Have you checked out the prices of car rentals lately? Add in the price of gas to fill up that rental and 😬! It’s time to take steps to save money on car rentals.
If you’re at the point where you’ve decided there are no other options and you have to rent a vehicle, there are several ways to help you get the best rate possible.
Check Your Memberships
It can really pay off to be part of a club.Â
Make sure you check car rental rates through AAA, Costco Travel, Perks at Work, and other membership services that you may already have. Many of them offer discounts and deals on rental cars.
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Another option is to open the app of your airline. If the airline doesn’t offer a rental car discount, it may offer an option for travelers to earn points on rentals made through the airline.
Discount Codes and Sites
Simply Google the car rental company you plan to use and “discount code” (example: Hertz Discount Code) to see if there are any current codes available to bring down the cost. As with any site, if there is a box at checkout for a discount code, google the company to see if there are any codes that work to help you save money on car rentals.
Sites like Groupon may also offer discount codes on rental cars and other activities.
Bundle Bookings
Harness the discount power of the bundle.
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Using sites like Expedia and Priceline to book airfare, hotels, and rental cars can often save you money on your entire trip. To make sure you’re getting a deal, Figure what it costs to book each individually, then use a site or two to book it as a bundle to see if you can save any money that way.
Skip the Add-on Fees
Car rental companies will try to sell customers options like extra insurance, GPS, and satellite radio.
The key is to know what you really want, or need, before reaching checkout.
Check with your insurance companies, or AAA, to see if you are fully covered for any accidents or damage if you rent a car. It could save you money from getting unnecessary insurance through the car rental company.
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You may also choose to skip the GPS option if you have a cell phone that will provide turn-by-turn directions.
If you aren’t planning to spend long stretches of time in the car, you may want to skip the extra cost for satellite radio.
It’s also easy to google the location of the nearest gas station to determine if you want to pay extra to drop off the car with less than a full tank of gas.
Location, Location, Location
Saving a chunk on your car rental may be as simple as changing the pick up location.
The car rental company will almost always charge the highest price if you pick up the rental car at the airport. Why? Because it’s the most convenient for travelers.
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But, taking an Uber to another rental location, away from the airport, may get your a cheaper rate.
You’ll also want to check to see if the price is cheaper to rent a car for a full week instead of just a few days.
Transfercar is another way to save money on a rental car. Companies may have trouble with inventory if too many people are picking up cars in one city and dropping them off in another.
Transfercar is a platform that helps people find cars with predesignated cities. If it works for you, you’ll have a rental for just the price of insurance and gas.
Select a Designated Driver
One final tip that could help you save money is to designate a driver for the entire trip. Some companies charge extra for every person who plans to drive the car.
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If you do pick a single driver, make sure that person is the only one who drives the car. If you violate the contract, the rental company may impose hefty fees.