subject: 6 Tricks To Renting A Car For Cheap [print this page] It's the expense you forget to plan for: renting a car. You get a great rate on a room, maybe you know someone who works for the hotel, you land super cheap airfare because you booked at the last minute and got those seats that had to be filled, and then WHAM! You have to spend a few hundred dollars on renting a car, and you feel there is no way out of it. Don't get in that jam. Keep this in mind.
Find the cheaper airport
The exact same car from the exact same rental company can cost you more at one airport than it would at another, in the same city. Compare prices not just between companies but between airports. If your airfare will be basically the same no matter which airport you fly into at your destination, select the one with less expensive car rentals.
Book online
Someone you get on the phone with the car rental service is not going to tell you about the promotions or special coupons currently available. If you visit the company's website, you'll often be presented with multiple special offers and coupons.
Can your memberships help you?
When we think membership reward we think travel, dining and of course airfare but we often forget that many credit cards, as well as memberships to places like Costco, offer their members up to a 25% discount on car rentals.
Upgrade for little
Even if you can't cut back your spending, you might be able to get more for it. Many car rental companies offer a size upgrade for $1 or $2 a day. My friend who is a well-known voice coach and vocalist is always travelling, but often has to bring tons of equipment with her. She discovered this trick a long time ago, which has saved her a lot of money as she travels the world often, speaking at conferences and covering new technology and methods used in singing lessons that help people learn how to sing.
Are you already insured?
The idea of being responsible for something as expensive as a car, that does not belong to us, already makes us feel edgy so usually when the customer service person asks you if you'd like to add 4 types of insurance, you just sign without question. But take a moment and get in touch with your car insurance company to ask if renter's insurance is already a part of your bundle!
Are fees included?
One of the biggest benefits of booking online is that you're told everything you'll have to pay, including fees like drop-off and registration fees, immediately once you select your car. A major way we get tricked when booking in person or over the phone is that we aren't told about tons of fees, until the day we return the car!
