Many customers think car hire is cheaper abroad-20-Feb-06.

Many customers think car hire is cheaper abroad-20-Feb-06.: "Many customers think car hire is cheaper abroad

Almost half of agents say their customers believe they can book car rental cheaper once they are abroad.

A poll of 3,000 agents found that this was the main obstacle to selling car hire, with 45% saying customers had a perception that it will be cheaper at their destination.

Nervousness about driving in a foreign country was cited by 23% of retailers as the main reason why customers decline car rental while 19% said price put customers off.

The survey for Alamo Rent A Car showed that only 55% of agents offered any advice about driving abroad and this was largely based on their own experience.

The company is to develop an information service to help agents provide advice to holidaymakers nervous about driving abroad.

The poll also found that 85% of agents said they automatically ask customers if they need a hire vehicle as part of their holiday and 92% said they felt confident selling car hire and the associated liability covers.

Alamo marketing executive Tom Middleditch said: �Despite some well publicised horror stories of renting from unregulated companies in tourist destinations it seems many customers till have the belief that by waiting they will get a better deal.

�It�s certainly encouraging t see that agents are more than able to put them right on this as the selling tips they shared with us demonstrate.

�The big opportunity for agents is encouraging and offering support to those people who express nervousness about driving abroad. Certainly those 55% that were able to talk about their own experience were at an advantage but that leaves 45% of agents unable to help the customer in this respect.� "