9 Car Rental Tricks to Save You Money
Travel and money experts share their top tips for cutting costs when renting a car. This information will come in handy both in our country and in other countries.
Renting a car is a fairly routine aspect of traveling, but in recent years the costs associated with rental cars seem to have ballooned beyond the ordinary.
"Rental car prices can skyrocket at peak travel times and in popular destinations where demand is up and stocks are low," says budget expert Andrea Woroch. "However, other factors such as insurance costs, extra services such as adding a second driver, taxes and duties can also drive up the price. Not to mention that car rental companies keep prices high to offset maintenance, depreciation and other operating costs."
While rental cars can be expensive, there are ways to cut costs. Below, Woroch and other experts share their tricks for getting a better deal.
Rent away from the airport.
Location matters, as airports charge rental car companies to operate off-airport, resulting in higher costs for renters. You can save money by opting for a rental car company located off-airport.
Even if you have to go a little out of your way, you can potentially find better deals by booking from an off-airport location.
Demand is at its highest at airport car rental agencies, which reduces availability and choice while raising prices, especially during popular travel times such as winter holidays, spring break and summer," he said. "Consider renting a car on the way to your final destination or near your hotel.
Earn cash back.
"When you book a car rental online, always click on a cash back portal like CouponCabin.com to get cash back on the booking," said Worth. "You might even find a coupon code that will give you a discount on your rental."
Worth pointed to current deals such as up to 11% cashback at RentalCars.com.
"Considering you're spending hundreds of dollars on a car rental, or maybe more than $1,000, that cash back will add up quickly, and that's on top of anything you earn with your credit card," Woroch added.
Take advantage of credit card benefits.
"When paying for your rental, pay attention to which credit card can help you save the most on your rental car reservation," Woroch said. "Some cards come with free collision damage waiver insurance, which will save you between $10 and $30 per day to cover your rental for the amount charged by rental car companies."
Other potential credit card benefits include free upgraded status with certain rental car companies, which can allow you to skip long lines at the counter. You can also get travel credits, special discounts and bonus rewards.
Woroch recommended checking out the best credit cards for car rental to choose the card that will maximize your car rental and other travel experiences.
Pass on Add-ons.
"From car seats to GPS systems and satellite radio, car rental companies offer such add-ons to make your trip more enjoyable and convenient, but be prepared for high costs as each add-on can cost you $10 or more per day," Woroch said.
Woroch emphasized that you can easily skip most of these add-ons.
"For one, families traveling with young children can check out car seats on the plane for free, so there's no need to pay for a rental," he explained. "Navigation systems are also pretty pointless as you can use your phone's GPS. You can also enjoy free music streaming from Pandora or your music library by connecting your phone via Bluetooth."
Bundle rentals
"You can get cheaper rates if you bundle your car rental with a hotel or flight booking," Sokunbi said. "Many travel sites offer a significant discount on car rental if you book this way."
"You can find vacation packages at a significant savings through Costco or book a hotel that includes car rental," Woroch said.
Compare prices and vehicles.
"While loyalty to a car rental brand can offer valuable rewards through loyalty programs, those looking to get the cheapest price should compare prices across all car rental companies," Woroch said. Third-party sites like CarRentals.com can show you options from different companies at your preferred pickup location. "Remember to compare all rental car and truck options," he explained. "You can't always get the cheapest price on an Economy class vehicle depending on demand. In fact, in the past I have gotten a cheaper price by choosing an SUV." Claire Summers, the travel blogger behind Claire's Itchy Feet, said she takes advantage of great deals from small local rental companies. "I found them much cheaper and the service much better," she said. "They almost always have free airport pickup services so you are picked up at the airport and taken to their office to pick up your car." Consider shopping around and being flexible with rental companies and vehicles. Flexibility with timing can also come in handy. "If you can be flexible about the dates you pick up or drop off your car, you can avoid high prices on peak travel dates," said Moyse. "For example, starting your trip on a weekday instead of a weekend."
Book in advance.
"Booking rental cars early is always the No. 1 rule," said Moyse. "You can avoid price spikes by booking before availability becomes limited."
Moyse noted that according to TripIt data, most people book their trips about 2-3 months in advance, but almost a third still book their trips 4-6 months in advance.
"If you know your travel plans far enough in advance, you can join the small number of people who book more than six months in advance and can choose their preferred options," Moyse added.
Don't prepay for fuel.
"I would say the No. 1 mistake people make is not filling the rental car's tank with gasoline before returning the vehicle," Sokunbi said. "Car rental companies usually require you to return the rental car with as much gasoline as you dropped off. Otherwise, they will charge you a much higher fee for gasoline than if you filled the car yourself."
Avoid paying a premium for gasoline by taking a little extra time to refuel before dropping off the car.
Reconsider the rental.
"Consider the length of the rental - do you really need to rent a car for your entire trip or can you just rent it for a few days?" "Otherwise, if you're going to a city, you can avoid the added costs of having a rental car, such as hotel parking fees, by using public transportation and walking."
For example, if you're going to a beach house and plan to stay there most of the time, she suggests using Instacart for grocery deliveries and taking a taxi for a meal or two out. "Travel can be an enlightening experience, but as the impacts of climate change become more apparent, many people are rethinking how they travel," said Moyse. "Travelers can give their rental car a break by opting for trains, bikes or walking to get to their destination. This eliminates carbon emissions from personal or local transportation and is a great way to experience a destination."
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