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I am always on the look out for good travel deals and how to save money on trips. I think we do a great job booking flights and hotels, and maximizing our Delta and Marriott rewards points. However, car rentals always throw me for a loop. Sometimes I feel like a great deal on car rentals is like a nut I cannot crack! But over the recent years, I have come up with some strategies that have saved me money on car rentals. Here are my best car rental booking tips!
Car Rental Booking Tips
I have rented a car about five times in the last year. My go-to car rental sites are always Kayak and Hotwire. This year, I have found the best car rental deals through Costco Travel and BJ’s Travel. Costco Travel requires you to have a Costco membership number to book. BJ’s does not verify membership. Car Rental rates seem to be an ever evolving beast so here are some of my tips to maximize your bookings on those sites.
Book often.
In my Hawaii money saving tips post I mentioned that I booked cars about five times on each island before all was said and done. I was booking through Costco Travel – a site where you reserve but don’t pre-pay. This allows you to keep looking for a better deal, and cancel the reservation with the higher price. To do this you have to be committed to keep checking, and with anything, READ THE FINE PRINT and make sure you can cancel at anytime (usually if you haven’t entered your credit card information they will not charge your card until you pick up the car).
Check Hotwire.
I used to get the best car rental deals with Hotwire. Now if you have never used Hotwire, its an aggregate site with a twist. They don’t show you the rental car company but guarantee an airport pick up (you can only use this site if you are renting at a major airport). They charge your card RIGHT AWAY and then reveal the rental company details after you pay. If you are confident you are getting the best price, this can be a great way to save money. Again, I used to always book through Hotwire, although recently I have noticed Costco Travel and BJ’s Travel offer better rates. This is a good site to start for comparison, along with Kayak.
Rent off airport.
On my recent trip to SW Florida this tip saved me over $200! I was looking for an 11-day rental, picking up and returning at the Southwest Florida Airport. The cheapest car was $560. I then looked at renting outside the airport, and I was able to rent for 12 days, for $298!
We did have to take a cab from the airport to my parent’s house on the first night, which costs $60. And we did have to get a family member to drive us to and from the car rental location. But if renting in town is an option, you will probably save a significant amount!
Rent the smallest car possible.
On our recent trip to Southwest Florida, for $298, I rented an economy car, but when I got to the rental center, the smallest car they had was a mid-size. That’s a free upgrade!
Now, you can’t always expect a free upgrade. If you have six people, don’t reserve a compact! But rent the smallest size car you can live with. In my experience, even if they don’t give you an automatic upgrade, they might offer you a better price on a bigger car when you are at the rental counter. Plus there is always room for negotiation with the clerk at the desk!
Compare correctly.
When researching online, make sure you are comparing the total cost, including taxes and fees, and not just the per day rate. This can make a huge difference!
I think this is a good list, but I still feel like I can do better with prices. Another great thing about renting a car is you can test out a car that you’re thinking of buying. So, if you plan to upgrade to something new this is a great option. Also, if you do decide to upgrade your car, you’ll probably need to sell the old one. If you’d like to make the process easy, you can use a service like Junk That Car who have an office in Chula Vista and several other areas throughout the US.
What are your best car rental booking tips?
Photo credit: Kay Gaensler via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA
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That’s so smart to get the smaller car. They usually do run out and have to give you an upgrade. It’s happened to us a couple of times. I also agree getting an off airport car is much easier.
Awesome tips! As an extra large family, these are extremely helpful tips for planning a trip! Thanks for them!
how do you find availability of vehicles to accomodate your family?
These are such great tips! We rent a car every time we fly somewhere. I’ll definitely be saving this for future use!
Belle | One Awesome Momma
I love Kayak for almost everything! Hotwire is a good one too. I also have a Costco membership and never even thought to look there. Thanks for the reminder!
yes, def check out Costco Travel! Ive really saved alot using them
Awesome tips! I’ll be traveling soon and renting a car. And great idea with the smaller car!
Loved these tips! I always get confused with pricing when comparing rentals so focusing on total due was such a great clarification point!
Great tips! I always rent the smallest car lol
I used to love the big SUV and mini-van but its really not worth the extra charge when its just the four of us.
Super smart tips! Definitely will try these next time we need to rent a car.
These were wonderful tips! I’m working on planning a trip later this year and we will be using a rental because the trip may be too much for our little blue engine. I’ve been making a habit of reading the fine print on things lately. It’s SUPER time consuming, but very worth it! So I will be sure to do that when it comes to booking a car.
And $298 for 12 days??!! That’s amazing! I always got caught up at check out when it came to the total price. They advertise the low daily rate, but I’m always in for a surprise when I check the final price.
yes, I could not believe that was the rate! I think honestly its the off-airport that saves you the most money.
Wow really helpful tips! I didn’t even know Costco rented cars, and the tip on comparing prices is definitely something smart to keep in mind.
Yes, and as long as you enter a member number… wink, wink…
I couldn’t believe how much more expensive it was to book at the airport! It was so much cheaper to uber to the car rental place!
They tack on so many fees! I am definitely using this tip again…
Can you believe I’ve never rented a car?! I needed these tips!
blessings,
The How-to Guru
Glad I can help!
Looks like a really great car to rent!
This is so helpful! I love traveling, and the car rental part can always be a daunting task to figure out. Love your advice!
Great tips! My go too is Hotwire and I usually get the best deals booking last minute. Like the night before or the morning of.
oh thats a great idea!
We have find that the best way to save money is to rent off airport as well. It’s crazy how much they increase the prices!!
I think its mandatory airport taxes and fees, so no way to get around it unless you venture away from the airport!
Hey Momma! These are great tips.
I lived in California (Santa Barbara) a few years back when I was a student and when I visited again last year to do a road trip from LA up to SF, (my first time renting a car overseas!) I was overwhelmed by all of the different things to consider when renting in the US so this guide is so useful! I definitely agree about renting away from the airport – the variance in pricing can be overwhelming and I don’t think that a lot of people realise it!
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.