A rental car is one of the most expensive parts of a vacation. Here are some ways to save money when you rent a car next time.
If you book your flight online or through a travel agency to get to your vacation spot, you can probably get a discount on your rental car if you book it as part of a package. When you rent a car, most car rental companies work with at least one airline to give you frequent flyer miles or other rewards. Also, many airlines have bonus and incentive programmes that give you extra miles or credit, so make sure to ask about these when you make your reservation.
Most of the time, a compact or subcompact economy car is cheaper to rent than a full-size sedan or minivan. So, choosing an economy car will not only save you money, but it will also get better gas mileage, saving you money on gas costs.
Shopping around is a good idea if you need a large sedan, SUV, or minivan for your family's comfort. Most of the time, these kinds of cars are in high demand, so the price is higher. Travel-related websites are a good place to start your research if you want to know what prices are like in the area where you want to go on vacation.
The length of the rental will also have an effect on the price. Most of the time, a weekly rental is a much better deal than a daily rate spread out over a week. So, if you want to go on vacation for a week or more, you should ask about special rates. If you are going on a weekend trip, many car companies have deals on certain makes and models of cars for the weekend.
Also, some national car companies and smaller local companies rent out their used cars for much less than a rental agency would charge for a new car. Most of the time, these cars are only a few years old, but they offer the same level of safety as a brand-new car.
For business travellers, joining a frequent renter club or always renting from the same company is a great way to get coupons and deals that you could use for a family vacation.
Most people buy insurance from the place where they rent the car. Most of the time, this is not needed. If you paid for your rental car with your credit card, your credit card plan may already include coverage. Also, if you own a car, your car insurance may cover rental cars. So, you need to check your credit card plan and auto insurance. If you are already covered, you don't need to buy insurance from the rental car company.
