FLEETS risk paying up to double the going rate for their vehicle rental unless they shop around. A nationwide survey of rates across a range of operations has revealed massive price changes at outlets and differences of nearly 100% in price. The year-long investigation by Practical Car and Van Rental found that major national chains were the most prone to large price changes from month to month.

For lower medium vehicles such as Astra and Escort, weekly rates varied from £176 to £117 while daily rental rates varied from £26.40 to £43.50. The largest drop at an outlet from one month to the next was 23% and the biggest rise was 30%. For upper medium vehicles such as Mondeo and Vectra, the highest rate was £343 - £158 a week more than the cheapest. Daily rates went from £33.99 to a high of £52, and the biggest month-on-month drop at one outlet was 29% and the biggest rise 34%.

Robyn Keetley, of Practical Car and Van Rental, says: 'There is a regular and quite large fluctuation in prices, which can be brought on by rental firms responding to local conditions and demand for their vehicles. This shows a need for fleet managers to be very wary and shop around.'