Car Rental in Scotland during New Year
 

I am undecided whether to pay in advance for a rental car or simply make the reservation and pay on-site. This will be our first time renting a car in Europe. We'll be picking up the car at the Edinburgh airport on January 2nd, driving to Inverness making a few stops along the way, using it on January 3rd to explore, and finally dropping it off late that afternoon. (We have other arrangements to return south on January 4th.)

On one hand, the cost is slightly better if I pay in advance, and I feel like I will have a better case for insisting that the car I want (must be automatic and strongly prefer small) is provided. On the other hand, if the weather is significantly unfriendly for driving, if I don't pay in advance I will be able to cancel the reservation and travel by train. Thoughts?

hard so say but I have just booked today with Arnold Clark they have a deal on for regular customers like myself, 7 days for the price of 4 over the Holiday period,they usually extend that to all customers in December.
http://www.arnoldclarkrental.com/?gc...HPIBoC2zHw_wcB
worth having a look and registering with them for offers.

sorry I should have noted you only need it for a few days, personally having driven the Inverness road many times in bad weather I would take the train at that time of year.

The train won't be cheap if you book it last minute ie pay on the day, just so you know. I do appreciate the fact that you might not want to drive in a howling snowstorm so entirely understand why are considering this, but think you should be forewarned that much like the car, money is saved by booking in advance and tying yourself in.

Also you are never guaranteed a particular car - even with a 'guaranteed' service. They always have smaller numbers of automatic or premium/luxury vehicles and all it takes is for someone to prang one, or come back late and that's your 'preference' gone. Again, not a reason not to hire a vehicle, but something to be aware of.

What will you do if the weather is awful? I most definitely would not (ever) make that drive (or any sightseeing stops en route) in a January storm.

Book the train now and save a bundle. Walk up rentals AND walk up rail fares are very expensive. So decide now and be done with it (and I would opt for the train)

BTW - if it 'Must' be an automatic you really do need to book in advance because the chance of there being one available at the last minute is not good. Even booking an automatic there is a <i>slight</i> chance one won't be on the lot and you could be delayed while one is sorted out.

Thanks so much for your kind responses. We are now reconsidering whether to rent a car or just go ahead and take the train this time and save the auto journey for a summer visit.