Car hire

Holidaymakers who rent a car overseas from at least four major firms risk losing a chunk of their deposit simply because of shifting exchange rates, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal.

January is the year's busiest summer holiday booking month. No surprise that with short days, icy air, and rain many focus on sun, sea, sand and, er... sangria.

The holidays are over, the schools are back. But if you've recently returned, some simple checks could save you £100s. Here's my post-holiday checklist (and if you've got the back-to-work blues, some will help you next year too).

Five of the major car rental companies – Avis-Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, which represent two thirds of the UK and EU market – have agreed to improve the information they give to motorists following a Europe-wide review of the industry.

Motorists planning to hire a car in the UK or abroad will now have more time to get a 'check code', following criticism that the original 72 hours wasn't long enough.

If you're planning to hire a car either here in the UK or abroad you may need to show a code from today, as the paper counterpart of photocard driving licences is being replaced with a new online system.

If you're planning to hire a car either here in the UK or abroad you may need to show a code from 8 June, as the paper counterpart of photocard driving licences is being replaced with a new online system that day.