Rent a car? Keep your costs down by following these 10 easy tips:
Book with Autoslash. Rental car prices are determined by price increases, which means they are based on supply and demand and rise and fall over time. Do you want to be sure that you are getting the best price? Book through Autoslash and the site will track the price of your car rental until you pick up the vehicle. Every time the price drops, it will inform you and, if you wish, will rebook it at the lowest price. Just sit back and watch the refund emails roll in, probably racking up several price drops before you go up on your rent.
Additionally, Autoslash will apply any eligible discount coupon codes, which can further reduce your cost. Try it once and you will never reserve a rental car in any other way.
Don’t buy more insurance than you need. Rental car insurance baffles you? You can rest easy and avoid overpaying by researching what coverage you may have through your personal auto insurance policy or credit card. However, it’s just as important to know when it makes sense to look for over-the-counter insurance at the car rental agency.
According to a 2017 WalletHub study of credit card rental car coverage, Citi and Chase cards offered the best protection to cardholders who rent cars, while American Express cards offered the worst protection. The bottom line is to know your card policy before you arrive at the car rental counter.
Prepay when you can. You can save a package by prepaying your rental car. And unlike a prepaid hotel room, we’ll give you your money back if you cancel, minus a small processing fee. Always confirm the cancellation policy if you go this route.
Avoid the airport. It’s more convenient to rent from an airport location, but you’ll almost always pay significantly more due to annoying and mandatory airport fees and taxes. If your hotel has a free airport shuttle service, it may make more sense to find a rental location nearby.
Compare weekly and weekend rates Always do the math. In general, per day rates drop when you book for a longer period of time, so it may make sense to book a weekly rate even if you only need one car for six days. If you think you can return your car earlier than expected, find out in advance how it will affect its price. Note that some, but not all, agencies charge early return fees of $ 15 to $ 20.
Keep an eye on the 24-hour clock. Most rental companies count time on a 24-hour clock, with a 30-minute grace period. Let’s say you rent your car at 9:30 am on Thursday and return it on Sunday. Return the car before 10 am and you will be charged for three days. Enter at noon and you will be trapped for an extra day.
Pick up and drop off from the same place. Even if the two locations are a few miles apart, you may be charged a transfer fee if the rental agency needs to drive the car back to its original location. Always ask how returning to a different location could affect your costs.
Make sure you get unlimited miles. Most of the major car rental companies offer unlimited mileage within the same state or country, but always double check before paying your credit card. Many smaller local companies offer a daily mileage allowance, and you are hit with a hefty fine if you pass.
Reject the GPS. Today, car rental companies will offer vehicles equipped with a GPS, which can cost up to an additional $ 20 per day. Just say no and use a free GPS smartphone app like Waze or MapQuest.
Come back with a full tank. In most cases, if you return a car with an empty or partially full tank, you will be charged a premium for the fuel required to refill it.
Many car rental companies now offer the option of buying a full tank of gas when you first take the car, allowing you to return the car with as little fuel as you want. If you opt for this option, it makes sense to return the car empty, as you will not be refunded for unused fuel. While you’ll likely pay a little more per gallon for this option, you may find value in the added convenience.
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