Summer is here. The kids are out of school. You’ve got vacation time to use.
There’s only one problem: airline prices. Yes, because fuel prices have been high this year, so too have been airline costs – and that makes it difficult to easily get away. However, an attractive alternative is loading up the car and taking that to your vacation destination. Sure, it might take a little bit longer to get there, but road trips can be fun and traveling by car sure does beat booking flights for the entire family. Then there’s the issue of renting versus driving your own vehicle. Generally, we always recommend renting to save on your own vehicle’s mileage, and wear and tear – especially if you’re going to be traveling a long distance.
You’re already saving money by renting a car versus booking flights (AAA states that the national average to rent a car is about $66 per day). But, are you wondering how you can really make a car rental work for you? You’ve come to the right place. Here’s a closer look at how to really make your car rental a great value:
Join Rewards Programs
Pick a couple of rental car companies and join their rewards programs. These work much like your frequent flier programs, in that you earn points that you can use toward future reservations based on the business you do with the company. However, one nice thing about many rental car companies is that they’ll give you a discount on your first rental just for signing up. Use this to save.
Check Your Insurance Coverage
Rental car companies make a good portion of their revenue by offering insurance coverage, which is designed to supplement any existing coverage you have. Make sure you check with your agent prior to renting a vehicle, as in many cases you likely won’t need to purchase any additional coverage. It’s these extras that rental companies make bank on. These extras can also hike up your total cost to rent.
Gas Up Yourself
Though this one can offer only a minor savings, always gas up yourself before turning the rental car back in. If the rental company gasses up your vehicle, you’ll be charged a premium rate, and you’ll also likely be charged for a full tank – no matter how full (or how empty) the tank was when you turned the vehicle in.
Search for Discounts
Know anyone that has one of those big coupon books often sold in fundraisers? Ask them if there are any car rental coupons in it. Usually there are. Are you an AAA member? A veteran? A Costco member? A member of the AARP? If so, there’s a good chance that you’re privy to small discounts on the cost of your rental vehicle. Don’t leave any stone unturned when it comes to maximizing the value of your rental.
Other Strategies
There are a few other tips you should heed to save some money on your rental. For instance:
- Don’t pick up/drop off at an airport location: Do so, and you’ll get socked with a variety of additional fees than you would if you were to just pick up at another location. Dropping off at the airport usually isn’t an issue, but pick up at the airport and you could be looking at paying about 10 percent more for your rental than if you were to pick it up elsewhere.
- Do you really need the EZ-Pass? If you’re driving on toll roads, the EZ-Pass can come in really handy. But if you’re not, that extra $4 a day you’re paying for EZ-Pass is money that’s not being well spent.
- Bring your own car seats: If you have little ones, use your own car seats (and not those offered by the rental company) to save money. If you use the rental company’s car seats, you may pay anywhere from $20 to $30 a day per seat. What’s more is that these car seats generally don’t meet the quality standards that yours do.
Don’t let higher fuel prices prevent you from enjoying vacation this summer. While it may not be feasible to fly, renting a car to drive is an ideal option. And these tips can help you save even more.
Regards,
Ethan Warrick
Editor
Wealth Authority
