If you only need a car to run errands once in a while or take the occasional road trip, getting a rental car would be the best bet. However, it’s quite possible that you may end up paying a lot more than what you initially thought you would when you rent a car. To help you avoid overpaying, we’ve listed some practical tips to save money.
Book in Advance: If you want to ensure you’ll have a car available at a good price, you should book in advance, especially during peak travel seasons. Booking in advance also means that you’ll have plenty of time to compare rates and search for discounts, bringing the total cost down.
Don’t Book at The Airport: Airport rentals are convenient. But, you also pay for this convenience. So, unless you absolutely need a rental car right at the airport, consider taking a cab to the town and booking a rental car from there.
Pay for The Rental Car with Your Credit Card: Most credit cards offer complimentary rental car insurance, provided you pay for the car with your credit card. Given that rental car insurance could be quite expensive, you can easily avoid this expense by charging it to your credit card.
Use Your Memberships to Get a Discount: A number of retailers like Costco have partnerships with rental car agencies. So, you could use your membership to get a discount or other value-added perks for free with your membership. Members of AAA and AARP are also eligible for a number of these discounts.
Look for Bundle Deals: Before you book a rental car, especially if it is to use while on vacation, make sure to check whether you can bundle it with your airfare costs or hotel accommodations for a better price.
Keep a Note of The Cancellation Fees: Many rental car companies may offer you a discount if you prepay for your car. However, they’re also likely to charge cancellation fees if you cancel the car. So, make sure to consider this before making a prepayment.
Look for Dents and Scratches on The Car: Before you drive off the rental car company’s lot, make sure to do a thorough inspection and check for dents and scratches on the car. If you do find any, bring to the attention of someone who works there and take a photograph of it. Doing this will ensure the company doesn’t blame you for the damage when you return the car.