This is a very competitive world we live in where everybody wants something at a discount price but how do you know that you will always the get the best deal available. Most of us end up convincing our selves that we have done a good job of obtaining the best discount possible because it means we can relax and get on with the next thing on our agenda. One area that has risen owing to fuel costs and inflation is car rentals and it has seen many rises so if you’re not sure, here are a few tips on how to make your cheap car rental more realistic.
Booking your car over the counter will almost always cost you more than using an internet site. You could go along to the car rental office or use the phone but the internet booking sites are almost always able to offer a discount unavailable elsewhere. Getting a cheap car rental is not just about the cost of the rental though as there are other ways to save money.
You can save quite an amount if you find the cheapest gas station to fill the tank up with before you return it. If you return the car empty, the rental company will fill the tank for you but all charge many more cents per gallon than you could have filled it for. Many companies will supply some form of discount either in costs or some other for of benefit if you are a returning customer.
Why not see if the rental company accepts air miles as a form of discount on the normal car rental costs. This can be even more beneficial if your air miles are running out and you wouldn’t get a chance to use them anyway so why not try for a cheap car rental instead. Another way to lower the cost of your car rental is by making your reservation as early as possible as discounts for this are usually given.
To get your rental cheaper, pick up your car early in the morning, just as the shop is opening, so that there will be a shortage on the cheap car rentals, at this point, the renters may give you a free upgrade. If the car rental agency has an arrangement with hotels and airlines and you intend to book a flight and hotel as well then you may find that you could be eligible for further discounts if you decide to book with all three. There are now web sites that can find a suitable car just by you letting them know what your upper budget is and they will source your car rental for to you at the price you are prepared to pay.
You would be wise to check the company that is prepared to offer you this package, not just their history but see if the same deal is available for another source at a better discount. If you intend to have the car for over five days look for discounts on weekly rental and see what further money you can save at the time you reserve the car. As a final piece of advice, if the option to collect the car from the car rental company’s offices is available as opposed to the airport then pick up the car there as you will often be charged more for airport collections.
Tags: Travel, car rental, Travel, holidays
