How Should I Find A Cheap Rental Car
Here are some tips on how to save money when renting a car:
Smart Rental Car Alternatives You Might Not Know About
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Depending on whom you ask, we may be in the midst of a rental car apocalypse. Many have opted out of air travel in favor of road trips, making rental cars in far higher demand than what they were not just in 2020, but in the more-normal year of 2019 too.
For many rental car companies, theres simply not enough supply of automobiles to keep up with demand. Thats wreaked havoc on vacationers who have already booked their flights only to find that rental car prices are through the roof .
If you find yourself in a situation where rental cars are sold out or just too expensive, you dont need to put the brakes on your vacation. A number of nontraditional rental car companies have proliferated in recent years. Some operate like the Airbnb of cars, where people rent out their personal cars. Others are operated by related players in the automobile space, like car dealerships.
When youre exhausted by trying to find traditional rental cars, here are some of the biggest rental car alternatives to look into for your next trip.
Do You Need Insurance To Rent A Car
You dont need to have your own auto insurance policy to rent a car. However, rental agencies typically have minimal coverage on their vehicles, so if you get into an accident, you could be responsible for significant expenses.
Other options include buying additional insurance from the rental car company, using a credit card for coverage or getting a standalone policy through a third party.
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How Do Enterprise Plus Points Work
The Enterprise Plus rewards program is straightforward: Each dollar spent equals 1 point, but keep in mind that this does not include fuel, taxes, surcharges and non-qualifying rentals. These points are used to earn free rental days. You can earn a free rental day for as few as 400 points. The required rental points to earn free rental days depends on the dates of travel and automobile used. The average weekly cost of a standard-size car will run $712. Therefore the value of the program will be evident after a few weeks of rentals. Points never expire, and there are no blackout dates.
Dollars spent on taxes and surcharges, vehicle license fees, airport-related fees, insurance costs, fuel purchase option and refueling don’t earn points. “Qualifying dollars” are defined as spending on time and mileage , paid upgrades and additional add-ons.
Look At Renting A Car Away From The Airport
Sure, thereâs no getting around the convenience of picking up a rental car before you even leave the airportâbut thereâs a price to be paid for that convenience. With very few exceptions , renting a car at the airport is nearly always more expensive than renting a car from another location of the same companyâs rental offices. Compare the rental rates and associated fees to see which is cheaper.
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Turn To Discount Brands
Enterprise, Hertz and Budget arent the only outfits in town. Discount brands like Advantage, Payless, Thrifty and Dollar Rental are also vying for your business, often at a lower rate than big-name rental companies.
On a given day, our research showed that the lowest-priced rental from Advantage, Dollar and the like was at least $5 cheaper than the cheapest premium brand rental, depending on the city. That savings multiplies over longer trips.
What You Need To Know About Car Rental Deals
In a general sense, most car rental companies behave in similar ways, offering discounts and promotions for different types of customers. While one car rental company might be better for business travelers, another one could be beneficial to under 25 drivers.
However, there are other money-saving strategies that can help bolster your car rental deal. Thats money saved that you can spend on other parts of your vacation or business trip.
You can get more bang for your buck on rental car deals by signing up for AAA or AARP memberships, if youre eligible. Look for travel loyalty programs offered by airline or hotel brands that help you build up more points. You can then use those points for future trips or other expenses.
Dont forget to review any of your current credit card or travel membership programs to leverage bonus car rental deals. If youre contemplating signing up for a credit card or joining a specific travel program, consider those that offer deals on rentals. Some options even include car rental loss and damage insurance.
Another strategy to get the best car rental deal possible is to avoid any extras the company tries to sell you. Avoid spending money on things like navigation systems, satellite radio, or child safety seats. Use navigational apps and music streaming services on your smartphone or bring your own safety seat, if possible.
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Skip The Insurance If You Can
If you book your rental with a credit card, you will more likely than not be covered in the event of an accidentjust make sure to read the fine print. The same could apply to your usual car insurance policy. Either way, make sure you know the details before you get to the car rental company. Otherwise, the agent will try to sell you additional insurance that you may or may not need.
