Renting a car can be a great option if you are traveling to a new city or country for vacation, work or other reasons. This can help you avoid having to deal with traffic and public transportation.
Be sure to check for any additional fees or charges that may apply to your booking. For example, you might need to pay for road tolls or motoring related fines.
1. Book Early
The simplest way to save money on rent a car is to book it in advance. Rental companies have limited fleets and specialized vehicles like SUVs or convertibles can sell out. Booking early ensures you can get the vehicle you want and avoids expensive add-ons like insurance.
Another reason to book early is that prices are notoriously volatile and can change a lot in the weeks leading up to your trip. If you don’t pay in advance, you can still keep track of rates (or use a tool like Autoslash) and cancel and rebook at the lowest price.
If you’re renting during a peak season in a popular tourist destination, it’s even better to book six or twelve months in advance. Just be sure to double check that you can cancel for free, in case rates go down at the last minute.
2. Look for Discounts
As the car rental shortage continues, companies are trying to milk their customers with discounts. Many of these codes are a bit hidden but it is worth looking at your memberships to find them (AARP, AAA, etc).
Aggregator sites like Kayak and Priceline can be great for quickly showing you some cheap options, but always check the rates on the actual rental company’s site before you book. These aggregators often charge extra for booking through them and can even include "junk fees" like GPS or satellite radio.
You can also use a service like AutoSlash which uses a large database of coupon codes, one-way rentals, and flexible cancellation policies to locate the best deal. It’s free to join and can save you up to 30% off.
3. Check the Weekly Rate
There’s no rhyme or reason to the duration of car rentals. Sometimes it’s cheaper to rent for a week rather than just the days you need it. If this is the case, it’s worth calling and asking the owner if they will extend the rental without charging you an early return fee.
Other junk fees to watch out for include renting toll transponders (usually about $5 per day), GPS navigation systems ($8 a day or more) and even vehicle insurance, which is often unnecessary if you have your own auto policy.
Once you’ve done your research and found the best rate, be sure to check in on it at least once a week. That way, if the price drops, you can cancel your original reservation and rebook it for Payday Loans Indiana the new, lower rate.
4. Read the Fine Print
You’ll want to read the terms and conditions carefully before renting a car. A few things that are important to know include:
Some rental companies have strict rules on how many miles you can drive. Others may require a credit card from a certain bank or have specific payment requirements.
Most rental companies will offer extra insurance. However, you should make sure that the coverage offered matches your needs and budget.
Some cards will cover collision damage, but you need to check the fine print to find out how much of the cost you will be responsible for. In addition, the card company will usually void its protection if you breach the contract in a serious way. For example, it may not cover you if you leave the car in a dangerous location.
5. Don’t Get Insurance
If you already have comprehensive and collision coverage on your own car, you can skip the insurance offered by the rental company. However, if you’re on a business trip and depend on your car for your livelihood, it might be worthwhile to purchase supplemental primary coverage from the rental company.
The rental car rep will probably try to sell you extra protection, commonly known as a loss damage waiver. It usually covers the cost of repairing or replacing the rental car if you are at fault for an accident, plus towing and storage fees, impound charges and lost revenue while the vehicle is in the shop.
You can also get secondary insurance through many credit cards. But before agreeing to it, check with your card issuer to ensure that the policy is valid and doesn’t duplicate what your own personal car insurance covers.