Car Rental Rate Tips
What's The Damage To My Wallet?
The advertised car rental rate you normally see is a weekend rate (you knew it was too good to be true). The total cost of using rental cars can be submitted to a lot more extra costs than you think. Car rental agencies generally charge four kinds of basic rates:
a daily rate with a mileage charge
a daily rate with a limited number of free miles per day
a daily rate with unlimited mileage
a rate that has free mileage over an extended period
Basic hourly rate: some companies will rent out on an hourly basis. Independent local companies are normally more relaxed about this condition so call around.
Basic daily rate: planning to use the car for 2 or 3 days? Then this could be your best option.
Basic Weekly rate: best for renting 6 days or more. Could be wise to use this rate if you foresee keeping the car longer than planned. Agencies operate on a daily and weekly rate. It is wiser to go with the weekly rate if you're using the rental car for more than 6 days, or if you can see yourself needing the rental car longer than you planned. Always check the daily and weekly rates, but the weekly rate is usually lower.
Gimme A Deal!
Do you want the best deal? Then shop around, online and offline. Don't go for the first price; rates are constantly changing due to supply and demand. If you can, book in advance (at least a week, if possible). You will be surprised at how fast car rental companies book up during peak travel periods.
If you have to change your plans, then act accordingly so you do not incur extra charges. Some companies have cancellation policies where charges are laid if you do not cancel within a certain time period (this is normally 24 to 48 hours).
When Is The Best Time To Book?
If you're planning to jet to Las Vegas tonight, and need a car tomorrow, then booking a week in advance is impractical advice. The best is to book well ahead. It depends when you are going, but you can always ask your travel agent for promotions which are not publicly known. Just plan and book in advance. Car rental rates flucuate constantly.
Surprisingly enough, it is cheaper to rent on the weekend (considered Thur. afternoon to Sunday). Why?
Book well in advance, but remember that your special requests might not get fulfilled due to vehicle availability.
How far in advance should i book my rental car? It depends when you plan to travel. It is wise to book at least a week in advance if you are traveling in a peak period. Rates flucuate daily, and they increase with supply and demand. Remember that a reservation only means you're reserving your rate. You are not guaranteed a specific vehicle type.
Book 'Em, Danno
So you've figured out where you're going, when you're going and what you're going to need once you get there. Now you're ready to book! How are you going to make your reservations? There are a few ways to do this.
Get Connected: There are plenty of ways to reserve online. If you know who you want to rent from, then great! It's easy as 123. You can go directly to the rental agency's site. Looking for hte best rate in a certain city? then you can reserve via a travel reservation engine or search site. If you reserve with a travel site, you will receive a voucher for your car rental. Don't care who you rent with, as long as it's the cheapest? Then check out an online auction site. Reserving online is the easiest and quickest way to book
Let your Fingers Do the Walking: Still stuck in the Phone Ages? Then use the Yellow Pages to call around. You can even call travel agencies for any non-advertised deals. It's certainly useful that most of the major rental companies have toll-free reservation centres. However, be sure to check the operating hours as some are not open 24/7.
Face to Face: Want to take your chances? Then wait until you arrive at the airport to rent. Grab a couple of company pamphlets, read them over a quick coffee and decide at the kiosk. If you plan on renting a car at the airport upon arrival, don't arrive drunk! It may be tempting to order a dozen of those mini-bottles of Chardonnay on a 12-hour flight, but car rental companies have to refuse you a car rental if they suspect you're under any sort of influence. It's best to save the celebratory bubbly and wine for the hotel lounge (once you've safely arrived).
Extra! Extra! Read All About Extra Fees!
Think that weekend rate you're getting is too good to be true? Then it probably is. The advertised rate you normally see is the weekend rate. Plus, those extra fees will add up, and if you're considering buying the car rental agency's insurance, you will be paying a lot more than you initially thought. Extras may include: state taxes, younger driver fees, extra mileage fees, out of state travel fees, refueling charges, car seat and equipment rack charges, drop-off fees, concession recovery fee if you rent at the airport (the Concession Recovery Fee is the fee the agency pays to do business at the airport), and other company additions. If you return the car earlier or need to keep the car later than expected, you might even be penalised monetarily. Some states allow car rental companies to charge extra to recover the costs of licensing their cars, usually about 6% of the cost of the rental. Most states do not require that renters are told about this fee in advance, so make sure to ask. This is normally called the licensing fee. Be careful about the costs of your car rental. It might be higher than you expect.
So Much Gas, You'll Need Bean-O
So you signed the contract and you have the car. What about your gas options? Again, ask the company about the refueling policy. Some companies will offer the choice to pre-pay the gas at a market or higher price, or you can fill up at a local gas station upon returning the car. It will probably be cheaper to fill up at a local station if you know you won't use a full tank of gas. The pre-paid gas option is not a deal to you if you do not use a full tank of gas. However, if you think you won't have enough time to fill the car before returning it, then the pre-paid gas option could be useful. It could also be helpful if you're returning the car to an airport location (gas stations are not allowed to locate by airports due to safety reasons).
How much gas should be in the tank when you pick it up? In most cases, there should be a full tank of gas when you pick up your rental car. Check the contract first to see what you're signing for. You don't want any surprises!
How Can I Pay?
You will most likely have to have a major credit card to rent with the international companies. A credit card is a guarantee of payment. A debit card is not considered a credit card! So don't take your chances, even if your card has a Mastercard or Visa logo. The particular agency you're patronizing might not accept it. If you do not own a credit card, it might be wise to check with some locally owned, independent agencies to see if they will take a cash deposit.
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