Car hire: how to rent a car for a few days or a week at a fair price
Start with the trip, not the model
For the city, an economy hatchback with an automatic gearbox is enough. For a family trip, an SUV or an estate is better. For a highway drive with luggage, you want a roomy cabin and some spare power. So first decide your route and roughly how far you will drive. Many rental firms set a daily kilometre limit and charge extra when you go over it.
Think about the gearbox too: an automatic is more comfortable in traffic jams, a manual is often cheaper, but not every rental firm has one. If you plan to drive into another region, say so at once: you may need the owner's permission, the right permits and proper insurance.
What affects the price
- Car class and age.
- Duration: for a week or a month the daily rate is usually lower than for a single day.
- Kilometre limit: an unlimited-kilometre plan costs more.
- Deposit: hire with no deposit, or a smaller one, often costs more per day.
- Pick-up and return: airport, railway station, another city.
- Extras: insurance, a second driver, a child seat.
What to put in your request
- Class or model — economy, SUV, people carrier.
- Hire dates — for example, 1 to 10 July.
- With or without a driver.
- Gearbox — automatic or manual.
- Pick-up place — an address or the airport.
- Route and distance, including any trip to another region.
- Driver's age and experience — owners set their own requirements.
- Deposit and budget per day.
Example: “I need an automatic SUV without a driver from 1 to 10 July, pick-up at Central airport. We will drive to another region, about 2,000 km. I am 32 and have 10 years of driving experience. Preferably no deposit, or a small one. Budget up to HK$270 per day.”
How to compare offers
You leave one request, and rental companies and private owners reply in the chat with the car, the price per day (or what it depends on), the deposit and the terms. BlaBlaPrice shows the offer that fits best first, and you can see reviews next to each one. Your phone number stays hidden until you choose an owner.
Look at the total cost, not just the daily rate: insurance, the kilometre limit, the deposit and how it is returned, charges for damage, and the rules for returning the car with a part-empty tank. If you need to leave the region, make sure the agreement says it is allowed. When you take the car, photograph it carefully from every side.
If you need to carry something, look at a trailer, and for a group of people see a bus or minibus. You can read more about the service on the “How it works” page.
