5 tips to save on car rentals
There are many reasons you may have for renting a car. Maybe you live in the city and don’t own one, so you rent when you go out of town. Or maybe you are in another country and need it to get from your airport to destination. Whatever the reason, it can be a significant added cost to your travels. To help keep the cost of getting around down, here are some tips as to how you can save on car rentals.
Check your trip package
To help sweeten the deal for travelers, some travel packages will offer discounts on car rentals. Often these will be tied a specific car rental company that they have a partnership with but can save you a good deal of money. However, beware if the rental must be made at the airport, as car rentals at airports carry an additional tax. The best policy is to shop around before committing to ensure you get the best price, one deal may be better than another thanks to hidden or additional fees.
Check your credit card
Depending on your credit card, you may be privy to discounts at various car rental companies. Before you book anything, be sure to look into your credit card to see if the discounts apply to you. Just be sure to read the fine print as there may be exclusions for certain days, destinations, or rental companies.
Skip the insurance
If your credit card offers discounts on car rentals, chances are it will also offer some sort of car rental insurance, saving you from having to purchase it from the rental company. Again, be sure to check the fine print and know exactly what it is the rental insurance actually covers you for.
You can also check with your auto insurance provider, as your coverage may extend to car rentals. But, not to sound like a broken record, check the fine print on your policy to ensure that you will have proper coverage.
If your credit card nor your auto insurance extends coverage to you, it is important to not skip the insurance. While it may be an added cost at the time of the rental, it can save you thousands in the long run if anything were to happen.
Use discount sites
If your travel package or your credit card offer any car rental perks, choose to shop around and book with a discount travel site. Discount sites like Expedia offer discounts on car rentals as well as flight and travel packages. Much like shopping around for cheap auto insurance on HUB Insurance Hunter, you are able to use their quoting tool to find the best priced car rental within your time and destination requirements.
Only get what you need
If you are traveling alone, with minimal baggage, don’t opt for a big SUV, just stick to what it is you need. And, while renting a fancy car may seem like a fun way to get around, think twice before making the upgrade. Not only will the upgrade itself cost you, but chances are it will cost more in gas. If possible, stick to a small compact car that has good gas mileage. You are just going from point A to point B, so unless you need to impress a client with a sleek model, save yourself the money. Who knows, once you get to the rental place they may even offer you a free upgrade, it’s been known to happen!