Planning your next trip and need a rental car without breaking the bank? Don’t worry, scoring an affordable rental car is easier than you might think. In this guide, we’ll share simple and effective tips to help you find a cheap rental car for your travels.
1. Don’t Forget About the Fees
When comparing multiple sources, remember to compare rentals with all the fees. Some websites quote the base price without taxes and fees. Other websites mention the total out-the-door price. You have to click on the next step to see the total fees on some websites.
2. Book Economy
Economy cars are the lowest rate available in a car rental. Unfortunately, they are also the most likely to be completely booked. When you complete the booking, you might get an upgrade to a larger vehicle. Free upgrades can be a nice perk. Imagine booking a car that was $40 a day and getting bumped the nicer one that was $60 a day.
3. Consider Alternative Car Classes
Often SUVs are the most expensive option for the same relative specs. For instance, many SUVs might be the same size as a mid-sized sedan or a full-sized vehicle. On the other hand, sometimes, a comparably sized minivan is much more affordable than a full-sized SUV. Getting a comparable vehicle can help you save money, but getting one that is too small for the number of passengers and luggage you will be carrying is a recipe for an uncomfortable trip.
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4. Check Out Turo
Turo is a gig economy app that lets people rent out their vehicles as a side hustle. Turo is kind of like Airbnb for cars. It allows people to rent out their cars directly to people. Often you can get better rates on vehicles through Turo than the major providers. One advantage of Turo is picking the specific car you will be renting.
5. Avoid the Airports
Airports can be convenient if you are flying into the city. However, they are also more expensive than other locations around town. Higher prices are because the airport itself charges a fee to the rental company. The rental company then passes this fee onto the customer.
6. Costco Membership
Some of the best rates I have found are through Costco Travel. Costco has negotiated with the major car rental companies to have discounts on rentals. Costco membership is one of the most accessible group rates to be a part of because Costco membership has so many other benefits.
7. Group Pricing
Costco is not the only group pricing that is available. There are discounts negotiated for employers, AAA, and various professional organizations. One example of a professional organization that has deals is AIA for architects. They have value through Hertz.
8. Consider Ridesharing
Ridesharing is another option instead of renting a vehicle. Ridesharing is cost-saving, especially if you are staying somewhere that has a parking fee in addition to the rental cost. It is a little different to think about traveling using ridesharing vs. having a vehicle at your disposal the whole time.
9. Consider Renting for Only Part of the Trip
Partial trip rental can be a great option if you stay at a resort or in an urban area that charges for parking and has most of the amenities right on the property. However, if you remain in the resort property for most of your vacation and only want to have one or two days of an excursion off the property, why rent a car for the whole week?
10. Get Pricing for Different Days
If you consider renting a car for only part of the trip, you should look into which way will be the cheapest. Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule on whether it will be cheaper to rent during weekdays and weekends or get a discount for an entire week’s rental. These prices vary based on demand and the company’s pricing strategy.
11. Fill Up Your Gas
When you rent a car, they often give you a few options. You can buy a tank full of gas and can return it with any amount of gas in it. That is usually at something similar to the market rate per gallon. Then any gas left in the tank when you return the car is effectively wasted. The other option is they fill up the tank at the end and charge you an inflated price per gallon of gas.
12. Skip the Upgrades
Car rental companies often upcharge you for upgrades like GPS, satellite radio, toll passes, and car seats. You can use the GPS on your phone and play music through your phone on Bluetooth to save money. The toll passes are rarely worth it, though they can sometimes save time.
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If you’ve enjoyed reading our content and are passionate about learning wealth, managing your finances, and achieving financial freedom, we’d love for you to join our community! Click here to follow Invested Wallet for more.