Saturday, March 23, 2024

How To Get Cheap Car Rental

Don't Miss

Top Cities And Places To Visit

How To Rent a Car For Cheap Anywhere In The World! $10 Per Day?
  • Miami: Floridas largest city is one of the most famous beach and party destinations in the U.S., although there is something for every traveler.
  • Orlando: Home to Walt Disney World, Orlando is the world capital of theme parks and a famous family travel destination.
  • Florida Keys: A stunning tropical archipelago of nearly 2,000 islands, Florida Keys is more relaxed than some of Floridas mainland beach destinations.
  • Everglades National Park: This national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to countless wildlife species. If you get lucky, you can even see some of them on one of the many tours you can take.
  • Fort Lauderdale: Sometimes called the Venice of America thanks to its countless canals, Fort Lauderdale is another great beach destination.
  • Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg: Tampa with its Channel District and River Walk is an extremely popular destination both for those coming from Orlando on a short trip and those taking a whole week’s vacation in the area.
  • Jacksonville – While Jacksonville has a large metro area and population, it’s not often thought of as a tourist destination. There are plenty of amazing beaches nearby both in Florida and over the state line in Georgia.
  • Southwest Florida: The Gulf Coast of South West Florida is also an extremely popular destination for its beaches.

Crashes And Car Theft

At the counter: A loss-damage waiver or LDW, also called a collision damage waiver or CDW, gets you off the hook for damage to the rental vehicle or theft of the car. Its technically not insurance but rather a waiver that says the rental car company wont come after you.

Your policy: If you have collision and comprehensive coverage on your own policy, it generally will extend to a rental car as long as youre renting within the U.S. or Canada. However, you will still be responsible for your deductible, and filing a claim on your auto insurance policy could raise your premium.

If you dont have comprehensive and collision on your regular policy, or youre renting in a location where this coverage isnt in effect, youd have to pay for the damage unless you buy the LDW.

Best Credit Cards For Car Rentals

While many , some are better than others. First, we suggest a credit card that offers primary rental car insurance. In the event your rental car is stolen or damaged, primary rental car insurance allows you to file a claim with your credit card company before your personal auto insurance policy. That can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, in the event something happens to your rental. Additionally, certain credit cards offer automatic status with rental car companies as well as additional bonus points on rentals. Here are a few of our top picks.

Recommended Reading: How Long Does It Take To Buy A Car

Tips For Finding Cheap Rental Cars

Renting a car gives you the freedom to explore or get where you need to go on your own timetable. When you have a rental car, youre not subject to someone elses schedule. You wont get stuck waiting around for a ride when youre ready to go.

Unfortunately, renting a car can also be a confusing and frustrating experience. With so many options and hidden fees, you can never be sure youre getting a good deal. The good news is there are ways to ensure youre not overpaying for a car rental.

Finding the cheapest way to rent cars requires some legwork, but the savings are worth it whether youre a frequent renter or you just need a rental car for a short business trip or a weekend rental. Here are our best tips for renting a car cheap:

The Cost Of Joining Aaa

Budget Car Rental Oswego Illinois

AAA membership rates vary based on where you live and the level of coverage, but if youre planning to rent a car with Hertz and are 20 to 24 years old, its almost always worth it to purchase an AAA membership.

When signing up for AAA membership, you can choose coverage plans ranging from the lowest-priced Classic to the most expensive and comprehensive Premier plan . Exact prices vary by location and sometimes the plan names may vary, too.

The Hertz under 25 rental fee costs $19 per day. Now, lets say you got the $50 AAA membership. Youd break even on the AAA membership cost after just three days of a car rental. For a weeklong trip, youd save over $80 after accounting for what you paid for AAA.

Don’t Miss: Will My Car Be Totaled

Basic Tips To Get The Best Rental Car Deals

1. Book ahead

Booking two weeks ahead of time typically has the best deals. Try checking a month in advance and check periodically as the date gets closer.

2. Book on any day

Theres no single best day to book your rental, so you should book on whichever day you see a price you agree with. In our data, Wednesday has the highest median price , but the lowest price is only $3 less.

3. Consider your location

Different states and regions in the US tend to have different prices. Historically, Florida has had the lowest median daily rates, while Alaska has had the highest. Smaller midwestern cities also have higher daily rates, so keep this in mind when comparing prices, especially when deciding on the starting point of a long road trip.

