Car Rental Tips to Save You Money. This article aims to inform you about real Rental Car tips that will help you save your money.
Car Rental Tips To Save You Money
It has a deep discussion about what to do and what to not when renting a car. Follow these creative and useful tricks to your benefit!
This Article Will Cover Several Automotive Rental Tips Topics
- Automotive Car Tips To Save Big Money
- Current Rental Industry Status
- Book A Deal When Renting a Car
- Look For Auto Rental Coupon Codes
- Book Flight and Rental Package Deals
- Rent a Car for One Way and Pay Nothing
- Find Rental Loyalty Program
- Use Your Credit Card To Cover Rental Insurance
- Perform a Good Vehicle Inspection
- Compare Rental Companies Rates
- Purchase Gasoline in Advance
- Errors to Avoid When Renting a Car
- Many Car Rental Questions To Consider
- Where To Rent A Car For A Good Price
- Travel For Free Book
Read more about the automotive rental tips that we found while researching for this article below.
- Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Car Tips To Save You Money
Renting a car these days is so common that you’d think the process would be simple and clear.
However, this is far from the case. Travelers often make costly blunders while renting a car. Are there any other policies or auto rental tips that I should consider?
The alternative is to drive your own car instead of renting a car.
Rental Car Tips To Save Big Money
Below you will find car rental tips that will help you save more money the next time you have to rent a car.
- Secure your Booking in Advance
- Reserve The Car For a Longer Duration
- Only Pay For Car Insurance You Need
- Watch Out For (and avoid) Sneaky Fees
- Use a Credit Card That Offers Rental Insurance
- Find Online Rental Car Coupons
Use as many as you can to save as much money as possible.
1. Secure your Car Rental Booking in Advance
Make your reservation for a rental car in advance to ensure that it is available. In this way, your preferred vehicle will be protected, and any last-minute unavailability difficulties will be avoided.
By reserving your desired vehicle in advance, you ensure that it will be ready for you on the date that you have specified. This not only reduces the possibility of the vehicle being unavailable but also ensures that the rental procedure will go smoothly and efficiently.
You will be able to save money in the long run by making reservations in advance, which also gives you the possibility to acquire better rates and opportunities.
Also, booking early in advance can slightly reduce the price of the total cost.
2. Reserve The Car For a Longer Duration
When considering reserving a car for a longer duration, it is essential to plan ahead and ensure availability. Booking in advance increases the likelihood of securing the vehicle for the desired time frame.
Additionally, reserving for an extended period may result in cost savings through discounted rates or special offers. It is important to review the terms and conditions of the rental agreement to understand any potential limitations or requirements associated with longer bookings.
By being proactive and thorough in the reservation process, individuals can secure transportation for their extended needs efficiently and effectively.
Rental car companies often provide prorated refunds for early returns, so booking a few more hours or even an extra day might save you money.
In addition, this is a smart move if you’re not sure how busy the roads will be upon your return or if you want a little more weekend wiggle space.
3. Only Pay For Car Insurance You Need
Getting extra auto insurance, such as loss damage waivers or personal property coverage, is usually offered by automotive rental companies and may cost anywhere from $20 to $40 per day.
There’s a good chance you don’t need this extra insurance if you have your car insurance or belong to AAA but be sure to verify before you forego it all together!
Whether you use your credit card to pay for the rental of your car, you may be eligible for free automotive rental insurance.
4. Watch Out For – Avoid – Sneaky Fees
Before you go, make sure you have enough fuel in your tank to get you to your destination.
If you don’t, you’ll be charged a fortune to fill up. Also, before you drive off the lot, check your car for dings or dents and make sure the inside is spotless and free of any spots or damage of any kind.
If they attempt to charge you for the destruction that was already there when you rented the car, you should have a few photographs of the exterior and interior of the car.
Call the rental agency if you’re running late and inquire whether it’s cheaper to pay late fees or prolong your rental instead.
Tolls, GPS, and car seats may all come with additional expenses.
The more you can carry with you (or use Google Maps to discover a toll-free path into town), the more money you’ll save on little expenses that may add up rapidly.
