If you are planning a road trip, whether it’s for you alone, or one with family, or friends, you might want to consider renting a vehicle. Lots of people might prefer to take their own car, but if you want to save your mileage, or your car isn’t big enough renting is the way to go. Here is a list of ways you can get a good deal on renting a car.
1. Avoid Airports
Regardless of whether you’re flying or not, airports are often the easiest place to get a car as well as have the best selection of rental car services in an area. This, however, doesn’t mean that you need to pick up or drop off a vehicle from one of them. Many car rental agencies charge an additional fee at airport locations that they call their “customer facility charge.” Although this is not necessarily a large amount of money it is an annoying additional cost per day.
Another way to save money is to drop your car off at the same agency and location you picked it up from. So keep this in mind and try to start and end your trip and rental in the same location. If you can’t you need to budget for the additional fee dropping the car off in a different agency to where you collected it.
2. Do a Comparison
Before you settle on an option, you need to make sure that you’ve shopped around sufficiently. Look for sites that can aggregate prices across companies to find the best deal for you. Once you find an option that suits your budget and timeline, you should check the car rental agency’s website to see if their price matches, or if you can get it even cheaper from them.
3. Check the Details
Once you’ve done the comparison check, you need to check the car details. Car categories can be confusing with options that include economy, compact, intermediate, standard, full-size, premium, luxury, small SUV, large SUV, extra capacity SUV, just about the same sort of categories for vans, and many, many more options, not to mention RVs. When choosing the right vehicle for your needs, you need to pay attention to these categories and understand the specifics of each category.
Different categories will dictate how much luggage, and how many people it can carry comfortably, as well as additional features and if it’s automatic or standard transmission.
When you don’t pay attention to these details, you could end up in a car that you can’t drive or is completely wrong for the number of passengers you need to transport and their belongings.
Also, pay attention to the rates. The average RV rental price and price of renting a car fluctuates during the peak season. You typically pay a daily rate for your vehicle and the bigger the vehicle, the more expensive it is. You will also likely be charged per mile you drive, so try to look for a package that includes a certain number of miles per day. A pro tip is to have an idea of how far you want to travel for your trip so that the rental company can give you the best package for your needs.
4. Take Advantage of Bonuses and Discounts Through Partnerships
Vehicle rental agencies partner with all kinds of companies, such as hotels, airline, and even credit card issuers which allow their loyalty program members to enjoy bonuses as well as other deals.
Take a look at whether you have points with your hotel, or if you have airline miles that can be converted and work with some car rental agencies.
5. Make Sure That You’re Insured
Insurance for rental cars is one of the most confusing, expensive, and potentially even stressful components of the rental experience. If you have your own home or car and auto insurance, it might have benefits that extend to cover your car rentals. Look at your policies to see whether your package carries this perk and what is and isn’t included.
Secondary Car Rental Insurance
This covers things like damage and even theft to a certain degree. It only kicks in after any other applicable insurance has been used up.
Primary Car Rental Insurance
This means that you don’t have to buy an overpriced policy from the rental company or worry about your personal insurance when you encounter a hiccup. Some cards even reimburse any damages due to theft or collisions up to the value of the rental vehicle.
6. Roadside Assistance
Check to see if your credit card offers roadside assistance. It can be super handy if you need a tow, or if you get a flat.
7. Get a Status Update
If you have a premium travel credit card, you might be eligible for complimentary elite status with a rental agency. Elite status offers you discounted rates on full-size and premium vehicles, guaranteed upgrades, offers a faster way to earn free rental days, and comes with a dedicated customer service line. This gets you a better car at the same price as a lower package you might have been eyeing.
8. Bring Your Own Extras
Car rental agencies try to overcharge and upsell you on all the additional bits and bobs. They try to convince you that you need everything from a car seat, if you’re traveling with kids, to a navigation system, which adds up quickly. You can bring your own devices and additions and really should. It saves you time and money, as you do not need to pay for something you already have and don’t have to waste time on figuring something new out while you’re on the road.
9. Take Photos and Thoroughly Inspect the Vehicle Before You Leave with It
You’ve gone to the rental agency, confirmed all the details, and have the keys in hand. Often an agent will do a walk-around with you, but make sure that you are not dismissive of this final step. Take note of any dents, scratches, and any other damages. Check for tiny cracks in the windshield and don’t hesitate to point out anything you see that they have not noted down. You can even take a video in the lot before you leave. This means that you are more likely to get your full deposit back, saving you money.
Renting a car can be time-consuming and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be as overly complicated as it is made out to be. These few lesser-known tips will help you have money and get the best deal at the end of the day.