Hiring a car can be one of the most expensive parts of travelling. Not only do you have to worry about the regular daily rates, which usually aren’t too bad, but there are tons of hidden costs in renting a car, such as insurance, petrol and taxes. On some trips, though, hiring a car is an integral part of the experience or the only way to get around (this is especially true in the States). So, if you do have to rent a car during your holidays, here are a few ways to save money on car hire and find cheap car rentals.
Shop around.
There are so many different companies and booking sites for car hire that it can get overwhelming, but comparing at least a few is a great way to save some money. You might discover that one particular booking site has too many cars and wants to offload some by discounting heavily.
Stay away from airports.
Car hire facilities at airports often charge an “airport fee” or a surcharge simply for the convenience of being located near the airport. If you can, look for locations closer to the city centre and opt for public transit when you first arrive.
Book in advance.
It always pays to book ahead of time and, usually, the earlier the better. Rates go up as the day of rental approaches, so as soon as you know you’re going to be hiring a car, start searching.
Book for a week.
Oftentimes, car rental rates go down when you hire the car for an entire week, rather than just a few days. Compare dates while you are shopping around to find out if renting for a week, or on different date ranges, offers any possibility of discounts.
Don’t bundle it with your airfare.
This is a rookie mistake. Though it might seem more convenient, when you are trying to save money, the bundled airfare/car rental/hotel packages are not always cheap. In fact, oftentimes they are more expensive. Again, search around to see if it might be cheaper to book the car rental separately from the airfare or hotel.
Decline extra insurance.
Oftentimes, desk agents will present liability insurance as though it is mandatory when, in fact, this is an extra service you are not obligated to buy. Always ask questions and request an itemised copy of your bill or receipt before you pay.
Drive on weekdays.
Weekdays, especially Tuesday – Thursday, are the best times to hire a car, as the rental agencies have a surplus of cars and offer discounts just to get the cars rented out. Weekends (including Fridays) are usually the most expensive.
Fill up the petrol tank yourself.
Most car rental companies charge an excessive amount to fill up the petrol tank if you return the car on empty (or even half full). This is because they rent the car to you with a full tank, so you are expected to return it in the same condition. The mark-up they put on petrol prices is exorbitant. Instead, fill up the tank well before you reach the airport, as many petrol stations near car rental return lots have copped on to this fact and also mark up their prices.
