Car hire in the US is no exception to the big rule. The state of Arizona has one of the most expensive car hire rates in the world making this big business, too. Car hire rates are subject to a state licensing fee but car hire prices in Phoenix, Arizona get an additional tax added at just over 10%.

The government claims that this is to help pay for the new University of Phoenix Stadium. I know, it doesn't make sense why someone hiring a car would have to pay tax to cover something that has nothing to do with car hire.

In fact, a total of 86 different taxes are levied against the cost of car hire with another 48 under consideration and yet none of them have any bearing on this business. How can the US government justify this?

On top of these costs, try car hire at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and you will be hit with an additional $4.50 surcharge for the facility and over 11% of the total bill will be attributed towards the cost of the car hire company leasing the airport space. Less Phoenix Sky Harbor and more Phoenix sky high rates!

These rates, however, have not deterred tourists from hiring from the airport. Despite an average of 10 letters per year voicing objection to the car hire costs, the business is still thriving because people will pay for the convenience and often moan about it in private. Maybe if the Americans did public complaints as big as they do everything else, the government would listen and reduce the ridiculous taxes.

Staying with the large American theme, the US is also home to the most expensive single car that can be hired in the whole world. The Lamborghini Murcielago, with its scissor doors, V12 engine and top speed of 205mph is available on a week day rate of $2,250 or $4,950 per day if hiring between Friday and Monday. Not for your average working mum who needs car hire while her vehicle is in for an MOT then.

Of course, it's not just the Americans that can do things big style, they're just good at it. In the UK, the owner of a car hire company has involved himself in possibly the most expensive car crash to date. Writing off a 840,000 pounds Bugatti is NOT something to be proud of! Fortunately, the driver and the woman he collided with were unhurt, apart from maybe his bank balance and pride. Apparently, he had only had the car for one week. Let's hope he had chance to take out car insurance before he went hurtling around in it.

Many hire companies are now offering the use of new generation hybrid cars to reduce the impact on the environment. This will be good news for the people who hire cars to go into the centre of London. The UK government has recently announced a tripling of congestion charges on gas guzzling vehicles for environmental purposes, hopefully discouraging the unnecessary use of this type of vehicle in built up areas.