4. Pick up and drop off at the same place

Picking up and dropping off at the same location will always be cheaper than picking up and dropping off at different locations. The median price of picking up at an airport is $35 and picking up in the city center is $33. However, picking up at one and dropping off at another is closer to $65.

5. Consider an upgrade

This one may sound counterintuitive because it goes against getting the absolute lowest price. With that said, the median price of an economy car rental is $31, while the price of an intermediate car rental is $33. Then its only $4 more on average to get a Standard/Full-size car. You could actually get more bang for your buck by upgrading.

6. Fill up your gas tank before you return the car

Use A Peer To Peer Car Rental Service

When people think of car rental, they usually think of a company that owns a fleet of vehicles. Until recently, this was the only way to rent a car. Now, however, a variety of peer to peer car rental companies have emerged as an exciting alternative to traditional car rental.

So what is peer to peer car rental? Instead of renting from a company, you rent the car from an individual. Marketplaces like Turo and Getaround allow car owners to list their vehicles for rent, similar to what Airbnb does for houses.

You can book your rental directly within the app and then pick it up from the owner. Many owners will even deliver the vehicle to you for an extra fee. When youre done with the car, all you have to do is return it to the owner.

This whole process is not only more convenient than a regular car rental its also cheaper in many cases. If youre interested in renting a car with this method, we recommend these two sites:

Recommended Reading: How To Rent Your Car

Book The Smallest Vehicle Youll Need

Think carefully about what type of vehicle you need. Sure it might be tempting to go for the big SUV or the fancy sports car, but always think fuel consumption and the practicalities of your car.

Being comfortable is important so you enjoy your road trip. Dont go small and cheap if you are crammed in like sardines.

Book the lowest class vehicle youll comfortably need, and chances are you might get a free upgrade at the counter, which often happens to us! Just make sure you can afford the increased fuel costs of an upgraded bigger car!

Try A P2p Car Rental Service

Cheapest Rental Cars | Hotwire.com

Peer-to-peer rental services like Turo and Getaround have sprung up to disrupt the car rental business. Unlike traditional car rentals with a fleet of cars, you rent an individuals personal vehicle. The P2P service acts as the middleman, similar to the way Airbnb facilitates lodging rentals.

The booking process is straightforward, convenient, and often cheaper. You can book your rental through a smartphone app and then pick it up from the owner or a willing owner might deliver their car for an additional fee based on their availability. When youre done, you return the car to the owner.

Recommended Reading: What To Do After Replacing Car Battery

How To Find A Cheap Rental Car

It used to be that to get the best deal on a rental car, you had to call around to all the rental car companies to see which would offer the lowest price. Now, thanks to the internet, you can make sure youre spending as little as possible on your car rental in no time by following our simple formula.

Before You Pay For Insurance Check To See If Your Credit Card Covers It

Auto insurance is a pricey add-on that might not be included in the online rate. Rather than paying an additional per-day rate, do your research ahead of time to see if your at-home car insurance or, more likely, your credit card offers rental car insurance.

“Some credit cards offer primary auto insurance on rentals, allowing you to waive the expensive add-on the agency tries to tempt you with at checkout,” said Keyes.

Read Also: How Can I Make My Car Faster

Is There A Fee To Add Additional Drivers To My Trip

There is no fee or additional charge for adding a driver to your trip on Turo. Only the guest who booked the trip can request to add drivers Turo hosts cannot do it for you. We encourage you to request to add authorized drivers before your trip starts, though guests in the US and Canada can request to add a driver while a trip is in progress with no extra charges.

To speed up the process, have your additional driver create a Turo account and get approved to drive before you request to add them. All drivers must have a valid drivers license and meet the age requirements for the car youve booked. You can request to add drivers via the Trips tab in the Turo app without additional driver charges or extra costs.

Compare Weekly And Daily Rates

Car Rental Cheap Priceline at Car Rental

You would assume that the weekly rate would always be cheaper than the daily rate, but this isnt always the case. If youre taking a trip of 3 or 4 days, its sometimes cheaper to book a car for a week and then return it early.

So before you book, check if the weekly rate is cheaper than the daily one. Just be sure to read the rentals fine print to check that you wont get hit with extra charges for returning the car early. And never tell the company that youre planning to return the car early, or they might try to charge you extra.

