Beep Beep, Top 10 Car Rental Tips
Ready to rent a car for your next trip? Follow these top 10 car rental tips before booking your next car. These tips will help you save money.
Top 10 Car Rental Tips
1. Do you really need transportation?
Planning to stay at a resort? Do you need a car once you get to the resort? It may be better to get transportation to the resort than to rent a car.
2. Rent the vehicle only on the days you need it
If you only plan to drive out of town for a day, only rent the car for the day instead of the entire vacation. If you are staying in the city, you can generally rent a car at hotels for the day rather than at the airport for your entire stay.
3. Rental off the airport property
It is usually much cheaper to rent a car in the city than at the airport. The airport has additional fees that can be avoided by renting a car in the city. Check with hotels in the area and find out where you can pick up a car for the day. If you rent the car at the end of your trip, plan to return it at the airport, avoiding a transportation fee to return to the airport.
4. Rent for a day trip and return after hours.
If you plan to go on a day trip, pick up the car at a hotel in the city. Return the car after hours and avoid the second day rental as long as you return it before they open the next day. Plus, you’ll also avoid paying overnight parking fees. Stop by the car rental department in the morning and pick up your receipt or ask them to email it to you.
5. Look for coupons on the web
Determine which car company you plan to use, then look for coupons and discounts that apply to that rental company. Normally, you just need the code. Once you have it, apply it to your rental car. Weekly car rental coupons can typically save you between $ 25.00 and $ 30.00. That’s a big discount on a weekly car rental.
6. Stay on a Saturday night
Car rentals often discount the rate for a Saturday night stay. Most coupons only work when there is a Saturday night. If you plan to rent a car Sunday through Saturday, you may have a much better deal by renting Saturday through Friday.
7. Rent a smaller vehicle and request a free upgrade
Rent a cheap or compact car and they will often tell you they just upgraded to a larger vehicle. Car rental companies tend to have a glut of larger vehicles and will typically upgrade at no additional cost. Check with them to see if they can offer you a free upgrade.
8. Do not choose to be filled with gasoline
Always choose the option of returning the car full of gasoline. If you choose to have your car rental company fill your gas tank, you will be paying for a full tank, regardless of how much you have used. Most of the time, your tank does not register empty when you stop at the rental vehicle to return it.
9. Check with your insurance company for coverage.
If you already have car insurance, it will probably cover car rental. Check with your car insurance and find out what your car rental coverage is. This could save you quite a bit if you are already covered.
10. Check with your credit card company for coverage.
Most major credit cards offer car rental insurance. Read the fine print as some affirm the reservation and payment must be made with the same credit card.
There are many ways to save money on rentals. Consider renting a car at the beginning or end of your trip, which will allow you to avoid transportation costs to or from the airport. Plan your day trip that requires a vehicle at the beginning or end of your trip, to avoid staying with the car for the entire vacation.