The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is advising drivers to familiarize themselves with the rules of the road at their intended holiday destination.
According to the institute “Roundabouts, unfamiliar road layouts and foreign signposting can make even the most experienced motorist anxious about driving abroad, but many drivers still leave British shores without a sound understanding of the traffic regulations of the country they’ll be driving in.”
Many country’s traffic laws are quite similar to British laws but there will always be some descrepancies. The IAM went on to warn motorists that the rules of the road are much more strictly enforced abroad than they are in the UK and that pleading ignorance will not get you out of prosecution.
Click here for information on the rules of the road in European countries from the Institute of Advanced Motoring.
The Guardian newspaper has reported that UK consumers are wasting £800 million each year by buying car hire excess insurance from car rental firms rather than arranging cover in advance.
Want to know what car hire excess insurance is? Click Here.
Consumers are often given the option of taking out excess insurance at the pickup desk, but insurance policies here are much higher than those on regular insurance policies. Getting your excess insurance in advance of travelling can save you significant amounts.
At ECB Online we’re committed to getting you the best prices not only on your car hire but also on your insurance, that’s why we have a deal with one of the leading car hire excess insurance websites and can offer you fantastic rates. Daily excess insurance (trips of 7 days or less) for only £4.75! Don’t get hit with excessive rates at the pickup desk, book your insurance now!
Time is running out for travellers to book their summer car hire. Industry experts are reiterating warnings about car hire shortages as many of the major European tourist destinations look set to face severe shortages.
Travellers are advised to book their car hire at the same time as they book their flights and accodmodation. This is very important to ensure you get the best deal and to ensure the appropriate vehicle is available for the dates you have specified. Those who leave booking their car hire until the last minute will face very high prices or may even find that there are no cars available.
Due to the economic recession, car hire fleets have decreased in size. This has led countires such as Spain, Italy and Ireland to issue warnings that their fleets are unable to meet demand.
Suppliers across Europe are already under severe pressure. If you are going away this summer, book your car hire now!
At ECB Online we compare prices from all of the major international and national suppliers across Europe.
Are you heading to any of these locations this summer? Check out our great deals.
Car Hire France
Car Hire Spain
Car Hire Australia
Car Hire Italy
Car Hire Portugal
Car Hire United Kingdom
A sister volcano of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland is showing signs that it may be about to erupt.
Katla, a much larger volcano has been the subject of much speculation since Eyjafjallajökull began erupting and disrupting.
A research paper by the University College of London Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction concluded that “Analysis of the seismic energy released around Katla… is interpreted as providing evidence of a rising … intrusive magma body on the western flank of the volcano.” The paper went on to state that “given the high frequency of Katla activity, an eruption in the short term is a strong possibility. It is likely to be preceded by new earthquake activity.”
Icelandic President Ólafur Grímsson told the press recently that his country had already prepared for the inevitable eruption and that “it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over Europe and the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption.”
The ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull has caused little trouble over the last number of weeks as scientists have said activity on the volcano has practically ceased. However should Katla erupt, the travel industry could see disruption on a much grander scale than that caused by Eyjafjallajökull.
Book your car hire well in advance with ECB Online. As long as you cancel your car hire 48 hours in advance of the pickup date, we do not charge any cancellation fee. That’s right, all your money back as long as you cancel 48 hours in advance.
Your car rental agreement usually includes cover for Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft. However, you are still liable for the excess on both the CDW and Theft.
What this basically means is if the car is damaged or stolen, the driver of the car (you) is asked to pay a portion of the repair or replacement costs. This is what is known as Car Hire Excess.
If you take out excess insurance, you will not be liable for any cost should the car be damaged or stolen.
ECB Online offer excess insurance through insurance4carhire.com, one of the market leaders in car hire excess insurance.
With the policy offered through insurance4carhire, you are covered not only for the total amount of excess but also for damage to the roof, windows, tyres and undercarraige of the car.
We offer some great excess insurance deals including 31 days European excess insurance cover for only £49 and daily excess for trips of 7 days or less for only £4.75 per day!
Click here to check out our amazing excess insurance deals for your car hire.
Scientists think the weeks of disruption caused by the Icelandic ash cloud may be over as the volcano is no longer active.
The Meteorological Office of Iceland have said that “The eruption activity is minimal.”
Experts say they will continue to monitor the volcano, as the last time it erupted in 1821 it continued to erupt for 13 months. However, Magnus Gudmundsson, a geologist with the University of Icelandm, has asserted that “if there are no new earthquakes and no new outburst, then that would suggest that it is over”.
