As the heavy rain and flooding of December and early January look set to turn to colder conditions in the next week or so, Europcar, the leader in car hire services in Europe, is urging motorists to consider hiring a vehicle, rather than driving their own.  The promise of a vehicle usually less than a year old, fully maintained with all the required checks, such as tyre pressure, and 24/7 roadside assistance could provide vital confidence when driving in difficult weather conditions.

“Recent data has identified that the average age of cars on UK roads is now over 7 years old”, explained Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group. “Of course, many of these vehicles will be well maintained, but with the financial pressures of the last few years, it could be that some of the basics have been sacrificed and when the weather turns this could be a worry for some drivers.

“That’s why we recommend leaving the family car at home in difficult weather conditions and hiring instead.  Not only does hiring give drivers access to vehicles maintained to manufacturer standards – but those vehicles are being checked every time they come back in from a customer.  That’s probably a higher level of care and maintenance than anyone would give to the car they’re driving every day of the week.  Plus all Europcar vehicles are covered by 24/7 roadside assistance – something else that we know many motorists have sacrificed in the economic downturn.”

Europcar vehicles, available from the company’s extensive network of locations right across the UK, are de-iced and checked before being handed over to customers in the winter. And a member of staff helps customers familiarise themselves with the vehicle’s controls, ensuring they are confident with the car in all conditions.  Plus Europcar customers can hire a sat nav to help them navigate unknown roads and choose the best route, also particularly useful if they are driving in wintry conditions.

“So far, we’ve had a mild winter, which means many drivers will be unprepared and their vehicles may not be ready to take the strain that freezing temperatures bring”, concluded Ken McCall.  “But with quality car hire from Europcar, drivers can embark on a journey in a reliable vehicle that’s ready to get them to their destination safely.  We’ve prepared our winter fleet, ensuring Europcar customers can rely on us for quality vehicles, whatever the weather.”