The cheapest time to book a hire car, revealed!

When it comes to booking your rental car, is it best to book early or leave it late? It’s an age-old question for our customers, so we did some digging into our data and can now reveal that the cheapest time to book your hire car is 31 days before you travel.

However, there are some caveats to be aware of so you can be sure you’re getting the best possible deal.

When is the cheapest time to book car hire?

Our research showed that the cheapest time to book car hire is exactly 31 days before your pick-up date, when average prices are £31.90 a day. That’s 24% cheaper than the yearly average of £41.85.

Our data, which compared booking times and prices across a 12-month period in thousands of destinations across the globe, shows that, more often than not, it’s best to leave it to within two months of your travel date as prices are lower than average in the last two months before your vehicle pick-up date.

There’s a caveat, though. Don’t book exactly 30 days before your required pick-up date. Prices tend to surge on this day – perhaps as holidaymakers are on a one-month countdown to a getaway.

The same applies to exactly two weeks out, when there’s another surge which drives up prices on that day too – prices rise to £41.57 compared to £36.89 the day before.

You’ll also need to be flexible with travel times and not too set on a specific model of car to get the cheapest deals.

“Car hire prices are predictable”

Ed Sharp, head of car hire at TravelSupermarket, says that the good news is that car hire prices are fairly predictable.

“The key is understanding that car hire pricing follows predictable patterns, and smart travellers can use this knowledge to their advantage,” he says.

“Car hire prices aren't swinging as wildly as they did five years ago, so there's less pressure to jump early.

“In general, at non-peak times when there is good availability, prices can get cheaper the closer you get to the start date of the rental. However, if you leave it too late you can miss out.

“I'd recommend looking for a deal with free cancellation – book something you're happy with, then check back for drops as your trip approaches,” Ed advises.

When is the most expensive time to book car hire?

Early bookers are in for a costly error. Booking around a year ahead of travel almost doubles the cheapest daily price, at £59.97 if you book 364 days in advance. Prices also surge exactly 14 and 30 days before pick-up due to a spike in demand on these exact days.

Prices fall in the last two months, tending to stay below the average price of £41.85 with exceptions on days 40, 42, 49 and exactly 60 days in advance.

Even if you leave booking until only a week before you want to pick up your car, prices are 8% cheaper than average seven days in advance, falling to 4% cheaper than average the day before.

Does this apply all year round?

The Christmas period (20 December - 5 January) is the most expensive time to hire a car in general, with prices soaring 30% above the yearly average.

In contrast, October half term offers the best value for families, with car hire prices 10% below average – making it an ideal time for budget-conscious parents to plan their autumn family getaways.

Those travelling without children, and who aren’t bound by fixed travel dates, can therefore afford to leave it late in the hope that a good deal arises. Our data shows that prices tend to steadily decline from two months until the departure date – but you’ll have to have nerves of steel!

We’re travelling as a family – should we really leave it late to nab a bargain?

Booking at the last minute can save money, but it also limits choice. Families Booking at the last minute can save money, but it also limits choice. Families after a specific car type in peak periods when demand is higher, for example, are better off booking in advance.

Many companies offer early booking promotions in January so this is a good time to secure availability of special vehicles such as people carriers and MPVs. Leaving it later can be a risky tactic, especially if you want that big, roomy people carrier to schlepp the kids around Orlando during the February half term.

Is booking late for me?

If you’re flexible with your timings, your top motivation is nabbing a deal and you’re not daunted by an element of risk, then leaving it to 31 days before you need a car could work out cheapest for you. If you’re after a certain car or are travelling in peak times, it’s better to book in advance.

For the summer period, booking 37 days in advance is the sweet spot for good prices.

It’s also worth noting that price isn’t the only thing you should be concerned about when choosing car hire. Fuel policy, mileage limits and the terms and conditions of the individual deals all play a significant factor – and can push the overall price up significantly if you get them wrong.

Pay attention as well to the pick-up location for your vehicle as it may be cheaper to pick a car up away from an airport – but also more of a hassle if you’re travelling with children or have to pay for transport to pick up your car.

What’s more, you should never leave booking until you arrive at the airport. If you just turn up on the day without a reservation you’ll pay a higher price – in some cases, it could be over double.

And, if you’d like to avoid any unexpected charges at the hire desk, buy your car hire excess insurance online in advance which can save you as much as 65% off the overall price.

Methodology: Analysis based on all car hire searches on TravelSupermarket between 2 June 2025 and 2 June 2026. Average prices are based on all car categories.