Renting a car is much more convenient than waiting for public transport or paying for a taxi if you are traveling further than a short distance. Hidden costs can be a problem if they aren’t obvious. This list will help ensure that you arrive prepared.
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A Credit Card may offer insurance coverage
You will be offered costly rental car insurance to protect against any damage when you rent a vehicle. You may need this insurance even though your auto coverage does not cover rental cars. It can run upwards to $10-25 per day. Most major credit cards offer insurance for car rentals at no extra cost. Be sure to verify this before you make a purchase. Some credit cards have a limit on coverage while others provide no coverage at all. Check with your bank first. Renting insurance can be cheaper than buying it.
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Credit cards may not cover everything
Ask for specific details when you call to verify your credit card’s rental car policy. While credit cards may pay for damages to the car while you are renting it, they will not cover fees incurred by the rental company. These fees can be costly. You can choose temporary insurance if you feel you require additional coverage. This is a type of policy that protects you for a short time.
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Every Driver Counts –and Prices
You will need to pay an additional fee for each driver you register when you rent the car, even if they are all over 25. You should think about how many drivers are needed. To avoid additional fees, you can designate one or two drivers.
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Young drivers are more expensive
Long ago, rental car companies didn’t allow drivers under 21 years old. Most rental car companies now allow young drivers to drive, but they may charge a steep fee . This is usually a daily fee to register a young driver (under 25).
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Keep to the Paved Roads
You can easily forget some details when the representative of the rental car company walks you through its policies. One thing you will want to remember is that most rental car companies do not allow cars to be used on unpaved roads. You will lose your collision damage waiver and other rental car insurance if you drive on gravel roads or unpaved roads. If you don’t want to be charged for off-road adventures, stick to the main road.
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Before returning the vehicle, fill up the tank
The local gas station is the only place you need to stop before returning your rental car. A majority of rental companies require that you have a full tank before you return your car. Failure to fill up the tank will result in a charge for the fuel. Rental car companies often charge more for gas than local rates.
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Avoid paying an extra airport fee
A surcharge will be applied to your airport Car rental. These surcharges are paid by rental car companies to the airport, and passed on to the customer. However, you can hop on a shuttle to rent a car from outside the airport.
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Bring Your Own Extras to Save Money
It is the little things that make a difference in life that matter, and this holds true for renting cars. Do you need a GPS system or a child seat? You want to listen to the radio? You can save big by equipping yourself. Satellite radio can cost as little as $3 per day, with daily fees for GPS systems and child safety seats that are much higher. You can bring your own travel accessories and make sure the rental company takes their — from the car. Also, the — bill must be removed before you leave the lot.
The bottom line
If you’re prepared, you can enjoy the convenience and cost-effectiveness of renting a car without having to pay any unexpected charges. You can do some research and ask lots of questions to find out exactly what you are getting —and how much you will be charged — with your rental car.