Read Our Post – Fuel Saving Tips to Save on Fuel While Driving Around
5. Use a Credit Card With Free Car Rental Insurance
Using such a travel credit card to reserve your rental may also help you save money.
In the event of an accident, you won’t have to pay the rental company’s insurance if you pay with a credit card that contains it.
When selecting a credit card, examine the level of coverage provided by the card issuer.
When your primary car insurance policy’s coverage is exhausted, many credit cards provide supplemental car rental insurance as a perk.
If you pay with a card that includes main car insurance, your coverage will begin immediately.
You should be aware of variations between the two before your travel in case anything goes wrong.
When you secure your reservation using a credit card, you’ll be able to earn rewards points.
These points may be used for travel or cash back in the future.
6. Use Online Car Rental Coupons
One good way to save money when you need to rent a car is to find online coupons that will lower the price of your next rental.
These automotive rental coupons are quite easy to find with a simple search.
Search for “[rental auto company name] coupon code” on Google to find any available.
You will find many coupons this way to choose from. Use the ones that work best for you.
Check The Current Car Rental Industry Status
What’s the current status of the rental car industry? When traveling, renting a car is the last thing on your mind, unless when you’re splashing the cash on something fancy like a convertible.
Getting from point A to point B is all most travelers need, so why spend a lot on it? Save a lot of money on your next rental car by using these effective auto rental tips.
You’ve probably heard by now how expensive renting a car can be. Due to the pandemic’s lack of demand in 2020, many businesses will be forced to dispose of their cars.
On the other hand, in 2021 more individuals are traveling now that the vaccination rate is higher. As a result of the escalating demand, rental car rates have shot through the roof.
If you’re going on a vacation and require a car, you may save money by planning around the automotive rental industry and what’s going on around the world.
Continue reading to learn about some of the best car rental tips. Save Money with Powerful Rental Car Hacks!
Book A Deal When Renting a Car
Booking a non-refundable ticket and then discovering a lower cost later puts you in a tough position; renting a car, on the other hand, gives you more flexibility.
Most automotive rental companies let you book a car without paying in advance, so you may amend or cancel your reservation if a better deal becomes available.
You can try Autoslash to get a lower-priced automotive rental.
AutoSlash will handle the comparison shopping for you if you’d prefer not to waste time after you’ve booked your appointment.
You may book directly on the website or enter your current reservation number from the auto rental operator, and AutoSlash will let you know if a lower cost becomes available.
Look For Car Rental Coupon Codes
Be sure to check the business’s website for any coupons before booking your car.
A quick way to find some good coupon codes is to use Google to find them for you.
Search for “[auto rental company name] coupon code” on Google to find any available.
You may save up to 25% to 50% by using coupons found on sites like RetailMeNot they even have a cool browser add-on.
Book Flight and Rental Package Deals
Bundling your car along with your flight or hotel may save you a lot of money.
For example, a flight from New York to San Diego costs $495.30 per person while renting a car costs $267, or $133.50 each way.
Flights and a car cost a total of $628.80 per person when booked individually.
With a flight and rental car package deal, it would cost $461.70 per person to book a flight + car package.
This will make it cheaper than the cost of the airfare alone.
How to Save Money On Fuel?
After you are done with the car you rented, a full tank is expected of you when you return the car.
However, some rental agencies allow you to prepay for gas in advance. This is rarely a good deal.
Instead, use a mobile app like GasBuddy to locate the most cost-effective gas stations in your area and save money on fuel.
To avoid paying astronomical prices, avoid filling up at airport gas stations in favor of one roughly 10 miles away.
Property around an airport is very expensive therefore fuel will cost more.
Rent a Car One Way and Pay Nothing
For this reason, one-way rentals are quite costly since the rental firm must pay the expense of returning the car.
But what if transporting it to its destination is helping the company?
According to transfercarus.com, which offers cars in need of transport from one location to another, you can get a car or camper for dirt cheap—or even free—if you’re prepared to do the traveling.
A good example is a tiny automatic campervan that Transfercar needs to drive from Perth to Broome as soon as possible.
The campervan would be yours to drive for up to eight days at no cost (including rental car insurance) if you wanted to assist in transporting it.
Best Car Rental Loyalty Program
There is a good chance that your favorite rental company has a Rental Car Loyalty program.
