The next time you went a car, remember these tips to help you save some money and find the best car rental deal available.
Shop around
Rates vary greatly from city to city, company to company and car to car. Check the Internet for specials geared toward the length of time you are renting a car for. Print out any information, including reservation codes, that you obtain online and take it with you when you pick up the car.
Reserve in advance
To get the best rate when applicable, reserve your car at a weekly rate (a week is usually between 5-7 days) instead of at a daily rate and reserve at least a week in advance. Cancel your reservation if you have a change of plans to avoid any penalties.
Don't pay for insurance you don't need
Some higher end credit cards such as Visa or MasterCard Gold may be a source for excess or secondary insurance for a car rental, but only if you use the same credit card to rent the vehicle. Some upper level credit cards can be your primary collision coverage in absence of any personal car collision insurance or when you are traveling overseas, where your personal insurance will not apply. Since these policies vary, call your credit card company to find out their policies for car rentals. Also check to see if your personal or business car insurance covers you in a rental car. You must also remember to bring verification of your insurance coverage. Some car rental companies will require that you show proof of insurance.
Don't let the agency refuel for you
A fuel charge is the amount many rental car companies add to your bill for gasoline. Some companies give you a half-tank at a charge of $10 to $15 and tell you to return the car empty; others fill the tank and charge for the amount of gas you use. Companies that do not charge for the initial tank may ask you to return the car with a full tank. If you don't, you'll be charged the rental company's price for gasoline. It's often much higher than a local gas station.
Don't return the car late
When determining your car rental bill, be aware of the "24 hour clock rate" most rental car companies use when charging you. This means if you rent your car on Wednesday and return it on Thursday, you are charged for one day only if you return it within 24 hrs. You are usually charged for 2 days if you return it more than 27-28 hrs after picking the car up.
Know your mileage limitations
Mileage fees usually are assessed on a cents-per-mile basis or as a flat fee when you exceed the allotted free mileage cap. Knowing approximately how far you will drive will allow you to select the company that offers the most favorable mileage terms.
