Ways to Save Money When Renting a Car People who are in a situation where they need to rent a car often hesitate to do so. The process of renting a car is notorious for being overly and unnecessarily expensive. Car rental places are known to charge more than they need to, and to charge too much in general for their services. This is a travesty because many people could benefit from the services that rental car companies can provide. There is hope for the people who are hesitant to use car rental services, however. There are tips and tricks that you can learn so that you can get the best deal on your car rental and not be afraid to do so.
Shop Around One of the first things you should know about car rentals is that you need to shop around. Different companies have different policies regarding rental cars. Two companies may even have varying rates on a similar car. This is why it is crucial for people who are renting cars to compare and contrast different companies and different rates. If you are flying into an airport and you will need to get a rental car when you get off the plane, keep in mind that many airports will charge an extra tax if you rent your car inside the airport. You may want to rent your car in a neighboring town to avoid paying this tax. If you are having trouble finding companies to compare, you can go on any travel site and they will have listings for the rates of rental car companies. You may also be eligible for certain discounts depending on your situation.
Vehicle Class & Coupons Another great thing to keep in mind when renting a car is that you should try to rent the cheapest car that still fits your needs. If you are toting around your family of 8, you will definitely want to get a van or an SUV.
Trying to pack all of those people into a smaller car, even though it will be cheaper, is not going to be a good idea. Within the category of bigger cars, however, you can find one that’s going to be cheaper than the rest. Many rental car companies offer coupons and discounts to the people who are signed up to receive their email newsletter. Sign up for a few companies’ email newsletters and hopefully you can get discounts that way.
Some Additional Savings Make sure also to fill up the gas tank in your rental car before you return it. If you do not fill up the tank, the rental companies will fill it up for you, but they will use their gas that is significantly more expensive per gallon than a regular gas station. Having the company fill up the tank for you will be an unnecessary cost that you could’ve avoided. Insurance is also an issue with rental car companies. Rental auto insurance in Colorado has been known to be relatively cheap compared to other states. Rental auto insurance in Colorado is probably a great way to go if you’re looking to avoid unnecessary and irrelevant rental car insurance costs. Photo Credit: presta, Karen V Bryan, and Asten via PhotoPin cc