If the volcano has ceased to be active, it would bring to an end weeks of travel chaos that has grounded an estimated 10 million passengers and cost the travel industry millions upon millions of euro.
Passengers and businesses alike will be delighted to hear that for the next number of weeks, the volcano is unlikely to disrupt their holiday plans.
As the summer approaches, many of us are looking forward to a well deserved break. Perhaps you have already booked your flights and accomodation but have you booked your car hire yet?
As previously mentioned in this blog, the summer months are the peak time for travel industry in general including the car hire industry. Due to the economic recession, car hire suppliers have been forced to cut their fleet numbers. As a result of this, supply is expected to outstrip demand in the coming months and prices are expected to increase significantly.
To avoid these high rates, ECB Online recommend you book your car hire as much in advance as possible. In reality, the further we get into the summer, the more expensive car hire is going to be. We compare all of the major car hire suppliers across the globe to ensure you get the best deal possible wherever your going. Whether you’re just planning your holiday or you’ve already arranged your flights and accomodation check out ECB Online and make sure you get the best deal on your car hire.
Are you heading to any of these locations this summer?
Car Hire France
Car Hire Spain
Car Hire Australia
Car Hire Italy
Car Hire Portugal
Car Hire United Kingdom
Flight restrictions over Europe look set to be reduced as a new Time Limited Zone (TLZ) is introduced. This new ‘zone’ will allow planes to travel at higher ash densities than was previously allowed.
To operate in the new time zone, airlines must present a safety case that has the backing of the aircraft and engine manufacturer.
According to one airline executive, this change will reduce cancellations significantly and allow airlines to resume an almost normal flight schedule.
These new measures come amidst criticism from the airline industry regarding the handling of the ash crisis. The British Airways chief described the bans as a ‘gross over-reaction’ and Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines described the situation as ‘beyond a joke’.
However, the chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) stated that it is the CAA’s job to keep the public safe by ‘ensuring safety decisions are based on scientific and engineering evidence’. They claim some airlines have a ‘let’s suck it and see’ attitude which would place passengers at risk.
According to the air traffic control authority, the changes would mean that there is no predicted disruption to British airspace for the immediate future.
The volcanic ash that has disrupted air travel across Europe over the last month is clearing due to the volcano losing power and a change in wind direction. This comes as a great relief to the travel industry in general but particularly to the airlines as we come into the peak holiday period.
According to the Icelandic Met Office, the vast majority of Europe “can relax over the weekend” as the ash cloud has thinned and poses no risk to airplane engines.
However, this break in the disruption will apparently offer only a brief respite to the travel industry and scant consolation to the millions planning to go abroad this summer and depending on flights. Weather stations acknowledge that in reality they can only predict the path of the ash cloud a couple of days in advance. Scientists are also unable to predict exactly when the volcano will erupt and with what force. Airlines recommend keeping an eye on flight details in the days and hours leading up to your flight.
The Nordic Volcanological Center has warned that while pressure in the volcano seems to have decreased, this does not mean that we are in the all clear for air travel over the summer. A source at the centre said that “there are absolutely no signs of the eruption coming to an end”. He also recommended that people should keep the changeable conditions in mind when making travel plans this summer.
At ECB Online we are offering great deals on car hire right now. We also offer a measure of security in this changeable travel climate as we do not charge cancellation or amendment fees as long as they are made within 48 hours of the pickup date.
The British Met Office is warning that travel disruption caused by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland could continue right into the summer.
There is no way of predicting which way the plumes of ash from the volcano will drift or on what days. A spokeswoman from the Met Office put it this way: ‘We’re all at the mercy of the volcano’. The last time Eyjafjallajokull was active, it continued to erupt for over a year.
Summer holidaymakers will be gambling on a southwesterly wind blowing the ash cloud north towards the North Pole. While this is generally the prevailing wind during the summer period, there are no guarantees that this is what will happen.
This warning will cause further concern to airlines and other sectors of the travel industry who have already seen revenues nosedive during the disruption caused by the cloud.
Travellers are advised to keep up to date with the weather conditions and keep checking the websites of their airlines. We also recommend that you check the cancellation and amendment policies of your travel arrangements to ensure you won’t be hit with heavy penalties should you be forced to make a change.
At ECB Online we give you a full refund as long as you cancel your car hire at least 48 hours in advance.