By signing up for your preferred company’s loyalty program, you’ll have access to perks like avoiding the rental counter wait and special member-only discounts.
Even if you’re not a regular renter of the company’s cars.
Due to their agreements with airlines and hotels, several schemes allow you to use the points against future flights or hotel stays.
Use Your Credit Card To Cover Rental Car Insurance
Is high-priced rental insurance truly necessary? Maybe that’s not the case.
When you pay for your rental with a credit card, you may be eligible for insurance on the car.
If you do not know what insurance coverage you have, contact your credit card provider or check the fine print on your card agreement.
The other option is to use your regular Car Insurance, depending on what type of car insurance policy you have… It may or may not cover your auto rentals.
Perform a Good Car Rental Vehicle Inspection
During an inspection, take pictures or video of your car.
Take a few photographs or maybe a video of any dents or scrapes on the vehicle you are renting when you’re checking it out for the first time.
A good automotive rental vehicle inspection will save you a ton of money by pointing out any damage in the car before you rent it.
While this isn’t a replacement for alerting a rental business staff member to any problems you see.
This will provide proof in case your rental company attempts to charge you for damage you didn’t create after the event has passed.
Text the images to someone to get a timestamp proving the dents and scrapes were present when the car was rented, rather than taking photographs of them.
You can download a vehicle inspection form. Some even have a form with the car image where you can point out where you see any damage.
Compare Car Rental Rates
The cost of renting your next car will vary greatly by the rental company that you use, the type of car you need, your location, how long you will need it for, and if you can get any discounts.
Do not just go with the cheapest rental car company, you know what they say “You get what you pay for”.
Sometimes, paying just a few dollars extra per day will make a huge difference in the service.
You can do a lot of research online but nothing beats a phone call.
Find out the closest auto rental company near you make a list and give them a call to find out their current rates to rent a car.
The benefit of these automotive rental tips is that you may be able to find local rental car discounts.
Don’t be shy, ask if there are any available when you call.
You can always book your car online later, but getting that first-hand knowledge will save you money in the long run.
Purchase Gasoline in Advance
If you’re worried about missing your flight, purchasing your fuel in advance makes sense.
Every few minutes you spend driving to the airport increases the likelihood that you’ll be late for your flight.
In response to increased airport security, automotive rental agencies have come up with new methods for recharging their cars and making hard sales at the rental counter.
Avoid this scam unless you are quite certain that you will restore the tank to its original state or unless you have an early morning trip when not having to fill it would be worth the money.
Even if you pay for the fuel you use, the odds are heavily in favor of the rental agency since having them replenish your car will almost always be more expensive than doing it yourself.
Errors to Avoid When Renting a Car
To avoid being slapped with major obstacles when renting your next car.
Here are some more rental car tips that will save you money in the long run.
Avoid making the following rental car errors
- Not Fueling a Car Before You Return It
- Make Sure of Your Insurance Coverage
- Your Credit Card Will Cover the Rest of the Cost
- Watch Out For REntal Loss of Value
- Inspect Auto Rental Before and After Use
- Letting Things Go to Chance in the Final Inspection
- Auto Rental Around The World
Read on for more information on these automotive rental tips errors.
1. Not Fueling a Car Before You Return It
On your way out of the rental car office location make sure you note the closest gas station.
As you leave the airport or rental agency, make a mental note of the nearby gas stations and plan to return to the easiest one to reach or offer the greatest value after your rental period.
You don’t want to be driving around in circles seeking a gas station as your flight time approaches since the communities near airports might be confusing and foreign to you.
2. Make Sure of Your Insurance Coverage
Before taking anything at face value, it’s important to remember that car insurance coverage may vary widely, so you should double-check with your provider before making a final decision.
Your basic insurance policy may or may not cover the cost is you need to rent a car. If you have “full coverage,” as insurance firms refer to it, the cost to rent a car will most likely be covered.
To learn more, contact your insurance provider by phone or email.
If you have coverage for your primary automobile, that coverage often applies to the car you are going to rent as well since the rental is seen as a replacement car for your insurance policy.
Therefore, if you have full coverage on your car, you’ll also be covered if you hire a car from a third party.
