How to rent a car for cheap: 10 ways

It is often the case that travelling involves a lot of rental cars. Knowing how to rent a car for cheap will definitely ease the pressure off your financial pocket. It will free up more money for you to use during your trip or vacation. This is something that every traveler or tourist will want to enjoy. The good news is that the internet is awash with tips and tricks that you can use to rent the best car at the cheapest price available. The following are ten ways that you can use to rent a car for cheap.

10 ways on how to rent a car for cheap

1) Go online and use deal aggregators

The internet will be one of your most powerful allies in the search for the cheapest rental cars that you can get without compromising on quality. The beauty of the internet is that you can use your smartphone or tablet and get all the information that you need without leaving the safety and comfort of your own home.

There are plenty of online websites that will have a list of all available rental car deals. There will also be other metrics that you can use to filter deals and end up with the best option for your own specific set of needs (check out our online deals!)

2) The farther away you are from the Airport, the better for your wallet

It is an obvious fact that the closest car rentals to the Airport you are landing in will be some of the most expensive car rental agencies that you will ever come across. This is probably due to the fact that the owners of the agencies have many customers walking in because of the convenient location of the rental agency.

It might also be because it is expensive to maintain a lucrative business such as a car rental agency close to the Airport. As such, the wise and prudent thing to do would be to go farther away from the airport, so as to get better and cheaper rates. If you asking yourself how to rent a car for cheap… well, just make sure to choose the right location to pick up your rental car.

3) Check for partner benefits with your airline or credit card company

The more inquisitive you are with your Credit Card Company or airline, the better your pocket will be at the end of your trip. Credit card companies and airlines with frequent flier programs usually have partnerships with select car rental agencies.

This means that there is a possibility for you to get a cheaper rental rate if you use the rental agency that is your frequent flier program’s partner. This is something that you should take advantage of as soon as you get to know about it.

4) Think twice before signing for additional insurance

While it might be tempting to sign on the dotted line on your rental car lease asking for additional insurance, you would be better served by waiting. The first thing you need to know is whether your existing policy or your credit card company has a provision providing coverage for your car rental. If you do not do your due diligence and opt to sign on the dotted line, you could end up with a bump in your daily rental rate. This will decrease the amount of money that you would have to enjoy your trip or vacation.

5) Avoid sneaky fees

Every car rental agency has some fine print that will lead to higher charges for you if you are not careful. Knowing some of the sneaky ways in which car rental agencies skim money off you will be beneficial. For instance, if you are required to return the car with a full gas tank or face paying three times the price for a full gas tank, then common sense will dictate that you return the car with the tank topped off. However, if you do not go through your agreement with a fine tooth comb, you will end up regretting your actions.

6) Ask yourself if you really need the car rental

One of the first basic questions that you will want to answer on how to rent a car for cheap is whether you really need the car or not. In some cases, you would be better served sticking to public transportation for the duration of the trip. This is especially so in cases where you do not have a lot of luggage and where you know that your movements will be very limited. In such situations, a car rental would only lead to wastage of funds.

7) The early bird catches the worm

It is good practice to book your car rental earlier than when you will need it. Booking the car rental a few days or weeks before your trip will allow you to get the best rate available without anyone or anything breathing fire down your neck.

For example, booking a car rental a few weeks before the festive season will expose you to cheaper rates than getting the same car at the facility when you land in the airport right in the middle of the festive season.

8) Keep good records

It is also a good rule of thumb to take good pictures of the car before actually driving off. This will allow you to have good records of the car’s condition before you touched it. Comparing these photos with the actual car at the end of your car lease may prevent any allegations or charges that would have forced you to part with more money than necessary. We think this is one of the most important way on how to rent a car for cheap: just because through this attention, your are going to avoid many possible troubles.

9) Try smaller operators

Smaller and independent operators are usually more flexible and offer a more personalized services than any large car rental company. It is also true that at certain times of the year, their rates are cheaper and better than the prices charged by large car rental operators. This is something that you can take advantage of.

10) Remember to fight for your rights

You should also develop a habit of going through your credit card charges so that you can spot any suspicious or strange fees that you may have unwillingly paid at the car rental facility. If there are any disputes, you can always reach an amicable solution and end up paying less than expected.

Do you know any others ways on how to rent a car for cheap? Please share with us!