When you’re vacationing farther away than it takes to drive there, you’ll most likely opt for a car rental. If you plan to do any amount of driving and public transportation isn’t a viable option, car rental offers a cheap alternative that beats borrowing the neighborhood kid’s skateboard. The trick to keeping cool on expenses is to add up the discounts like a DJ in a used record store.
Start with a search for the all the deals you can find. Several sites that often feature savings include:
Sidestep.com
Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Cheaptickets.com
Travelcity.com
The catch is that many of these require you to pick up and drop off from the same location. If you plan to drive the car to a new location, you’ll need to make sure that the company allows that.
Try a rental agency network or research options on the web
Rental agencies are good connections to have, like being in a club with special benefits. Often you can get a great deal on a car rental through a rental code available at a rental agency’s website. This further trims off the price, leaving more money in your vacation fund for dinner and dancing.
Other sites are designed to find the good deals. Here’s a list of a few that can save you more than just car rentals, but just about anything involving the faces of well known American presidents.
Happeningsbook.com. If the Happenings Book is sold in your area, you should be able to find plenty of car rental coupons as well as free upgrades.
Retailmenot.com features some of the best coupons on the market, for everything from website domain name purchasing to concert tickets to wheels to get you from here to there.
Mousesavers.com, though designed for those visiting Mickey’s favorite Disney’s spots, features an extensive list of corporate, contact ID as well as coupon codes for amazing discounts at car rental agencies. A single corporate code can save you in the hundreds, as well as provide free upgrades like insurance and an additional driver.
Nationalcarrental.com also offers amazing discounts on car rentals. You can join their Emerald site for free, save $50 and then get more discounts to shave off the price. It also lets you skip the line at the rental office since you can have everything arranged online.
Join a club
If you’re a Payless Perks Club member, you can save up to 10 % on your car rental. This can be in addition to other savings you might enjoy through other clubs, combining savings for an extremely smooth discount that leaves more room for fun outings on the trip. The right discount can mean an extra juicy stake, dancing lessons or yoga exercises on a mountain sunrise.
Keep an eye on the gas gauge and don’t scratch the paint
Be careful of fuel charges. If you can, the best arrangement is to pick up the car with a full tank of gas and return it in the same condition. You might want to check on the location of the nearest fill up station to where you’ll be dropping off the car.
Avoid damage charges. Double check the condition of the car before you pick it up, and make sure it’s in a similar condition when you return it. Check for dents and scratches. Whenever possible, always returned the vehicle when the depot is manned so you can be present for the inspection in order to represent your interests as thoroughly as possible. It’s always best to sign off on the inspection once it’s been checked over. You don’t want to be charged for something that was not your fault.
Savings add up to more vacation enjoyment
Seek out all the discounts you can, and let them add up to significant savings. Protect your investment by returning the car fueled and in the same condition you borrowed it. Prudent efforts can save you considerably, both on the bill and any charges that might result from not following the guidelines of your contract.
Related posts:
