While rental cars can be convenient during your travels, you can make several mistakes that can make your rental car unnecessarily expensive. Here, we tell you how to avoid a few common mistakes that people make when renting cars.
Don’t Buy Extra Insurance Unless You Need It
If you have a personal auto insurance policy, it may already cover collision damage and personal liability for the temporary use of a rental car. Besides, paying by credit card might also entitle you to secondary collision coverage. This coverage will work for anything your policy doesn’t cover without a deductible.
Don’t Rent at The Airport
Instead of renting a car from the airport, choose a car rental service away from the airport. This will save you money in surcharges besides availing of transportation to and from the airport as well.
Shop Around
Depending on the company or the amount of lead time, rental car rates can vary. Try comparison shopping between several rental companies before you pick one. Look for discount coupons or deals and use an online tool to help you keep track of rental rates and rebook if the rate gets any lower. Remember to check if your rental company offers unlimited miles, so you don’t end up paying extra fees. Those with caps may be cheaper to rent at first but are invariably more expensive if you have plenty of travel time ahead of you.
Buy as You Go
Instead of prepaying for a whole tank of gas that you might not use, plan to find cheaper gas prices along your way. Remember to fill up before you drop your car back or you’ll end up for gas at exorbitant prices otherwise.
Avoid Paying for Additional Features You Don’t Need
Car rental companies often charge you extra for accessories like a child car seat or GPS. Many airlines today allow you to check-in or use your car seat on board for free. Besides saving you money, having your seat means you know its history and safety standards. Use your phone for GPS, and you can skip the $10 per day fees as well. You can even write down or print directions before you leave your hotel.