Hiring a car for a day, newbie questions in here.

[Mr Jones]

Basically got a quote from British Car Rental (from Europcar in Hull) for a 1 day (9am to 10pm I quoted) rental of a 1.4 VW Golf. They gave me £55.42, inc VAT.

Additional charges if I want them:
-Covers damage to windscreen, lights, and tyres for normal use (WWI) 4.0 GBP per day -Super Personal Accident & Effects Cover (SPAEC) 8.21 GBP per day -Top Up Cover (includes Third Party Plus, Damage Waiver Plus, Super Personal Accident and Effects Cover, 1 free additional driver) (TUC) 14.99 GBP per day

Background:
I'm a 23 year old, driven for over a year but stopped for just over a year due to uni and the use of public transport. I have 3 other friends joining me in a car ride from Hull to Chorley, about 240miles returned. Petrol, using a rough 39MPG for the VW 1.4 works out to be under £40. From the looks of things, the total will be under £100, cheaper than 4 return train tickets with YP Railcard.

There are other cars available, some around the same prices, like a Vauxhall Astra / Megane. I chose the VW Golf, because I fancy that and thought maybe I can get a feel for it too (I drove a family car Ford Fusion 1.6).

My question is, is this deal good?
Do you know of any better deals or money saving ideas?
Any advice for using Europcars or any car rental services?

And one little silly question, is car insurance included with the car rental? I assume so, because I had to state my age range for the quote... Silly question, I know.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Try Hertz instead, often cheaper. Google for 'Mastercard hertz cdp' and use the code when paying with Mastercard to get a rate discounted by 10%.

Insurance is included but there is often a large excess.

They don't do a 2.0 Ford Fusion so I'm not sure what you normally drive

 

[Mr Jones]

Try Hertz instead, often cheaper. Google for 'Mastercard hertz cdp' and use the code when paying with Mastercard to get a rate discounted by 10%.

Insurance is included but there is often a large excess.

They don't do a 2.0 Ford Fusion so I'm not sure what you normally drive

I'll look into it.
I just double checked my insurance from before, dumb me, it was a 1.6

 

[hiroofheroes]

The Golf is too big a car for the 1.4 to be much cop unless it's the TSI engine.

 

[Hilly]

The Golf is too big a car for the 1.4 to be much cop unless it's the TSI engine.

Granted, if OP actually buying the car.

To rent it though for a day, OP could get a lot worse.

 

[MarkDavis]

£80 a day is expensive.

Try Enterprise.