Don’t Miss: How To Renew Your Car Registration

Always Book The Cheapest Economy Car

Assuming you donât need something bigger for a large family group , youâll get the best price if you book the cheapest car option available. Youâll be prompted many times to upgrade for a feeâdonât do it. In some cases, there wonât be any economy or subcompact cars available when you arrive at the rental counter to pick up your car, so youâll end up with an upgrade anywayâand you wonât have to pay for it. The worst-case scenario is that you end up with an economy car, which really isnât so bad .

> > Read our tips on renting a car without a credit card

Ask About Current Promotions

Businesses frequently run promotions as a marketing tool to get new customers and beat the competition. If you have already gotten to the end of the purchasing process, a car company may not make you aware of any promotions.

. Some promotions might even help you avoid hidden and unclear fees. For instance, you may be able to get a free child booster seat if the right promotion is active.

Don’t Miss: How Can I Find The Value Of My Car

Opt For Economy Cars For The Lowest Price

One of the best ways to get a cheap rental car is to rent the best car for your needs.

Before you book your car, think about the size and type of vehicle you need. Do you really need a large, fancy SUV, or would a sedan work better for the type of trip youre taking? Remember, smaller cars are usually cheaper than big ones.

17. Opt for economy cars for the lowest price

However, if youre going on a long trip and bringing lots of luggage, youll want to make sure you have a trunk that isnt too small. In that case, it might be better to book a larger car.

Another thing to keep in mind is the need for a specialty vehicle. If you visit the Highlands of Iceland, for example, youll probably want to rent a 4×4 so you can safely navigate the terrain. Even if its more expensive, if you need a specialty vehicle to ensure your safety, prioritize your safety over cost.

Rent the vehicle you need for your trip, no more, no less.

Avoid The Age Requirements

HOW TO FIND A RENTAL CAR FOR CHEAP | TRAVEL HACKS & TIPS

If you are under 25, you can be hit with some extra fees that feel a bit discriminatory. Luckily there are some ways you can get around this.

There are several memberships that also allow you to avoid the fees. The AAA membership mentioned above can get you around the fees if you are to choose Hertz for drivers 20-24 years old. For Enterprise customers, a USAA membership will allow you to avoid the under-25 fee for drivers age 18-24.

Try not to book under your name if youre traveling with someone 25+. If there are others in the group over 25 years old, ask them if they would be willing to rent the car in their name. It will be less expensive and end up benefiting everyone if youre all splitting the cost anyway.

Don’t Miss: How Often To Recharge Car Ac

How To Save Money On Your Next Car Rental

When it comes to renting a car, many people think an easy way to save money is to choose the smallest and cheapest car model available, and while this is the truth, there are many other ways that you can save money when renting a car, and in this blog post we will be sharing five of those methods, everything from comparing rates from multiple companies and looking for discounts and coupons to choosing a smaller car and returning the car with a full tank of gas. Keep reading to learn more.

Employee And Alumni Discounts

One of the perks of being hired by a great company is the employee discounts you can receive. And that often includes affordable car rental discounts. Unfortunately, many people forget or simply ignore this as one of the best car rental hacks.

To see if you have available discounts for car rentals, just ask your employer. Typically your HR department will have some information on all of the discounts that are available to you.

There are even some websites, like CorporateShopping.com, that allow you to see the employee deals and discounts by company.

If you are still uncertain if there are any discounts made available by your employer, you can also ask a representative at the car rental company. They will be able to help you explore your discount options.

Likewise, you may also have access to affordable car rentals through an alumni association that you are part of, like your former college or other group membership. Browse online to see what offers are available to you based on schools you attended or other associations you belong to.

Read Also: How Much Does Car Registration Cost In California

Think Critically About The Type Of Car You Need

This may seem obvious, but its helpful to remember when trying to save money on car rentals. Give an honest assessment of your trip, how much room youll need, and how many people will be joining you.

You may be able to get by with an economy car, which can greatly reduce your costs. However, before you reach the rental counter, make up your mind because the agent may try to upsell you.

Youre much better off using one of our tips for a free upgrade than paying for one you dont need. So pack light and save more!

Always Rent And Return To The Same Country

How to Book Cheap Car Rentals in San Diego [2022]

This one could be very costly if it’s not done right.

If you rent a car in one country and drop it off in another country, you will likely have to pay a large fee to have it shipped back to the country you rented it in. Always pick up and return the vehicle in the same country. Make sure to do some research before renting internationally.

Don’t Miss: How Much Does Car Ac Repair Cost

More articles

Popular Articles