6 Car Rental Tips Every Traveler Should Know

 

Quick Guide To Have a Better Car Rental Experience

Renting a car may seem like a good option – in most cases, it is – but it can also add complications to your trip. Commonly faced problems include finding the best deal, deciding whether you need insurance; if yes, then comparing different options. 

To avoid difficulties with your car rental, here is a complete guide that helps you understand the car rental agreement and save money at the same time.

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1. Choose the Right Vehicle

If you're traveling with children or a lot of baggage, it's better to rent a large sedan or an SUV. Otherwise, for a solo trip, you can reserve the smallest model the car rental agency has available.

Consider the type of vehicle that best meets your requirements. Size isn't the only constraint more drivers are now opting for environmentally friendly models. Other than this, some people cannot drive with a stick shift, so check with the agency if they have a model with automatic transmission. 

2. Avoid Airport Pickups

A simple hack to avoid extra rental charge is to take a cab from the airport to your hotel. Pick up your car from the hotel, it may sound silly, but with the premium pickup service at the airport come hefty charges. 

This is because the rental companies are obligated to pay some amount to the airport where they operate. 

 

3. Credit Cards are More Feasible

Some car rentals add an authorization charge when you use a debit card for the payment. This means you will end up paying more (sometimes hundreds of dollars) for your rental. Ensure that when renting a car abroad, use credit cards instead of debit cards. 

4. Spend Less with Mature Drivers

Most companies don't care how spotless the child's driving record is. If the added driver is younger than 25 years of age, the car rental sees them as a possible hazard to their vehicle. In such cases, the agency incurs an additional fee.

Avoid this by not adding someone under 25 as an additional driver.

 

5. Don't Add Unnecessary Drivers

Similar to the previous point, adding additional drivers is unnecessary. Companies charge a daily fee for every driver you add. Whether it is a family vacation or a quick escape with friends, keep the number of drivers in the list to the minimum.

More often than not, most of the drivers on the list end up taking the backseat. The car rental service is still charging you for every person included as a driver whether they get behind the wheel or not.

6. Fill Up the Tank

You had a great time now it's time to bid farewell to the vehicle and head home. The main concern arises when you bring the car back with an empty gas tank. The rental shop fills it up for you, sure!

But if that's the case, be ready to pay twice or sometimes even three times more price per gallon. So, make sure you take a quick detour (if you must) and top off the tank before dropping the car off. 

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