Car Rental Fee Saving Tips: Frequent Traveler Tips

Renting a car can be one of the most expensive things you will need to account for on your travel plans, whether for business or vacation. It’s no secret that car rental rates are increasing and more hidden fees manage to pop up every time you rent. However, there are some things you do to save money regularly if you travel frequently.

One of those things is to check the internet. The internet has many sites that will offer you total costs on rental cars, and allow you to do side-by-side comparisons of your options. If the site doesn’t offer the total cost option, find one that does. There are at least six. So next time you need a rental car, start with an internet search that doesn’t include the major car rental agencies—the rates quoted on their own websites are not total cost rates.

Also try a trade organization or traveler’s group. AAA offers discounts on car rentals, but when getting your quotes ask for the total cost quote. If you have a trade organization or union that you belong to, often you can get good rates if you ask them to get quotes for you and book through the group. Organizations like AARP also offer discounted rates on car rentals.

You should also surf the internet for discount coupons. There are often many choices available, but not all of them may apply to you. Some of them may have restrictions on destinations, lengths of time, and the type of car you can rent. Make sure you check the details of your trip ahead of time with the agency to make sure your coupon will be good when you want it.

Don’t be afraid to try smaller car rental companies for better rates. Companies like Payless, which are smaller and might be more willing to please, often have lower rates even after the extra taxes and fees applied. Keep in mind that these are also no frills services, and may not even offer a shuttle service from the airport pickup lanes. Call to find out what services you will need and if they have them available. And again, if you are considering the discounted car rental companies, make sure you get a total price quote so you don’t have surprises at the counter.

Other money saving ideas include getting frequent flyer miles for your rentals, requesting the smallest possible car for the trip that is useful, only getting as much insurance as you need, and making sure you fill the tank before you return the car—some rental car agencies charge $6 plus per gallon to fill that tank at their own facilities! Also, don’t automatically opt for the unlimited miles. You may benefit more from paying mileage if you are only driving a short distance.

All of these ideas should help you get started saving money on your car rentals, especially if you travel frequently. Those who rent cars often understand the impact that car rentals can have on the cost of your trips annually.