There will come a time when you may need to rent a car. Whether it be on a business trip, family vacation, solo trip, with friends, or with your special someone. In any case, renting a car is not easy, and given that there are so many choices, it can get overwhelming.
You need to plan ahead as there are a few details that cannot be overlooked. By reading the fine print of car rentals and gaining a little know-how, you will be able to smartly save and avoid paying for unnecessary upgrades and premium prices. Here are a few tips on how to get the best car rental deals.
Be sure of the type of car you want
The first thing to you have to figure out is the type of car you’ll need based on your situation. A few questions that will help you decide are: How many people are you with? Are you traveling with children and seniors? How much luggage room do you need? What kind of car model is preferred? What are the mileage requirements? Will the car you are renting need to handle rougher terrains?
Once you have the answers, it will be much easier to narrow down the type of car that suits your requirements.
Compare prices on car rental aggregator sites
Now that you know what car you need, keep in mind that vehicle descriptions differ from company to company. It is recommended that you explore company features and policies.
Aggregator sites, Americanotels for example, are equipped with price comparison tools and are great for showing you the best car rental deals and options. Try and search through several different ones to get a better idea of the deals available. On the websites, choose the rental date and the car you want to get a list of prices.
Some sites have discount codes that allow you to get lower rates. Keep an eye out for coupons that are offered by websites such as Honey.
Speak directly with the car rental company
Now that you have established the best car rental deals available, it’s time to take it one step further. Compare rates on the actual car rental company’s website to the quotes on the aggregator site.
There is a possibility that the car rental company offers the best deals for booking directly on their website. Many companies have discount codes on their websites, so it’s worth checking there first before you set up a reservation.
If you see that the companies have not listed any offers on their website, call beforehand and enquire if they have special rates.
Book a couple of weeks in advance for the best deals
This is the best time to get the most reasonably priced car rental. Don’t wait till the last minute to book your car, especially during the holiday season. This could pose as a disadvantage as other customers would have booked the best deals. Fewer remaining cars for rent could mean paying for extra added-on charges.
Compare daily and weekly rates
Many companies have special rates on the weekends to promote rentals, but these deals have conditions that apply. Rates can vary depending on the destination. Since more people travel during weekends, tourist locations are occasionally cheaper. Good weekend deals are also offered in business locations.
Weekend policies typically instruct you to have the car for 3 days minimum and throughout Saturday for a special rate to be valid.
Most rental companies have fixed rates from Thursday noon to Monday morning. It is a much cheaper rate to collect the car on a Thursday afternoon instead of the morning.
Refuse upselling attempts and upgrades
Be prepared for an upsell. If you’ve reserved an affordable option, chances are they’re going to try and offer you a more expensive car. They’ll have ways to justify it by saying the car you have isn’t comfortable, doesn’t have enough space or it’s not good for their roads. Do not give in! You do not need it, so politely refuse and move on.
To sum up
These are a few steps you can take that will give you the knowledge needed to get the best car rental deals for your next trip!