Best Car Rental Companies In Ireland
When it comes to European dreamed scenes, lovely narrow roads, and sheep there is nothing like traveling to the Republic of Ireland and renting a car to visit as much as we can.
Ireland, with its capital Dublin, as well as other cities, lovely towns, and villages is a country that receives many visitors each year, especially for Saint Patricks Day, but also during the rest of the year, many of which .
When it comes to driving a car in Ireland, some people might be scared of driving to the left of the road or having the steering wheel to the right, which you get used to in no time.
However, choosing a car rental company in Ireland might be the most difficult decision, as there are some stories on overcharges, as well as possible extra fees if wanting to take the chance to also visit Northern Ireland.
Luckily, by being well informed on the best car rental companies in Ireland, you can have a great experience, and have the best drive on the narrow and beautiful Irish roads.
Whether you want to visit Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Westport, Castlebar, Kerry, Donegal, or Galway, we have made a Ranking of the Best Car Rental companies in Ireland in 2022 to help you choose your next car rental booking, which, by the way, you can do easily and at the best price on this website.
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How Does Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Work
Every dollar spent equals 1 point. The major benefit of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is that you’ll earn points even on taxes, fees and other surcharges, whereas other programs only allow you to earn points on the base rental cost. Like Enterprise, these points generate for free rental days. One free rental day starts at 750 points. However, the definition of a “qualifying dollar” is wider. Therefore you can earn points on spending that includes fuel purchases, upgrades and insurance coverage options. Finally, points expire after 18 months of no activity.
Best Car Rental Coupon Codes
The following is a list of car rental codes that I’ve personally vetted. Each one of them offer a certain amount of discount and I’ve put them into an organized table to allow you to quickly navigate between car rental company which code works the best for you. It’s been updated in 2021 to make sure they’re the most up to date and valid to get the best cheap car rentals.
Are you a first timer here? This is a pretty exhaustive post so I know it’ll feel pretty overwhelming if it’s your first time here. Take your time to go through it. If you’re in an absolute rush, jump straight down to my picks for the best codes for each company. Lastly, if you have a specific affinity to a car rental company, make sure to look out for the articles that focus on car rental promo codes by company.
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Are Some Days Cheaper Than Others For Picking Up A Vehicle
Weekend pick-ups tend to be slightly cheaper, with Monday and Tuesday pick-ups usually slightly more expensive. Compare airport pick-ups versus locations in the city, even factoring a taxi to these locations. Some cities will always be cheaper at the airport, while others will see the complete opposite.
Disclaimer On Using Car Rental Corporate Codes
There’s inherent risk in using car rental coupon codes that belong to companies you don’t work for.
Corporate discount codes are generated for employees to use and by using them as a non-employee, you expose yourself to some risk. Here’s what could happen:
- They ask for your ID and you don’t have one They could cancel your reservation which leaves you to make a new reservation on the spot which will be many times more expensive.
- They discover fraudulent use of a code during your rental Since you haven’t returned the car and they haven’t billed you yet, they could revoke the code which means paying regular price.
- You get into an accident and your code includes insurance coverage Whether it’s LDW, CDW or something else, if they find out during the claim process that you’re not an employee, they could null all coverage.
- You get into an accident and you leverage your own insurance There’s no proof of this but in theory your own insurance company could null coverage if they find out your use of a corporate code.
Simply put, you should know what you’re getting into when using one of these corporate coupon codes. Whether it’s ethics or risk, you need to make a calculated decision and be okay with the outcome. If you’re not comfortable using corporate codes, look for promotion codes that aren’t tied to a company and you won’t expose yourself to any risk.
LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL DEALS?
Make sure you head to the travel deal portal.Take me to the deals
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Car Rental Hacks Helping You Reach Your Destination
Whether youre planning a road trip or need a vehicle on vacation, its worth taking the time to see what deal and discount options you have. What you save on a car rental might even be enough to allow you splurge on a nice meal or hotel room upgrade during your getaway. When you search for rental cars on Skyscanner, our flexible booking filter lets you view offers that allow for free cancellation.
As always, we encourage you to check local government guidelines before booking so you can stay safe while traveling.
