5 Life-Saving Car Rental Tips to Save Money
Whether you're renting a car for the first time or a frequent traveler who is used to renting cars, there are some small but efficient tips you should be aware of. Make sure to check these car rental tips out next time you rent a car.
1) Compare Prices
Car rental prices are just like flight prices. They depend on the demand and can change quickly. It is essential to compare prices from different car rental companies. Make sure to check major companies as well as the local ones.
This can be extremely time consuming considering there are tons of car rental companies. Finding a car rental aggregator like Carla can help you compare all the prices at one place.
Pro Car Rental Tip:
Car rental prices are calculated based on a 24 hour schedule. This means if you rent a car at 10 am and return it at 11 am the other day, you might get charged for 2 days since it is 1 hour more than 1 day (24 hours). Try to adjust your times to get a better rate.
2) Choose the right car
The type of car you choose can impact the price of your rental. If you're traveling alone or with a small group, a compact car is usually the most economical option. If you're traveling with a larger group or need more space, consider renting a van or SUV.
Pro Car Rental Tip:
As we mentioned above, car rental prices can change depending on the demand. Normally an SUV is more expensive than a compact car, but if there is a high demand on compact cars and low demand on SUVs for your travel dates and location, then you might get a better rate on an SUV. Make sure to check all the car types to catch these types of deals.
3) Rent Your Car from a Non-Airport Location
Rental cars at the airport tend to be more expensive due to extra airport fees. You can look for the closest city near the airport you’ll land to and get a much better deal. On the other hand, renting a car from the airport has its perks like more flexibility on office hours.
Check our blog to decide if it makes sense to rent a car from the airport for your case.
Pro Car Rental Tip:
Some companies like Carla s provide a map with your car search where you can easily find the nearest downtown location to the airport. This can be an advantage if you’re new to the city you’re traveling to.
4) Avoid Add-Ons
You'll probably get confused by all the add-on options offered by the car rental office. Try to avoid them unless they're essential for you. C'mon it's 2023. Use your smartphone instead of GPS or a radio.
5) Be Nice
Yes this is general life advice. But it can also be a car rental tip. Car rental offices can give you a free upgrade if they have enough availability. Give it a chance by asking nicely and you never know to which car class you'll get an upgrade to!
Pro Car Rental Tip:
Carla provides a free upgrade whenever we can find one for you. After completing your car rental reservation, we check everyday if there is an opportunity to book a higher class car with the same price. Once we find one, we upgrade your reservation. With no extra charge and necessity to be nice although we appreciate nice people.