Sometimes when you travel, it’s just not practical to take public transportation. Maybe you are covering a lot of ground on your trip or the bus schedule is iffy or you are on a business trip that calls for you to be at specific places at particular times. The problem with renting a car is that it can quickly add up over just a few days.
Following the pandemic, it was really difficult to find a deal, because with no one traveling, most rental companies sold off the majority of their fleets and couldn't bounce back when travel returned. Finally, you can find some good deals, but it does take some know-how and persistence. Here are some of the easiest ways to get the best deal possible.
Book a Ride-Share Car
Need a rental car? Then skip the traditional rental companies if you can. They are still charging vast amounts of money for their shrunken fleets. I have almost exclusively used Turo for the last 5-6 years, but you can also rent through Uber now, too. These are basically Airbnb, but for cars. I've saved half off traditional rental rates this way. If you're looking for a less expensive, but more convenient rental experience from a more traditional company, check out Kyte, where they will bring the car to you.
I'll be renting a car through Turo while we're in France, so it's not just for the U.S. it'll be the first time I've rented through them outside of America, but you can add a second drive for free, as long as they are approved to drive, so one person doesn't have to drive the entire trip by themselves.
If you are looking for a traditional rental company, here are some tips to get deep discounts.
Book for a week
Weekly rates are sometimes much better than if you booked each day separately and often even more affordable than a four- or five-day rental. Check the fine print to make sure there’s no penalty for returning your car early. If there isn’t, take the weekly rate and then bring your rental back a few days early. It can only help them make more money by having an extra car on-hand. You can also get a discount on Turo cars if you book a week or more.
Reserve the smallest possible car
Yes, you’re on vacation and you want to be comfortable, but think about how much time you’ll actually be spending in the car. Rental companies can’t downgrade your car once it’s booked – only upgrades are acceptable. This means if you reserve a compact or an economy car (which are the most popular) and they don’t have any when you get there, they have to give you the next available size up at the same rate. If all they have at the time is a luxury car, they are obligated to rent it to you. The other upside to renting a smaller car is that it will cost you less in fuel, because you’ll get better gas mileage.
Avoid the inclusive gas option
By far the biggest rip-off when you rent a car is the optional fill-up upon return. While there are some exceptions, it is very common for them to charge you over a dollar more per gallon than what is charged at the pump. On top of that, no matter how much gas you return with, you will be made to pay as if the tank was empty, and at the highly inflated rate. Tell the rep at the desk that you will return the car with a full tank and then ask where the nearest station is, so you can take note to stop there upon your return.
Rent away from the airport
Airports impose a rental fee to car companies, which they then pass onto the customer. If it is possible to rent off-site, compare pricing to see if there is a notable difference. If there is, choose the least expensive option.
Most rental companies allow you to add a second driver to your rental for no fee once you get to the counter to sign in. If you are married – or live in the same house and say you are spouses – then you can both be on the rental agreement for the same rate as just one.
Get the most out of your rental
You always want to get the most for your money and renting a car is no different. Sign up for reward programs and earn points toward free rentals, upgrades and more when you use each company. You can usually use your frequent flyer membership number to earn miles for each rental you complete as well. Sometimes you have to pay a bit more for your rental this way, but usually it’s less than a dollar per rental day, so you are still coming out ahead.
Use corporate rates
If the company you work for has a rental car program, get on it, because they rarely make you prove you work there when you rent. I worked for a company that extended their business rates to everyone in the company. I signed up for Budget's Fastbreak at the time and even though I haven't worked for that company in over a decade, I'm still able to get those rates with Budget. On top of that, I can bypass the rental counter and just go straight to my car, because they have all my info on file. That saves us so much time.
Renting a car doesn't have to be a daunting experience. It's fun to drive something new. It's exciting to save money, and you'll be glad to not have to rely on public transportation if you will be traveling around a lot during your stay. A car rental also enables you to take day trips from the city and go on your own schedule. With these tips, you can eliminate the stress of high rental costs, because you'll know the rate you're paying is the best one you could find.
How often do you rent a car when you travel?
