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.

Malaga is a fascinating destination for a holiday, being a coastal city of historical importance that also boasts a wonderful climate, a wide range of bars and restaurants and some great shopping opportunities. You can also hire a car and take the chance to explore the wider region of Andalusia, with its beautiful countryside and old, ruined castles, as well as towns such as Seville and Ronda. The region is also famous for its small, picturesque white towns, which you can easily visit by touring around in your hire car. Take the time also to appreciate the great food and drink offered in the many cafes and restaurants – seafood is a speciality and the area is famous for its sherry.

Many people prefer automatics to manual cars and for those looking for automatic car hire Malaga has many choices available. The assumption that you would have to hire an expensive, larger vehicle if you want an automatic is not true. Although the more luxurious end of the market is catered to, with many models of Mercedes or BMW on offer, it is perfectly possible to hire a small car such as a Nissan Micra or Ford Fiesta with an automatic gearbox. You can also find mid-size vehicles – a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus, for example – if that is what you prefer.

Driving in Malaga and Andalusia has its own challenges and visitors should take care to learn the local laws and customs of the road before venturing out. Speed limits, for example, are quite strictly enforced and tourists are often required to pay on-the-spot fines if stopped by the police. Using a mobile phone while driving will also lead to such fines. The driver of the car and all passengers are required to wear seat-belts and children under twelve years old are not allowed to sit in the front passenger seat. You will also find that the drink-driving limit in Spain is set very low. Random spot-checks on this are common and the penalties for failing a breath test are severe. The best advice is not to drink at all if you are going to be driving.

Don’t let all of these warnings put you off however. If you just apply common sense, you can enjoy a great driving holiday in Spain. On arrival, make your choice from the varieties of automatic car hire Malaga has to offer and you can then set off on a wonderful trip exploring the town and further afield into Andalusia.

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.

The automatic car has never been as popular as its manual counterpart but as automatic transmission becomes more sophisticated and economical that could soon change. Manual cars have over 100 years of history but what are the origins of the automatic? The first fully-automatic car that was mass produced was the Oldsmobile in 1940. The automatic gearbox set-up was known as the Hydra-matic and gave you four speeds and reverse. The vehicle was so successful that Cadillac and Pontiac adopted this gearbox and then sold to other manufacturers including Rolls Royce and Bentley in England.

In the 1950s Mercedes designed their version of Oldsmobile’s Hydra-matic which used the four-speed transmission but with a different design. Some of this new gearbox’s features are still being used today. Improvements were then made in 1956 by Cadillac, Pontiac and Oldsmobile. Originally the ‘reverse’ gear was used when the car was stationary but the familiar “park” gear was included in the improvements. Improvements also meant for smoother transitions when the car changed gear. By the time the late 1960s came along the favoured gearbox was the three-speed unit with a torque converter. Prior to that the norm had been fluid-coupling four-speed gearboxes and gearboxes with two-speed transmission but they were largely obsolete by the end of the 1960s.

In fact, the torque converter four-speed gearbox reigned supreme until the 1980s when something known as the over-drive transmission got introduced to the industry with four forward speeds or more. This greatly improved the fuel economy. By now engine computers were becoming more common and powerful. During the late 1980s and early 1990s these onboard computers were controlling more and more of the valve functionality.

This meant the gear shifts in both manuals and automatics became more precise and automatic cars had greater performance. In 2002 the first automatic six-speed transmission arrived with the BMW 7-Series and E65. In 2003 the Mercedes 7G-Tronic was launched as the world’s very first seven-speed car in production. This inspired Toyota to launch the world’s first eight-speed gearbox in 2007, available on the Lexus LS 460. Modern cars allow drivers to choose between a totally automatic experience, the classic manual gearbox and now there is semi-automatic where the driver changes gear manually but with no clutch. There are also cars (usually production sports cars) with tip-tronic gear paddles by the steering wheels, meaning you can change gear with your fingertips.

We are big fans of autos here at Automatic Car Hire but you should be aware that there are pitfalls of using an Automatic car over a manual (fuel economy, performance etc). Here we will look at the differences between identical models with different types of transmission but ultimately, for us anyway, driving an automatic hire car is just better!

