Renting a car is a great way to subside the cost of transportation and also increase comfort, especially when in a foreign location. If this is your first time trying to rent a car and you are looking for tips on how to go about doing it, then you’ve come to the right page.
After going through this post, you should be able to do a car rental with ease
So here are these tips.
Choose the Right Vehicle
When it comes to renting a car, you might feel tempted to opt for the largest vehicle possible. Having a big car can indeed be very useful, especially if you’re taking a road trip with family, friends, or colleagues and there are several bags to load. However, with big vehicles comes more fuel consumption per mile and a higher rental price.
If you’re traveling on your own or with just one person, for instance, consider getting an economy car instead; that way, you’ll save money on gas as well as the rental price. Alternatively, if there are four or five people sharing a rental car, the cost per person will probably be lower if you rent a larger vehicle rather than two smaller ones. A good middle-ground choice is to rent an SUV; it’ll provide enough space for most situations while also being relatively affordable in terms of both daily rentals and fuel costs.
Make A Reservation
Another important tip is to make sure that you make a reservation ahead of time. There are several reasons why this is important. For one thing, if you reserve your vehicle in advance, it could save money. You may be able to take advantage of early booking discounts and other types of deals that will help keep costs down. If nothing else, making a reservation will ensure that there will be vehicles available when you need them so that your plans aren’t ruined because of lack of availability.
Most times, when you wait till the last minute or the week before your trip before making a reservation, there might only be high-end vehicles available for reservation. This means double or triple costs compared to normal rates. If there is a specific type of vehicle in mind for your trip, then reservations should also be made well ahead
Compare Prices From Different Rental Car Companies
While it may be tempting to go with whichever rental car company is the first one you see, or you’ve used before with good results, try comparing prices from different rental car companies.
Even if you have a favorite car rental company, you should still shop around. You may be able to find a better deal at a different company. Online comparison sites can help make shopping around easier by displaying several available options in one place and allowing you to book through the site.
Read reviews from previous customers.
Reading reviews from former customers can help you decide what to look for in a rental car and which companies to avoid. If possible, look for websites that publish independent reviews from verified customers and identify fake or unreliable reviews. Ideally, read through several dozen reviews before making your decision. While online reviews can be a helpful tool, please don’t rely on them as the sole source of information when renting a car. As with anything else, it’s also a good idea to ask friends and family members for their recommendations based on personal experiences.
Choose the most convenient pickup location for your needs.
Choosing the right rental car location is important for a successful rental experience. Pickup locations should be convenient for you, given your travel plans and schedule. Some of the things you should consider when choosing a pickup location are as follows:
- Whether the pickup or dropoff location is open when you will be renting your car (i.e., not on Sundays).
- If you are flying into an airport, the airport parking lot may also be the best choice for picking up your vehicle. However, keep in mind that while airport locations are often more convenient and offer more availability than other options, they can also be more expensive because of taxes and fees.
Bring your GPS and toll pass
It costs extra to use the GPS services of your rental car. You can save money by using the navigation maps on your phone. Also, you can save money by using your toll pass but endeavor to inform your car rental company to exclude the GPS and toll pass fees from your rental fee.