Most plans will cover you if you hire a “better” or more valuable car than the one you insure at home.
Therefore you don’t have to be concerned if you obtain an upgrade or rent a much nicer car.
However, remember that if you have to file a claim on your insurance policy due to an accident in the car you rented, your premiums will likely go up.
3. Your Credit Card Will Cover the Rest of the Cost
If your car insurance doesn’t cover anything, your credit card most likely will.
Credit card coverage may be as good as or better than car insurance in certain circumstances.
In contrast, it is only supplemental coverage to assist with expenses not covered by motor insurance in others.
You must use that card to pay for the car you rent since merely holding a credit card that qualifies does not provide you any security against identity theft.
4. Watch Out For Car Rental Loss of Value
Ignoring One Potential Problem in Car Insurance for “Loss of Value”.
Damaged rental cars are subject to “loss of use” costs, representing the income that might be lost while the car is being repaired.
This may cost up to a day’s worth of auto rental fees, and most car insurance policies do not cover it.
However, many credit cards do; American Express, MasterCard, and Visa provide “loss of use” coverage with rental payments made with certain of their cards.
American Express. It’s best to double-check the terms and conditions before making a purchase.
5. Inspect Car Rental Before and After Use
Before you drive away with your car, make sure you examine it thoroughly both inside and out for anything that can be deemed damaged.
Make a thorough inspection for damage such as scratches, scuffs, and missing or broken pieces, as well as functional power windows & mirrors.
A brief tour around the car checking for scratches and imperfections may lead you to believe that any major issues have already been discovered; however, this is not always the case.
Here’s how to be safe: Take pictures or record a video of yourself walking slowly around the car to “kick the tires.”
- Read our post —- Rotating Your Tires To Increase Performance
6. Letting Things Go to Chance in the Final Inspection
Returning a car now resembles checking out at a hotel, with your keycard left on the nightstand and a wave to the front desk as you exit the lobby.
When you return the car, you follow signals to the rear of a line of previously returned cars, remove your belongings, lock the key inside, and walk away without saying anything.
If leaving the car without an agent looking it over makes you nervous, it should; automotive rental company conflicts over damage claims have risen sharply in recent years.
7. Rent A Car Around The World
Most rental agreements in the United States prohibit you from using the car over state lines.
Car insurance in the United States seldom covers overseas rentals, so you’ll want to get insurance from the rental agency when you book your car.
Credit card providers may assist you in this situation since they often provide coverage for a wide range of overseas locations.
Companies, where you can rent a car and destinations outside the United States, have different restrictions on border crossing.
Some countries allow you to drive if you notify them ahead of time or pay an additional cost.
Many Car Rental Questions To Consider
There are many rental car questions to consider when you realize that you will need to rent a car in the near future.
- Will The Rental Car Company Pick Me Up?
- What are The Requirements for Renting a Car?
- Types of Payment Accepted When Renting a Car?
- Is a Deposit Required To Rent a Car?
- Can I Add An Extra Driver?
- Can I Change My Automotive Rental Reservation?
These are typical issues that people have while renting a ca and I’m sure that there are many more car rental questions.
There are a few things you really don’t have to — or even want to — do when renting a car. Renting a car doesn’t have to be expensive.
You only need to know all the solutions for obstacles when going for an auto rental task.
The GOOD NEWS is that this article is chock full of auto rental tips that will help you along the way to rent your car.
Will The Car Rental Company Pick Me Up?
From my personal experience, this will depend on the rental company and your location.
I rented a car once a month from Hertz. It was the nearest car rental near me at the time and they would pick me up and drop me off.
Now Budget at the airport would not pick me up. Even though the airport was very nearby.
So if this is something that you would need please call the rental car company to make sure.
Mind you I was a regular at Hertz around that time as I had to rent that car once a month for almost 2 years.
What are The Requirements for Renting a Car in the US and Canada?
Renting a car in the US and Canada has some very basic requirements.
Make sure you call, email, and contact the rental company to make sure what is required. It will save some hassle later on.
Every rental company has different requirements and rules. The ones listed here are what work in my area.
