cars are also great for getting the most out of the spectacular coastline and countryside and offer flexibility and reliability not found generally with the island’s public transport system.

Once, for automatic car hire Cyprus didn’t formerly offer too much by way of choice and availability, but thanks to rising demand and newer models of high-quality automatic cars, many of the rental agencies offers good selections for visitors, whether automatic vehicles are required either by driving license restrictions, or through choice. First time visitors also find that automatic cars are a good choice if they are nervous about navigating roads and local terrains and prefer to focus on reading the roads and signs, than grappling with unfamiliar car mechanics. The great thing about automatic cars has to be their ease of driving and comfortable rides. This is particularly useful in some of the towns, which can be busy and quite challenging to drive in during rush hour.

As there tends to be less automatic car hire Cyprus and beyond, it’s worth booking in advance or searching online for the best availability and prices. Of course, this goes for any kind of car rental, particularly during high holiday periods and peak times, but automatic cars are offered at slightly lower availability volumes than manual drives, so the most popular models will tend to be snapped up early on! Popular automatics in Cyprus include the Toyota Voxy, Honda Automatic and Zafira Automatic. The Chevrolet Captiva Automatic is another great option for larger groups or those looking to drive in more rugged terrain. Remember though although these models are popular in Cyprus the car examples shown on our website are that, examples. You will get a car in the same classification and with the same space but not necessarily the one shown.

For those negating the roads in Cyprus for the time, take heart if you are from the UK as the locals also drive on the left! Road regulations are very similar to those in the UK too, however driving standards do tend to be noticeably lower. As with the UK, buckle up and never drive under the influence of alcohol or while using a mobile phone. Road quality in the urban and tourist areas is very good and highways are well marked and serviced. A GPS can be very useful with local maps for exploring the local area to its fullest. Be sure that you have full insurance, your driving license and credit card details handy when you book your automatic car hire, for speedy and efficient processing.

One of Europe’s largest countries, Germany is a popular tourist destination with everything from modern cities to historical quaint villages. You’ll find your trip is greatly improved by hiring a car and if it’s an automatic you’re after there is plenty on offer in Germany. Remember though that the example cars given on our engine ar just that, example cars, you will get a vehicle in that category and classification but not necessarily the one listed. For luxury cars like we example in this article you will most probably get that car but please check the terms and conditions for further information.

For automatic car hire Germany has everything from compact city cars to luxurious executive cars so have a look at your budget and you’ll soon be driving happy. Not surprisingly you can hire plenty of Mercedes, VWs and Audis in the country that believes in vorsprung durch technik (advancement through technology).

Quality driving is guaranteed whatever your budget so in many ways Germany is the ideal driving country. For those with less to spend you can opt for a small hatchback such as a VW Polo. Familiar to UK drivers, the Polo is perfect for exploring Germany’s cities such as the capital Berlin and is more economical than larger cars. For a touch of class without breaking the budget go for a Mercedes A-Class which comfortably seats 4-5 adults and with automatic transmission you’ll spend less time changing gear and more time enjoying Germany’s varied driving experience. If you’d like a bit of luxury why not opt for a mid-range Mercedes such as a C-Class. They are suitable for cruising through Bavaria’s unbelievable countryside but are suitable for city driving too so are a good compromise if you want to see the whole country.

If rugged scenery is your thing Germany is perfect. Part of the Alps runs through the country and if you want to explore the winding mountain roads in something suited to the terrain why not look in to hiring a 4×4 such as the powerful Porsche Cayenne. It’ll be pricier than a Golf or Polo obviously but if the ultimate driving experience is something you want on your holiday you can push the boat out and hire something that’ll give you as many memories as the country you’re visiting. If money is no object you can hire a sexy little number such as a Mercedes SLK to cruise through the country.

Germany borders several countries including Denmark to the north so you have great access by car to the rest of Europe. The north is where you’ll find Germany’s coastlines which can be very warm in the summer – the country offers everything from skiing to suntans.

When choosing a seven seat vehicle or MPV there are numerous factors you must take into consideration before confirming your rental. If there are more than one eligible driver in your party then two smaller vehicles may be a better choice.

As Automatic Car Hire search multiple suppliers then we offer more MPV vehicles than any single website search can. We also bring you low prices saving you time and money whether you need two compact cars or one nine seat van.

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Car Hire Pricing High

The reasons to use a cost comparison engine to book your upcoming rental are stacking up with reports of very high pricing direct with suppliers.

While recently sitting at Newcastle International Airport I spoke to one couple coming to Dublin for their daughter’s wedding. I was shocked to hear that from supplier Dan Dooley they had an economy car lined up for over ₤400.00 for 11 days rental. A search for eleven days on our engine in August comes up with a host of options with a lead in car from HolidayAutos for as little as ₤275.00. To be fair to Dan Dooley I did a search on their website for the same period in August (20^th – 31^st) and got a price of ₤327.50.

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The ease of driving an automatic is widely considered to be a the expense of the performance of a manual transmission. In the UK for example, all rental cars are less than six months old (with strict mileage restrictions also in place) you can expect a hire car with the latest automatic transmissions.

So forget you age old misconceptions about automatic car hire and try it. An automatic car is normally more expensive than a manual transmission rental car so why not search both types with us? Simply change the transmission option on the search engine to the right to both. We will then search multiple brokers and suppliers and sort all the rental cars in price order.
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USA
If you are booking in the USA you are guaranteed only automatics in the car rental fleets. Over in the States automatic transmissions are the norm and subsequently the automatics found in the European fleets were originally intended for Americans.
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Fuel Economy of cars can be measured in many forms for c02 per km to miles per gallon but in today’s climate it all comes down to cost. The UK government has launched a new service for you to browse the full car market to see on a number of different measurements the most Eco and wallet friendly cars available from your local showroom.

So if you take the cost of the fuel and averaged it out over your first 12,000 miles – how much in fuel has it cost to run the car?

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