Renting a car is a great way to get around if you don't want to be tied down to public transportation. But it can be expensive if you don't compare prices.
Read on to learn about the top tips to keep your car rental costs low. Also, find out how to avoid junk fees that companies try to sneak past you.
Paying in Advance
One of the biggest choices customers have to make when renting a car is whether or not to pay in advance. While it can save you money, paying in advance does carry some risks for both you and the rental company.
When you reserve with a pre-paid rate, the rental car company will block an amount from your debit or credit card that equals the cost of the rental. This is a security measure, to ensure that you aren’t spending more than what you have on the card.
This can be a hassle if your plans change, as you will likely lose the ability to cancel and re-book for free. Also, the name on your card needs to match that of the driver, and most companies require that you be present at the counter when picking up your vehicle. You can avoid this hassle by searching for vehicles that can comfortably fit the number of people and bags you need on your trip.
Using a Credit Card
Paying with a credit card generally makes you more attractive to rental companies than paying in cash, because it means that the credit company has already vetted your identity. Rental car companies are more likely to trust that you can pay for the car and cover any damage you cause.
Most rental companies, however, have a number of rules for customers who pay with debit cards that may make this type of payment more risky. These include requiring a substantial security deposit and agencia de Alquiler de coches santa cruz de tenerife imposing other types of restrictions, such as limiting you to certain vehicles and requiring that you present additional forms of identification.
Budget, for example, requires a refundable security deposit of $250 to $500 at airport locations when using a debit card. You also must provide proof of return travel, and the company will usually place a hold on your bank account for the estimated rental charges that may take several days to clear.
Using an Aggregator Site
Using an aggregator site can save you time by comparing prices in one place. However, you should always check the terms and conditions of the website you're booking through to ensure that the price quoted includes taxes and fees. Also, make sure you compare the price with the rates on the actual rental car company's website.
Kayak is well-known for its airfare metasearch, but it has a good car rental aggregator as well. It searches several sites including big-name agencies like National and Budget as well as peer-to-peer rental cars through Turo. It also allows you to track your car rental price and receive email alerts if the rate drops.
Many rental car companies offer loyalty and membership programs that reward you with discounts or free rentals. In addition, you can often earn cash back or miles by booking your reservation through online shopping portals. Many of these portals offer a percentage of your total car rental cost back.
Booking Directly
There are a number of ways to book directly with a car rental agency. Some third-party booking sites (such as Kayak, Orbitz, and Priceline) offer deals that are sometimes lower than rates found on the agency's website. However, they typically don't add your loyalty program information when you book and often incentivize counter agents to try to up-sell you.
If you want to give these opaque booking sites a shot, be sure to use an incognito browser or private browsing mode. These will prevent the sites from tracking your browser history and increasing prices based on demand.
Another option is to Rent a Car For a Day from a car-sharing service like Getaround, Turo, or Lyft. These services have a wide variety of vehicles available in most major cities. They also allow you to skip the counter and go straight to your vehicle by showing the gate agent your reservation details and driver's license. If you're a car rental property owner and want to join the #bookdirect movement, contact us to learn about Rentalsystems' tools for displaying up-to-date availability and booking requests on your website.
