How to Get a Good Deal On a Rental Car
- 1). Do your research. Great deals on a rental car are out there, you just have to look.
Compare offers online before you travel. There are lots of rental car companies to choose from, especially if you're renting a car from an airport.
Find online resources that compare multiple car rental offers at once. One example is Carrentals.com (see link in resources section below). - 2). Instead of buying the car rental company's insurance, call your car insurance company and add a rider to your coverage to cover rental cars.
Activate your extended coverage the day you rent the car and cancel the coverage once you return the rental car. This will save you huge amounts of money! Call your car insurance company ahead of time to make sure they have this option. - 3). Reserve your car ahead of time. Don't be put in a squeeze, getting too much car, for too much money.
Call the rental car company directly or use a third party, such as CarRentals.com. - 4). Ask about discounts. Most people are eligible for a discount but never ask!
AAA is a popular discount, but lot's of organizations have even better deals! Figure out what you've got, and ask the right questions to get the best deal. - 5). If you're planning to rent the car longer than 5 days, ask about any weekly specials.
Often times, 7 days is cheaper than 5 or 6 days. If your schedule is flexible or you're still in the planning phase, you could get 2 days more with your rental car for less! - 6). If you are renting a car for the purpose of a vacation, try combining your rental car, hotel room, and airline tickets into one package.
There are many online companies that specialize in this, including Travelocity and Hotwire (see links in resources section below).
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