Top 10 cheapest European cities for car rentals disclosed with Valetta, Malta at the forefront

Faro in Portugal, with a daily cost of £22.82, and Antalya in Turkey, at £23.11 per day, are the second and third cheapest respectively. Paphos in Cyprus, costing £24.30 per day, and Seville in southern Spain, at a mere £25.39, complete the top five.

Alicante (£25.41) and Valencia (£25.42) in Spain also rank among the most affordable destinations for car hire, along with Larnaca in Cyprus (£25.92). Rounding off the top 10 are Malaga in Spain (£25.98) and Lisbon in Portugal (£25.99).

These figures were gathered by Skyscanner, using data from its car rental service across numerous European and global locations.

Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner's expert on travel trends and destinations, commented: "Hiring a car lets you get out and about to enjoy parts of your trip you might otherwise miss."

"From stunning coastal scenery to getting up close and personal with a city, there are so many benefits to getting behind the wheel and exploring."

"Hiring a car can be an extremely affordable way to get around while on holiday, if travellers know the tips and hacks for shopping around and comparing their options."

For those seeking the best value car hire, Albania has seen the largest price drop year-on-year, down 34 per cent. Italy also offers cheaper car hire fees, 26 per cent lower than last year, while France (down 16 per cent) and Austria (down 15 per cent) also provide good value for drivers.

Research has revealed that 12 per cent of people leave it until the day before or the day of travel to book their vehicle. However, data from Skyscanner suggests those looking to hire a car in Spain or Italy should do so a week before they travel, while those heading to France should book vehicle hire two weeks ahead for the best price.

A survey of 2,000 drivers, conducted via OnePoll, found that France (27 per cent), Spain (21 per cent) and Ireland (13 per cent) are the top foreign countries to drive in.

The best things about driving abroad include being able to see sights you wouldn't have otherwise (39 per cent), a sense of freedom (37 per cent) and experiencing unique scenery (34 per cent). Others appreciate that it makes getting around easier (43 per cent).

However, different traffic rules (44 per cent) and driving on the opposite side of the road (43 per cent) are the most off-putting aspects of driving on holiday.

A spokesperson for Skyscanner said: "While it might be daunting driving on the opposite side of the road, or getting to grips with foreign road signs, people soon get used to it and enjoy the experience."

"As our research shows, there's a whole host of situations where you can benefit from getting behind the wheel. Gone is the need to wait ages for unreliable public transport - get behind the wheel and enjoy the holiday you want, where you want."

TOP 10 CHEAPEST PLACES TO HIRE A CAR IN EUROPE.

1. Valetta, Malta - £20.68.

2. Faro, Portugal - £22.82.

3. Antalya, Turkey - £23.11.

4. Paphos, Cyprus - £24.30.

5. Seville, Spain - £25.39.

6. Alicante, Spain - £25.41.

7. Valencia, Spain - £25.42.

8. Larnaca, Cyprus - £25.96.

9. Malaga, Spain - £25.98.

10. Lisbon, Portugal - £25.99.