Weekly Car Rental Faq’s
What is considered a weekly car rental? Car rental companies generally offer weekly rates for 5 day or longer rentals. Some agencies use 4 days and 1 hour for weekly rental rates.
Are there weekly car rental discounts and weekly car rental coupons and how do I use them? We will find and automatically apply weekly discounts and coupons in our booking engine to help you get the best price.Use CarRentalSavers.com/Weekly to automatically apply weekly car rental coupons and discounts to your booking.
Why use CarRentalSavers.com for your weekly car rental? We are the car rental specialists and only do car rentals. We compare multiple rental companies and built in discounts and coupons. Most reservations can be cancelled online with no cost.
How much does it cost to rent a car for a week? With the current rental car shortage we have seen an increase in weekly rates. Get a Total Price quote for your times and dates.
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Save time on your next car rental with Online Check In – check out the options from each agency! |
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Popular Questions About Renting A Car In Europe
Can an American rent a car in Europe?
Of course! In most European countries all Americans need is a valid US driver’s license and passport to rent a car in Europe. Be aware though, there are popular travel destinations that require driver’s from the United States to acquire and International Driving Permit, Italy is one of these countries! IDP’s are fairly cheap and can be acquired online before your trip or at a local AAA branch. Contact Auto Europe for more information on your European car rental.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Europe?
To rent a car in Europe drivers must be at least 21 years old . Some car rental suppliers will have rental options for drivers over the age of 18 and looking to rent a car in Europe. Additionally, any driver hoping to rent a car under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge in addition to the daily rate.
Do I need extra insurance when renting a car in Europe?
Find more information from Auto Europe on car rental insurance in Europe.
How much is a rental car per day in Europe?
What Are The Other Benefits Of The Program
Many car rental programs offer unique benefits to their most loyal members.
Avis Chairman’s Club members qualify for valet service and complimentary car delivery, while Hertz’s Five Star and President’s Circle members qualify for expedited vehicle pickup and no stopping at the counter at over 50 airport locations.
Prime perks like these make it well worth sticking with one program if you frequently rent cars.
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Price Out Prepaid Gas
Use a site like GasBuddy to scope out nearby gas stations and current fuel prices so you can compare against the prepaid price offered by the rental car company.
Factor in how likely it is you will have a near-empty tank upon your return. On a short day or weekend trip, you may just need to top off your tank before returning the car. Longer trips may allow you to roll in on fumes and save a few dollars as you do so.
Check Alternate Rental Locations
Large rental companies like Hertz and Enterprise have locations at major airports and cities for example, here in New York City, Hertz has over 15 locations. Make sure to compare prices at all nearby locations to find the best possible deal.
Sometimes you may be able to save money on airport pickup taxes and fees by renting in town. More often than not, these savings carry over to rentals where you pick up in town and drop off at the airport, too.
There are a couple of downsides to renting in town, though. The main one is that in-town locations generally have a smaller selection of cars. This can be disappointing if the vehicle you want is unavailable due to limited inventory and may limit your upgrade options.
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How Much Does A Car Rental Cost
The cost of renting a car varies greatly and depends on several factors including the company, the make and model of the car, your insurance coverage, driver age, and whether or not you register an additional driver. However, average daily rates for the companies listed in the article range from around $30 to $60 per day.
Best Car Rental Coupon Codes In 2021 To Save You Money
This article may contain affiliate links where we make a small commission for purchases you make from links that you click from this article. For more details, read the disclosure page.
You probably don’t want to hear this but car rental companies have been milking you for years. The industry secret in travel is that the listed rates are grossly inflated. This is where discount codes come into play which can come in the form of official ones and corporate ones.
Over the years, I’ve been keeping my own list of codes that I’ve used that worked and this has ended up expanding to a large collection. If you’re looking for a deep discount, look no further, these are seriously the best car rental coupon codes organized in one spot.
If you love deals you should read these
Where do I get the best deals on hotels?
- For the best prices on hotels and flexibility, I’ve been a huge fan of Booking.com. With their Genius program, which most people don’t know about, I can get instant savings of 15% with many properties in their inventory. They also sporadically send out coupon codes to their members which is pretty sweet.
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