- You must be at least 25 years old. A younger driver would have to pay an extra fee. This fee will depend on the location where you are renting the car
- A Valid Diver License would definitely be needed
- Car Insurance. If you do not have any you will have to buy the one provided by the auto rental company
- A Way To Pay For The Rental. The most common is a Credit Card to secure the auto rental. From personal experience, a debit card may or may not work. So ask to make sure
What Types of Payment Are Accepted When Renting a Car?
Amazingly enough, when researching this article topic I found out that there are several ways to pay for your auto rental.
All the types of payments listed below will be accepted depending on your location and the rental company.
So please do take the time to ask to make sure what the auto rental agency will accept.
- Credit Cards – Credit cards are the most common form of payment. VISA®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover Network® (Not in Canada), JCP (Japan Credit Bureau)
- Debit Cards – Debit cards may or may not be accepted depending on the rental car company and/or location
- Checks – I have yet to find a rental company that will take a check. I have heard of locations that will but it sounds like that is very rare
- Gift Cards – Here is another one that I have never heard about. Some rental car companies will accept some gift cards. I think is the ones that have to Visa or Mastercard logo.
- Cash – Cash is accepted at some auto rental agencies, but they may still require you to put a credit card on file. Just in case of any damage or any additional fees. Or they may require a cash deposit that will be returned to you after the rental
Is a Car Rental Deposit Required?
If you use a credit card that is basically the deposit for the car.
Any extra charges that you do not cover will be charged to your credit card.
Now if you pay with cash, debit card, check, or gift cards you will most likely have to put down a deposit.
Again this will vary depending on your location.
Can I Add An Extra Driver to My Car Rental Agreement?
Yes, you can add an additional driver.
Unfortunately, in most rental car companies you will have to pay an additional fee.
How much will it cost to add another driver?
Well, that will depend on what is allowed to be charged in your city, county, state, or country.
Can I Change My Automotive Rental Reservation?
As I wrote before in this article there was a time when I was renting a car at least once a month.
I would book the reservation on the first of the month and throughout the month, and the scheduled rental day would change.
I would simply call the rental agency and they would gladly update the date.
Basically, you can change the car reservation, a few weeks and perhaps days in advance.
Having said all that read the terms of the agreement or simply just ask the rental agent.
It also works about the same if you wish to cancel the reservation.
Where To Rent A Car For A Good Price
Looking to rent a car for a good price? Start by comparing rates from multiple rental companies online. Utilize price comparison websites or directly visit the websites of major car rental companies.
Consider renting from off-airport locations for potentially lower rates. Signing up for loyalty programs or using discount codes can also result in savings. Additionally, booking in advance and being flexible with your pickup and drop-off times can lead to lower prices.
Keep an eye out for special promotions or deals that rental companies may be offering. Be sure to thoroughly read the terms and conditions before making a reservation to fully understand the total cost and any potential fees.
Travel For Free Book
While I was researching this topic I came across this book. TRAVEL for FREE: How to score FREE Flights, Rental Cars, and accommodations, Get paid to Travel and start a DIGITAL NOMAD Lifestyle from anywhere!
This book, published on April 20, 2017, provides practical tips on scoring free flights, rental cars, and accommodations. It also offers insights on reducing airfares and getting paid to travel.
If you want to become a digital nomad and travel anywhere in the world, this book is a valuable resource for achieving that goal.
Currently, the book is available in Kindle and Paperback formats.
The author has lived the Digital Nomad lifestyle for several years and is currently traveling through Africa and Australia.
She is successfully running several online businesses – including a publishing company with several #1 Bestsellers – while traveling the world and living the life of her dreams.
We Hope You Liked This Car Rental Tips Post
Saving money when renting a car now or in the future might be as simple as following these simple car rental tips.
I hope you enjoyed the reading. Now it’s time to apply all these car rental tips to save you money. Let’s do this. Have a great Journey!
Please let us know which one was your favorite real car rental tip in the comments below.
Check out some of our other Car Tips Posts
- Car Filters to Replace To Keep Car Maintained
- 50+ Frequently Asked Car Battery Questions and Answers
- Easy Detailer DIY Car Interior Cleaning Tips
- 10 Quick Car Care Maintenance Tips
Please let us know which one was your favorite Car Rental Tips To Save You Money in the comments below.
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