Money Saving Secrets in Car Rental

Many options exist for travelers who want quality rental services at cheap car rental rates . Looking into each option can increase your chances of finding the best rental deals. There are benefits and risks associated with each that should be considered before you make a final decision.

Blind Rental Sites

For travelers who do not care who they rent from, it is possible to get great deals through these sites. You may end up with a well known car rental agency or a lesser known one. It is a risk you take when you use these sites. Only you can decide if the discounted price is worth it or not.

Use an Aggregator

You can comparison shop at aggregator sites. All you need to do is enter your travel information such as departure and arrival dates and times. You will need to provide personal contact information to get quotes from multiple rental agencies. Review the quotes to see which offer the best services at the lowest rates. Then make your reservation. It is that simple.

Rent Locally

This means if you travel internationally, you can get better rates using the rental companies in your destination country. You have a better selection from which to choose when you add them to the mix. There are websites that can help you with this so you can get the lowest rental rate possible. You will most likely have to have an international driver's license to rent a car locally.

Avoid Airport Rentals

Airport locations are the most expensive option because they are often legally required to add surcharges to your rental fees. And this additional cost can increase your final price by nearly 45%. Never pay more than necessary.

Understand Restrictions

Violating restrictions can cost you. If you drive your rental car to restricted areas, you may have an additional fee to pay. Rental companies in countries that limit travel use GPS devices to monitor the location of rental cars so there is no way to trick the company. There may even be limits on the number of miles you can drive during the rental period.

Check Conversion Rates

International cheap car rental may involve currency conversion. If you do not have the option of using your own currency, be sure you know what the conversion fees are so you are not surprised by the additional cost with this cheap car rental.

Guidelines for Cheap Car Rentals

Travelers love sightseeing and learning new cultures. They can do without the expensive car rental fees. By following these guidelines, travelers can get cheap car rental rates from reputable rental agencies that also provide quality services to customers.

Choosing the Best Car

Every type of car has separate rental fees based on its value and popularity. If you are willing to rent on the lower end of the spectrum, you can get lower rates. Also, consider the cost of gas when choosing a vehicle. Larger cars will require more gas and are not as good on gas as some smaller cars.

Looking at Getting Discounts

If you want even lower rental fees, ask the rental agency about possible discounts you may be eligible to receive. Common discounts include savings as result of membership in certain auto organizations such as AAA. You can also get discounts if you are willing to take a rental car that nobody else wants.

Knowing What the Fees Mean

Certain fees can be avoided if you make different decisions. For example, you may have to pay surcharges if you use an airport rental company. They are not trying to rip you off - they are required by law to charge you those fees.

Refuel and Cleaning Fees and how to Avoid Them

Be sure to clean the car before returning it. Many rental agencies charge a cleaning fee so they can make the car suitable for the next customer. But if you handle this yourself, you can ask that the fee be waived. Same goes for the refuel fees - top off your tank before you return it so you are not charged if they have to refuel the car.

Rental Fee Negotiation

You do not have to settle for the final price offered. There is absolutely nothing that prevents you from negotiating with the rental company until you reach a compromise on the rental rate. If the counter representative is unwilling to negotiate, ask to speak to the manager.

Comparing Car Rental Rates Whilst Shopping

Get online quotes from rental agencies so you can compare services and cheap car rental rates. Gathering this information can help you make informed decisions so you pay lower rental fees. If you are willing to be flexible in your travel dates, you can obtain even lower rates. On average, renting is cheaper on week days than on weekends. By comparison shopping it is easy to get cheap car rental.