4 Tips to Save You Money on Your Summer Car Rental

You spent hours researching the best hotel rates and airline deals to plan your perfect summer vacation, only to realize you forgot one little detail: the rental car. While getting a rental car is usually the smallest portion of your traveling bill, that does not mean that you should overpay for it. Booking a rental car takes some research and perseverance, but if you follow these four simple tips, you will know that you are getting the best deal on your rental car.

Always Compare Prices

This does not just mean comparing company to company. You should also be comparing online prices versus over-the-phone prices (HINT: online is usually cheaper). Not only that, you should even compare the size of the car you are looking to rent versus the other classes. The smallest car is not always the cheapest. Oftentimes, rental car companies will put the SUVs or trucks on sale because they do not get rented as often due to high gas prices. If you aren’t traveling very far, taking advantage of one of these deals can save you some dough.

Ask for Discounts

CBS News points out that if you are a member of AAA, AARP, or even Costco, chances are you can get a discount on your rental car just by asking. Even if you are not a member, always ask for a discount. The worst thing that can happen is they say no and you are right back where you started.

Check the Website

Once you have figured out who has the cheapest rates (usually searching a travel website, like Hotwire, provides the fastest results), you will want to visit the specific website for that company. Most rental car companies have exclusive coupons or discount codes only for their website visitors. They don’t want to have to pay finders fees to the travel sites, so they try to garner their own renters with these savings.

Clarify Your Coverage

Of course you want to make sure you have insurance protection when you rent a car. Even if you drive defensively, accidents happen. However, oftentimes you already have the coverage you need and you do not need to pay the steep price the rental company wants for it. Check with your insurance company and the credit card company you paid for the rental with to verify that you are covered in the rental car.