My least favorite part about traveling used to be figuring out what company to rent a car through. Prices on rental cars can either be really cheap, really expensive and filled with all these extra costs you did not plan on and a complete headache. I cannot tell you how many times we would get to the car rental agency to pick up our car – only to be surprised by the total cost once all the fees were in included. I hated it. That’s why I’m sitting down today to bring you the ultimate guide to car rentals. I figured out the best way to rent-a-car – avoiding all the surprise costs, added fees and driving away from the agency quickly and seamlessly. <Insert fist pump>
The following guide is for you if: A. You have never rented a car before B. You hate the headache of renting a car C. You hate feeling ripped off when renting a car D. all of the above.
Maui The Lowdown On Renting A Car
1. First, make sure you have a good credit card in your wallet, especially a credit card with primary rental insurance. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is my favorite travel credit card for many reasons, but the primary rental insurance is one of the best perks it offers. When you pay for your rental car on your Chase Sapphire Reserve card you get primary coverage around the world up to $75,000. Feel free to also check out other credit cards which offer similar coverage.
2. Make sure you have car insurance. If you’re from the U.S.A. and you have your own auto insurance policy, it may cover collision damage and even personal liability for a rental car.Therefore, it’s totally worth making a call to your insurance provider to check what is covered. Keep in mind: Car rental companies love to upsell you on their insurance plans. It’s where they make almost double on your rental. This upsell process will begin during the booking online and proceed when you pick up your rental car as well. Be confident and hold your ground, because as soon as you decline coverage the salesman will try another tactic. This method involves scaring you into thinking you need the insurance because “you’ll be FULLY liable for ALL costs in case of a minor or major accident”. However, I’m telling you. If you do your homework and check with your current Auto Insurance Policy carrier – you’re more than likely covered already.
3. Always fill the tank yourself. This will be much cheaper. Remember all those fees and taxes they charge you for your rental car? If you opt to prepay for a full tank through the rental agency, they will tack all of those fees and taxes on top of the cost of a full tank. Sometimes this can make a full tank of gas DOUBLE the cost it would’ve been if you had just filled it yourself before returning it to the airport.
4. Always make your rental car reservation prior to departing for your trip. In fact, when you purchase your flights, plan on the next thing you do be booking your rental car. Never just “walk up” to the car rental counter to rent your car. Always book ahead of time and also bear in mind that if you book a rental car within 24-72 hours of your planned pick up time, you’ll pay a higher rental cost. Guaranteed.
5. Don’t rent the GPS because car rental companies absolutely love it when you add this onto your rental for an extra $10-$15 a day. Simply use your smartphone for navigation. If you’re traveling local or internationally, download offline maps of whole countries through the Google Maps App. This will give you directions even if you do not have WiFi or data signal!
6. Always inspect your rental car for damage and be diligent about marking it down on your rental sheet, letting an employee know and taking photos for yourself. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve rented a car, only to find scratches, dings and damage to the vehicle, none of which were cataloged or recorded, for which I’d be held liable had I not pointed them out. Therefore, I spend time going over each rental car with a find tooth comb, noting all the damage, taking time/date stamped photos and asking the employees to add it to the car history log. Trust me. Take the time to do this because it will always pay off in the end.
Car Rental Agencies I Love
Alamo – I love Alamo and it’s always our go-to rental agency. I even will pay extra to rent with them to avoid certain rental car agencies. They have great customer service, are straight forward and hassle free.
SiXT – This company is great for travel in Europe and have select locations throughout the US. Whenever we travel somewhere that has a SiXT, we always rent with them. We love the premium cars they offer like Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, Audi, etc.
Enterprise – Enterprise is usually the most expensive company to rent from, but I’ve never been disappointed. They really will pick you up (and drop you off) and I usually receive a complimentary upgrade. Checking out is super speedy and fluid and the customer service is always great. We rented through them for our last trip to Nashville, TN and loved the experience.
Avoid: Budget & Hertz
Car Rental Websites I Love
This is where renting a car can become complicated. You can rent direct, or you can rent through a third party website. When you rent direct, sometimes you’ll pay higher costs for the rental, and other times you’ll find better deals. You have to shop around and do your homework. I will generally start at one of the third party websites below, research the costs of the car I’m looking for and then go directly to the rental companies site to price compare.
Be aware – Third party websites will sometimes not include all the rental fees associated with your rental. Make sure that whatever website you use give you your final cost, including tax and fees, so you are not surprised with extra costs once you pick up your vehicle. The below sites include ALL the fees, so you can rest easy that your final price is your final price.
Costco Travel – I always rent cars through Costco. They have the most competitive pricing, offer free cancellations with no penalties or fees and each month they run new specials. They work with all the major companies and you’re able to rent on and off airport locations. The total price they quote you, is the total price you will pay for the rental. Just make sure when you’re picking up your car that the salesman doesn’t pull a fast one on you and increase your price.
Hotwire.com – Surprisingly when I find myself in a pinch and prices are horribly high for the time I want to rent, I’ve been able to snag some great deals on cars through Hotwire.com. You can always find a discount code and the final amount you pay is the only cost you will pay for the car (unless you get unsold on gas or insurance).
Rentalcars.com – I use this site infrequently, but when I do I’m always happy with the service and outcome. It pulls all the pricing from several different rental car companies and if worth looking into if you cannot find a price or car you like on the other two websites above.
I hope this was helpful for any of your upcoming business or leisure travels!
XO,
M
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