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How to save money on car rentals

Price is one of the main factors to consider when renting a car, and how to get a good deal on a rental car is one of the top questions we're asked about. There is no single answer to this question since there are several factors involved in rental or car rental pricing. Over the years, tenants have noticed that the initial advertised price is always different from the price they end up paying, so it's important to know how pricing works and how you can stop paying the full price.

Basic tips to get the best rental car deals

1. Book ahead

Booking two weeks ahead of time normally has the best offers. Try to check a month in advance and check regularly as the date gets closer.

2. Book on any day

You don't have a single perfect day to book your car rental, so you can book every day you see the price your agree to. In some car rental websites results, Wednesday has the highest median price ($38), but the lowest price is only $3 lower.

3. Consider your location

Different countries and regions in the US tend to have different rates. Historically, Florida had the lowest median daily values, while Alaska had the highest. Smaller Midwestern cities also have higher daily rates, so keep this in mind when comparing prices, particularly when determining the starting point for a long road trip.

4. Pick up and drop off at the same place

Pick up and drop off at the same place would still be cheapper than pick up and drop off at different places. The average cost to pick up at the airport is $35 and pickup in the city center is $33. But to pick up at one and drop off at the other is closer to $65.

5. Consider and upgrade

This can sound counter-intuitive because it goes against having the absolute lowest price. That said, the median price of an economy car rental is $31, while the price of an intermediate car rental is $33. Then it's just $2 extra on average to get a full-size vehicle. Probably, by upgrading, you might get more bang for your buck.

6. Fill up your gas tank before you return the car

One of the best ways to save money on your car rental is to fill the tank before your drop off. The price you pay to fill the tank yourself would usually be lower than the price that the car rental company charges for the same amount of gas.

Advanced tips to get the best rental car deals

1. Use your credit card

In the US, it is very popular for travel credit cards to have reward plans that provide car rental discounts.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card includes 20% off Silvercar rentals, up to 30% off Avis, and up to 25% off National rentals. Check with your credit card provider for specifics and see if you need to rent through a dedicated booking portal or with a discount code that you can enter on the booking company's website. Your credit card can also provide a waiver of damages free of charge, which assumes responsibility for any damages to your rental car. This is something you'd have to buy seperately, so it's nice to have if it's available.

2. Use a corporate discount code

Many businesses and universities have relationships with major car rental companies such as Avis, Enterprise, Hertz and National.

These are not open to the general public and you would be expected to have evidence of employment or alumni status in order to be qualified. Make sure there are no extra conditions, such as only booking business travel with your corporate code.

3. Book through an airline

If you're booking to rent a car from anywhere you're flying to, try booking through the airline's booking site. Many major airlines have agreements with car rental companies that are connected to airline miles/rewards programs.

For example, members of United MileagePlus will earn up to 1.0000 points per rent with Hertz. If you are a frequent flyer with a "elite" ranking with your airline, you could be eligible for status matches that may lead to free car upgrades and bonus points. The only drawback is that booking through the airline doesn't earn car rental points, it that's something you're interested in.

How to get a good deal on a rental car abroad

1. Remember the other tips

Many of the same tips on having a decent deal on the rental car above apply while you're abroad. You should always review the terms and conditions of the regional variations, however many of the same concepts would apply.

2. Rent a manual transmission car

This only applies if you are already capable of driving a manual transmission with enough experience. Manual transmissions are the standard in Europe and would normally cost extra rental and automatic transmissions since they are less popular and can only be available in larger or more premium vehicles. These cars may be harder to book unless you book well in advance, and you may find that they're harder to drive in a city where the roads are narrower than you're used to.

3. Watch for cross-border fees

If you're going to drive across national boundaries, you need to make sure that the car is eligible to cross at all to see how much it will cost. Cross-border fees depend on the countries concerned, so check the terms and conditions of your rent.

4. Bring your own child seat

The child seat is a necessity that you can't skip if you're looking for rent a car abroad. Bringing your own child seat can sound like a big hassle, but most airlines let you carry one free of charge with a stroller - it won't count against your baggage allowance. It's a way to save money if you don't want to book one from the car rental company.

5. Book with only one driver

It's more convenient to divide the driving duty between multiple drivers on a long road trip, but additional drivers are additional costs for you car rental. Check to see if your car rental company provides a second driver free of charge, or if you can add a second driver for a few days when you know there will be a lot of time spent behind the wheel.

6. Watch the clock

This depends on the rental car, but it generally pays to drop off your car at the same time that you picked it up. This way you can avoid getting charged for an entire additional day in case you return the rental after the 24 hour cutoff time from when you picked it up.