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I am loving all these great reader questions! Today I want to cover how to save money when renting a car. I’m actually learning a lot doing some of this research, so just keep those questions coming.
Lynn Asked… “I live in a small town in AL and want to rent a car to visit some friends One lives in Huston TX, and One lives in Key west. Do you have any ideas for me to save some money on renting car .
When renting a car there are a few key things that you want to keep in mind.
- How long do you need to rent the car for
- How far are you traveling
- What size car do you need
Knowing these three things can help you determine where you can sacrifice to save a little money. I also recommend signing up for daily deal updates from companies such as Hotwire to keep up with the best travel dates.
Here are a few great tips on renting cars so that hopefully you can get the best deal for the least amount of money.
Do Your Research! Just like with anything else, getting the best price when booking a rental car requires you to know what your options are. Check out multiple companies and possibly even multiple areas. You may find a better price by booking at an Airport due to the fact that there is typically a larger inventory at these locations, however in some cases dropping off your car at an alternate location may be best.
I suggest making a map and time line of where you will be and when you need your rental car. Then check multiple dates and locations on a site like RentalCars.com to find the best deal.
Book Ahead and Keep Looking! You may want to book your rental car ahead of time and then keep searching for a lower price. Just make sure you know when your last opportunity to cancel is before you will be charged a penalty.
Try using a service like Priceline.com or RentalCars.com and Under Bidding at the last possible time to get a better deal than what you already have reserved. Typically sites like Priceline are being used by companies to fill up excess inventory so you’re going to most likely get a better price the closer you get to your booking date.
Be Creative in your Search! There are several non-traditional rental methods that you may want to consider. Try sites like Rent a Wreck, or Zip Car a car sharing service where you only pay for what you drive.
Look into Private Rentals! Why not consider asking Friends or Family who have additional cars or ones that they don’t use often if you can pay them to use their car rather than renting a car. You may find that this is a great option if you are going on a long trip or vacation, or if you are flying and you are going to need a car once you arrive just make the arrangements in advance and you may be able to get a great deal this way as well.
Be Conservative! Make sure you keep in mind a realistic size car and model. Always book for the smallest, and least expensive model you think will work. Then plan for a pick up time late in the day, chances are that if the inventory is already gone of the car you booked you have a better chance for upgrades.
Loyalty Programs & Special Offers! Most sites like Hertz.com have Loyalty Programs as well as pages for Special Offers. Joining a Loyalty Program is a great idea if you are planning on doing a lot of traveling because those rewards can really add up. However if you are looking for a one time rental then checking the special offers page and being flexible on your dates might be a better option.
Insure Yourself! Do some research and see if you have a car insurance company that also covers you in a rental car. If so, make sure you bring proof of that with you to pick up your rental, it’s a great way to save on all the extra charges.
Also, bringing along your own car seats if you are going to be traveling with children is a great way to save on additional charges. Most airlines will now allow you to check a car seat at no additional charge.
Be Flexible! As with just about anything the more flexible your dates and plans are the more likely you are to get a good deal. Sign up for updates from companies such as HotWire.com to get email updates with Hot Deals, you might be able to find a great deal that fits into your plans.
What travel tips and rental car tips do you have that you can share with Lynn? Leave a comment and hopefully we can all save a little more when renting a car in the future.
(Sources: A big thanks to Carol White, author of Live Your Road Trip Dream, Cal Ford of Lido Deck Cruises, Ron Antonette and Hertz.com)
(Photo Credit: Suss-Man)
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
We just rented a car when we took a trip to the Gulf Coast of Florida. They wanted to charge us $12/day to rent a GPS. Well, Hubby said no thank you and packed ours from home in his suitcase! We saved $84+taxes in that alone! He also checked and found out that the company he works for gets him discounts with certain car rental companies… we obviously used one of those to get the discount!
I thought you forgot… THank you very much!!! That helps
Oh Lynn, I didn’t forget I just had to find a little time to do some research. Thanks for asking such a great question.
My boyfriend has worked for a major car rental for 5 years and I agree with most of your post. However, while the airport car rentals will have the lowest rate, they will also have the highest fees and taxes, so make you look at the total cost, not just the daily rate when you book.
That is true
I figured this out last time that I was researching car rentals. I was a little surprised. The fees and taxes I think were significantly higher – sometimes between $50-$100 more for the rental period verses a non-airport pick-up location. I think researching rental cars is alot of work – so many companies, different codes (you can gets codes from Sams Club, from your credit card, from being a member of different organizations (i.e. bar associations, realtor associations) and other various factors (car type, location, duration). I usually enjoy the challenge of saving money but I can safely say that I do not enjoy the car rental research process at all!
I have always found great coupons codes here – http://www.mousesavers.com/rentalcar.html
They are not just for rentals in Florida. Try all the codes, it’s crazy how the price will change!
We just rented our last car through ShopAtHome.com. I started there, searched for Budget Rental, and clicked through their link. Doing that scored me over $20 in cash back from ShopAtHome. If you have an account with them – or with a similar cash back website – it might be worth checking to see if you can shop through them. That way you’re getting something back after the rental.