US car hire prices I feel are still great value. We hired a car in Italy for 5 days, the cost was £180 which included the damage waiver. It was a small scratched and dented Punto, no radio, and when we told them we were driving it into France to a small village, literally just across the border, they made up sign a disclaimer that we would be responsible for any damage/accident if it happened in France and we had to pay a €600 deposit even though we have purchased the excess insurance.