13 Tips and Hacks to help YOU save money on your next rental car. Don’t get burnt in the upcoming rental car apocalypse! Rental cars historically have been a really easy, simple, and usually inexpensive part of your trip to book. But right now: car rental rates are sky high. Rental companies sold tons of their cars last year because nobody was renting, and now that there’s tons of demand, so rental prices can be as much as $500 a day.
1 – Book Early
As inventory gets lower, prices go up.
Book a non-prepaid reservation. No loss if you cancel it.
Keep checking your rate
Auto slash will do it for you
2 – Rent somewhere other than the airport
Airports typically have high fees for rental cars
You can typically return to the airport with no extra fee. We did this in Kyushu.
Consider taking an uber to your hotel… then picking up your rental the next day nearby your hotel.
3 – Book through an aggregator or third party
I like Kayak to aggregate prices
Costco Travel, AAA, AARP
Even airline portals. Southwest Vacations books flight and rental car packages
4 – Look at all the car classes
Sometimes better cars are cheaper
SUVs can be a deal
So can convertibles
And pick-up trucks!
Thrifty has a “wild card” deal
5 – Book for a week
Sometimes the weekly rate is cheaper than 3 days
You can return it early
6 – Try different pickup and return times
Yes.. this can make a difference
Weekends are usually cheaper
7 – Sometimes one ways can be even cheaper
Florida to the Northeast in Spring
Texas to California if you’re renting a U-Haul
8 – Search for discount codes or coupons
Your company might have a pre negotiated rate
AAA
Your University Alumni Program
Chase Sapphire Reserve — 20% off Silvercar rentals, up to 30% off Avis and up to 25% off National rentals
Amex Platinum gives you 4 extra hours of rental time… use the “elite” program upgrades too
9 – Bring your own insurance
And proof of it
Many credit cards offer primary collision coverage like Chase Sapphire cards
10 – Check gas prices on Google Maps
When returning your car beware of the airport gas station pricing. In google maps you can search along route and see gas prices.
Make sure to bring your gas receipt to the rental return
11 – Prepay
Paying ahead can save you 10-20% — but don’t do this too early. Beware of cancellation fees
12 – Book a smaller car company or via priceline
Only if your time has no value
13 – Make sure to sign up for the rental car companies frequent renter program to skip the line. This can save you hours standing in line. Really! In Maui there were easily 80 people in line and I just waltzed up to the Fastbreak desk.
✅ You might enjoy watching some of these other videos:
✔️ How to Book CHEAP FLIGHTS: https://youtu.be/JzoSdPdytnc
✔️ How to Book CHEAP HOTELS: https://youtu.be/jHuCNEbLYcc
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