If you are planning a tour to Europe than you should also be ready to face heavier bill for hire cars.

An increase in the holiday booking at the eleventh hour made the shortage of hire cars even more severe.

Actually, hire firms had been expecting fewer tourists. So they didn't prepare themselves fully by replacing old fleet and buying new cars.

Although, almost all major tourist spots in European countries have been facing the same problem, yet Spain has got the harshest blow, where tourists are being made to pay twice the normal rates.

Speaking on the issue, Michel Taride, Hertz Europe' President said, "There has been a big increase in domestic and US inbound travel, and holidaymakers are deciding to go away at the last minute."

At Hertz you can hire the cheapest car for 265 pounds, while Vauxhall Zafira will charge at the rate of 356 pounds.

Many travelers have reported that their bookings had been cancelled due to lack of hire cars.

In some areas, situation has become so much bad that travelers are cancelling their tours.

People who are visiting hot spots like Malaga, Alicante and Murcia in Spain are paying as much as 70 percent higher of the normal rates.