There are numerous perks associated with renting a vehicle when traveling. For one thing, having a car on hand precludes you from having to map your entire itinerary around bus, train or subway schedules. Furthermore, being able to drive yourself helps ensure that you don`t needlessly rack up rideshare fees. Still, if you aren`t careful, you may wind up spending more money than necessary the next time you rent a vehicle. Budget-conscious travelers looking to keep car rental costs nice and lean should consider the following pointers.
Shop Around
The next time you have cause to rent a vehicle, you`d be wise to do a little comparison shopping. Exploring one`s options is particularly important for people with little to no vehicle rental experience. Fortunately, this task can be accomplished with little more than your preferred search engine. Taking a little bit of time to peruse the best rental services will significantly diminish your chances of doing business with a rental service that never hesitates to pile on hidden fees and other cumbersome expenses. For instance, if a trip to the New York of the South lies in your near future, there`s no time like the present to start scoping out your options for car rental Atlanta airport.
Make Some Considerations Before Purchasing Rental Insurance
For many people, rental insurance can be a worthwhile investment, as it serves to protect them from significant financial liability if the car incurs damage while in their car. Still, a number of renters wind up purchasing this insurance unnecessarily. Unbeknownst to these individuals, their regular auto insurance extends to rental vehicles, thereby rendering specialized rental insurance pointless.
If you`re unclear on whether your current auto insurance plan provides such protections, carefully review your policy or get in touch with your provider. This shouldn`t take up very much of your time, and it stands to save you a considerable sum in rental insurance costs.
Register Additional Drivers
If you aren`t going to be the only person operating this vehicle, you`ll need to make the rental service aware of this. Depending on the state and rental service, additional drivers will need to meet assorted criteria in order to be allowed behind the wheel. Fortunately, many services don`t charge extra for additional drivers. They will, however, hit you with hefty fines if they become aware that the vehicle has been operated by unregistered motorists. This is doubly true if an accident occurs while the car is being driven by someone the rental service didn`t clear.
Return the Vehicle with a Full Tank
There are two key reasons you should always return rental cars with a full tank. For starters, this is basic common courtesy. After all, if you loaned your vehicle to someone, it`s only reasonable to expect that they`d fill it up before bringing it back. Secondly, this stands to save you a considerable sum in penalty fees. If your vehicle`s fuel supplies are found to be depleted, the rental service will more than likely fine you – and more often than not, these fines will set you back a lot more than a full tank of gas.
If you`re not keen on spending too much on fuel, consider filling up at stations that are located a fair distance from the airport. The closer you get to the airport, the more expensive fuel prices are going to be.
Don`t Hesitate to Ask About Discounts
You may be eligible for a bevy of car rental discounts that you`re not even aware of. For example, many major credit cards offer convenient auto rental discounts to cardholders. Similarly, people who hold certain levels of membership in AAA are also eligible to receive discounts from a large number of rental services. So, before committing to do business with a new rental service, make a point of enquiring about any discounts that may apply to you.
A good rental vehicle can be a boon to any travel excursion. Having a rental car at your disposal enables you to explore exciting new locales at your leisure instead of tailoring your itinerary to accommodate public transit schedules. However, while renting a vehicle can be highly cost-effective, doing so also stands to set you back quite a bit. Without even realizing it, many renters make mistakes that wind up costing them a small fortune in fees. Frugal travelers looking to get the most for their money should remember the measures discussed above the next time they rent a vehicle.
