How to Save Money on Rental Cars
If you're going on a trip by air, chances are you're going to need to rent a car. Car rental prices can really add up over time if you travel a lot and you're not careful.
Fortunately, there are numerous things you can do if you're wondering how to save money on rental cars. The next time you need to rent a car, you should put the following money saving tips to use.
1. Bring Any Extras You Need Rather Than Renting Them
One easy way to unnecessarily increase car rental costs is to pay for extras. Car rental companies will typically rent you extra equipment including GPS devices or child car seats. However, you'll pay the price for getting equipment like this through the rental company. Rental companies typically charge a great deal for these add-on amenities. That's why you need to supply such equipment yourself.
Strip you car rental down to the bare minimum. Just rent the car and pack along any other equipment you need. This way, you'll avoid unnecessary expense while still getting the convenient transportation you need.
2. Compare Prices On the Web
Prices vary significantly between different car rental companies. There is no one car rental company that charges less in every situation. A particular rental company might offer low prices at one destination and high prices in another. This makes it important to shop around and compare prices before you rent.
These days, it's easy to use a comparison site online to find the cheapest car rental available. Taking the time to compare prices on the Web can really go a long way in saving you money. Make sure you comparison shop each and every time you rent. Make note of it when you find a good deal so you can potentially take advantage of the same deal next time you're in town.
3. Rent In Town Rather Than At the Airport
In a lot of destinations, renting at the airport is a bad idea. You are likely to pay more at the airport than you would if you rented from a location in town. That's because a lot of car rental companies will add on surcharges if you rent at the airport.
It's not that hard to take a cab or public transportation to a rental location that's some distance from the airport. Make sure you always compare costs between airport locations and locations in town to minimize rental costs.
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4. Consider Buying Package Deals When Traveling
You might be able to enjoy a discounted rental cost through a package deal. Some companies can bundle together a travel package including airfare, hotel costs, and vehicle rental costs. These package deals can sometimes offer a great deal of value. Always do some research on travel packages when you're planning out a trip. You might be surprised at how much you save and how much more simple travel planning is when you take advantage of package deals.
5. Get Insurance Coverage Through Your Credit Card
It's essential that you have insurance coverage on your car rental.
However, it's important to realize that you don't necessarily have to buy insurance from the rental company. In fact, this is often the most expensive way to insure your rental.
Instead, you should look into whether your credit card company offers insurance coverage for rental cars. You might be surprised to learn that many credit cards offers this valuable perk. Look into it so you don't have to avoid unnecessary insurance expenses when you travel.
6. Do Business With Discount Car Rental Companies
There is a lot of competition in the car rental business these days. Although a few small companies such as Hertz and Enterprise used to monopolize the industry, this is no longer the case. There are a lot of smaller car rental companies that can offer significantly lower prices. Therefore, you should consider discount companies if you're wondering how to save money on car rentals. You might be surprised at how much more affordable it is to rent with a smaller, local car rental company.
7. Avoid Booking Your Rental Car At the Last Minute
You can expect to pay more on your car rental if you book it last minute. On the other hand, you can expect to enjoy considerable savings if you plan things out in advance.
Planning your car rental in advance doesn't just lead to lower prices. It also leads to more certainty that a vehicle will be available for you when you need it. Some car rental companies can become completely booked at certain times of the year. You don't want to be left stranded without any transportation, so it's important to plan ahead.
8. Take Photographs At the Beginning Of Your Rental
One of the worst things that can happen when you rent a vehicle is that you could be held liable for damage to the vehicle. Unfortunately, you might not have much of a defense when this happens if you don't take pictures at the beginning of your rental. You should always take pictures of a vehicle at the beginning of your rental period.
This is especially true if you notice damage to the vehicle that you don't want to be blamed for when you return the vehicle. With photographic proof, you can avoid being held liable for damages you didn't cause.
9. Don't Use Any Electronic Toll Collection Devices
You should know that those who rent a car are often charged added fees if they use an electronic toll collection device. Instead of using such a device when you rent, you should pay all tolls in cash. This is the only way you can be sure that you're not being charged extra.
Before you rent a vehicle, always make sure you have some cash in the vehicle for tolls. It may be convenient to use an electronic toll collection device. However, you don't want to end up feeling ripped off if the rental company overcharges you.
10. Take Advantage Of Membership Discounts
Car rental companies sometimes have partnerships with certain retailers such as Costco. If you have a membership with a store like Costco or an organization such as AAA, you could be eligible for car rental discounts. It's important to research all of your memberships so that you're aware of discounts. Discounts such as these can be considerable in some situations. You could end up slashing car rental costs if you have a membership that includes car rental discounts
If you pay for a membership, you want to get your money's worth out of the expense. Therefore, don't miss out on membership discounts the next time you travel and rent a vehicle.
Finally,
These are all great ways to save money. Now that you know how to save money on rental cars, it's time to stop paying too much. Saving money on travel means you can go on more trips in the future. If you're traveling for business, saving money increases your profits.
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