iCarhireinsurance.com featured again in the Sunday Times (25 November 2012) in a story called, 'Car-Hire Charges Snowball With Winter Extras'

The paper used our research on the hidden extras that can greet a skier when picking up their hire car.

These can range from snow chains, which can cost up to £60 to hire, to a roof rack, at up to £85 to hire, and excess insurance, that can add an additional £155 for a week's cover (see full figures in link).

"Prices vary dramatically from country to country," it said. "Research by iCarhireinsurance.com focused on five popular ski gateways, Munich, Geneva, Chambery, Barcelona and Inverness, and found that the cheapest place to hire snow chains was Munich, where a week's hire cost from £17, whereas in Barcelona it was £60. In many European countires it is a legal requirement to carry snow chains when conditions demand, but car-hire companies, including Avis, Sixt and Hertz, charge up to £60 extra to supply them.

"Many hire companies also charge helfty premiums for roof racks - often a necessity to help carry skiing kit....a customer hiring in Munich, with Hertz, faced a bill of £85, while in Chambery the charge is a more reasonable £23 with Sixt."

And don't forget the excess car hire insurance, without which car hire drivers are liable for anything up to £1500 in liability if their hire car is damaged, even if it's not their fault or indeed if the car is stolen.

The most expensive place to purchase excess insurance was in Geneva where travellers will pay on average over £115 for a week's cover, compared with £21 with iCarhireinsurance.com. An 82% saving can be made buying it in advance from iCarhireinsurance.com, which also provides more comprehensive cover than most of the rental companies' policies.

Please CLICK HERE to view our full research findings