Choosing an automatic car has its advantages and particularly on short journeys through town, the fact that you aren’t constantly changing gear has to be a positive. However, as with most choices of this kind, there are some down sides to automatic vehicles too. The most obvious disadvantage to driving an automatic car comes with the overall fuel consumption. If you have two identical models of vehicle and take them on the same journey, fuel economy from the manual car is noticeably better. The technical reasons for this are a little complicated but essentially, some of the power is used to heat up transmission fluid and this makes an automatic car less efficient and with fuel prices continually rising, this is an aspect worth keeping in mind.

You may also experience issues with overall performance with an automatic because you don’t have so much control over acceleration and deceleration. While many modern automatic cars can allow you to shift to ‘manual’ control, the absence of a clutch doesn’t help the performance issue in any way. This is why real driving enthusiasts are unlikely to go near an automatic as they prefer the thrill of true driving that a manual transmission gives them.

While there have been many improvements in automatic gearboxes in recent years, many drivers still experience issues with a transmission that has a finite shelf life. Automatic transmissions can, in some cases, fail relatively early in the life of a car and they are expensive to replace. Other parts of your car are likely to wear more quickly too and with no clutch to control your driving in slower traffic, you will rely very heavily on the brakes in any automatic car. This naturally means that brake pads will need replacing on a more regular basis and this is another expense that you’ll need to be aware of when buying an automatic vehicle. This is not something though you will have to worry about at all when hiring a car. Automatic Car Hire uses industry leading brokers and suppliers meaning you get a car that is checked before you take it and is generally less than six to eight months old.

If you do decide to purchase an auto though, you may also find that buying an automatic vehicle is a tough challenge. Although there is much more choice today than there has ever been in the past, manual transmission cars for sale will outweigh automatics by a large proportion and buyers can sometimes find that they have to ‘settle’ for a car that they’re not especially happy with. While there are some undoubted advantages to buying an automatic car, there are some clear pitfalls too so it makes perfect sense to weigh up both sides of the argument before making your decision.

Automatic cars are not that common in the UK but for anyone who wants a relaxing, smooth driving experience they can be a great choice. There are plenty of good automatic cars available to buy and if you are tired of shifting gears and riding the clutch then they can be the perfect antidote. Here are a few of the best selling automatic cars on the market.

Volvo XC90

This family wagon is large, luxurious and above all practical. If you pick it with the Geartronic semi-automatic gear box you get a 2.4 litre diesel engine under the bonnet. The six speed gear ratio delivers 34 miles per gallon and accelerates to 62 miles per hour in 10.3 seconds, which means is relatively sprightly for a large automatic vehicle. It may be a little too spacious and expensive for some, but if you want a hard-wearing all-rounder then this is it.

Skoda Superb

Skoda has managed to become one of the most respected motoring brands around after years spent wallowing in obscurity. This automatic edition of the Skoda Superb estate delivers good fuel economy with 46.3mpg and its diesel engine will pull you to 61mph in under 9 seconds thanks to the 170 horsepower it can muster.

Ford S-Max

This people carrier has a six speed auto Powershift gearbox with an engine that closes in on providing combined fuel consumption of 50mpg, a real feat for such a versatile, expansive family vehicle. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the S-Max is that its exterior styling manages to remain desirable without reducing the practicality of this versatile car.

Smart Fortwo Coupe

The Softouch Auto gearbox in this supermini may be in control of a tiny engine than accelerates to 62 in a weedy 13.7 seconds, but when you are getting over 65 miles to the gallon you can hardly complain. If you only have need for a dinky car for city run-arounds then this might be perfect. Because it is an automatic it will take the strain out of sitting in traffic and it is small enough to slot neatly into even the tightest parking space.

Toyota Prius

The premier hybrid car that is synonymous with green motoring is the Prius. Its electric engine requires just one gear for city driving, while the 1.8 petrol engine will kick in when you hit the motorway, so you get the best of both worlds.

We at Automatic Car Hire are now offering the very latest in satellite navigation rental. Available through our car hire engine is the award winning Tom Tom GPS unit for navigation on unfamiliar roads in the UK, across Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil or The Middle East.

In inception it is only available to UK users of our services where for a low rental price we will deliver the latest Tom Tom GPS right to your door for your use for the dates you require. Need it last minute? Place an order by 4:00 pm Monday to Friday and we will guarantee next day delivery by 1:00 pm to your home, office or other place of choice as long as the Tom Tom GPS unit can be signed for. We use Royal Mail Special Delivery meaning the unit is tracked and delivered with exceptional service.

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