Holiday Autos is offering hybrid cars to customers in Europe and has introduced a carbon-offsetting scheme.

Hybrid cars available include Toyota Prius, Ford Focus, Ford Focus C-Max, Volvo S40, Volvo V50 and Saab 9-5. The cars can be bio-ethanol powered or combine an electric motor and a ­petrol engine.

The Carbonwise offsetting scheme will be available on the Holiday Autos website from next month so agents and customers can calculate their carbon footprint.

Holiday Autos managing director Stuart Nassos said the green cars will be a good selling tool for agents.

“Agents can offer customers something unique and they can make more money with the margin increase. It is good news for agents, customers and the environment,” he said.

During the booking process, customers can estimate their emissions using the carbon calculator and choose to ­offset them.

Parent company lastminute.com launched the scheme last year and  more than 15% of customers have ­offset their travel.

Offsetting starts from 14p per 100 miles for a hybrid Ford Focus and 18p per 100 miles for an equivalent petrol car. Prices for a hybrid car start from £23 per day, based on a seven-day ­rental of a Ford Focus in France.

The cars will be available in the UK, Sweden, France and Ireland.