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A poster in the Starwood section asked for tips for Hawaii, and I realized that a lot of my car rental tips were universal. So I thought I'd post them here.
Car Rental Advice
That's it for now. Feel free to add your own.
Car Rental Advice
- If you belong to Costco, check their website first. They offer competitive rates in many places, plus you get one additional driver for free. I usually combine this rate with a discount coupon (e.g. “$30 off weekly rental”).
- If you don’t belong to Costco, try AAA, AARP, Entertainment, or even your employer’s rate (if permitted).
- Check FatWallet.com forums for corporate codes and discount coupons that anyone can use, such as Walmart, Delta, Visa, AMEX etc. http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/travel-discussion/790643/
- Consider locally owned rental companies. Many will meet you right at the airport parking lot. Ask site-specific travel forum experts for recommendations.
- Weekly rentals with a Saturday overnight stay are often cheaper than renting by the day. (P.S. Don’t try to game the system by entering that you will return the car at noon on Sunday if you actually plan on returning it at noon on Saturday. It won’t work.)
- Book your car early, especially if you’re traveling in high season (e.g. Christmas or SuperBowl in the hosting city) because rental cars can and do sell out. Unless you lock in your rate, you can cancel at any time.
- Check back often to see if you can get a better rate. Check on different days and times of the week because their pricing system is completely hit or miss. I've been able to shave several hundred dollars off the car rental cost using this method. (Note: If you find a better rate with the same company, don't cancel and make a new reservation, but simply modify your existing reservation.)
- Opt to receive car rental emails where you can learn of promotions, including last minute clearances. Also, check the "Hot Deals" or "Last Minute Rentals" section of the website.
- If you choose a national company, join its "frequent driver" club even if you're not a frequent traveler. You can complete much of the required information online, ahead of your trip, and save time at the rental counter. Many locations have a dedicated line or kiosk just for their club members or, better yet, offer a "pick your car and go" program, which allows you to bypass the line altogether (provided you completed the info ahead of time). Many of these clubs also allow a spouse to drive for no additional charge. Most are free to join.
- Before driving off, take the time to look over the car and make indications on the form of any scratches and dents. Ask the employee to initial that you returned the car in good order before you leave. There are some unscrupulous businesses that will try and charge you for scratches and dents that you didn’t cause.
- Be sure to bring your auto insurance card, or scan it into your SmartPhone. Waive the in-house insurance if your personal insurance covers rental cars. (If you're traveling to a foreign country or USVI, call and ask if you'll be covered.)
- Read through the Benefits of each of your credit cards and determine which offers the best rental car protection before booking. “Platinum” cards usually offer some kind of free enhanced protection.
- Consider paying for additional protection. I use AMEX's Premium Car Rental Protection Service. It's a flat $24.99 fee for each car rental, and covers up to 42 days. The best feature is that AMEX, not your personal insurance company, will be the primary insurer should you wreck or damage the car, or if your car is stolen. You don’t have to do anything after enrollment; the $25 will automatically be charged when you rent a car.
https://www295.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-insurance-mvt/home.do
- A convertible or open air Jeep sounds awesome, and I know you're picturing yourself zipping along the sunny coast in one, but realize that it has VERY limited space for luggage and groceries. So pack light and be prepared to enjoy that "tousled" look.
- Seriously, don’t be stupid and leave valuables in your car. Putting your $800 camera in the trunk of your car, or placing a jacket on top of your laptop will not save it from thieves. If it's valuable, take it with you, leave it in the hotel safe, or leave it at home.
- Send yourself a text with the car’s make and model and/or take a photo of your license plate number, in case you need it.
- Do something that will help you find your rental car in the stream of unfamiliar cars, such as tying a ribbon around the antenna.
- If you're under 26, be aware that they may turn your down or charge you extra to rent a car.
- If you'll be driving out in the boonies, check to see if there's a spare tire AND the necessary wrench to get the tool out of the trunk.
- Don't be suckered into signing up for the gas fill up service. They'll quote you a competitive price per gallon, but the catch is that they charge you the cost of filling up the entire tank, no matter how much gas is left in the tank when you return it.
- If you're filling up before returning the car, try to avoid using the gas stations nearest the car rental companies, as they jack up their rates considerably.
That's it for now. Feel free to add your own.
