Reserving a rental car should be one of the simpler tasks when planning a trip. Choose your car, pick your dates, pay, and you’re done.
Except when you aren’t.
Ever had a surprise waiting for you at the rental counter? Paid way too much for insurance you didn’t need? Signed rental conditions you didn’t read?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you already know that booking rental cars isn’t always so simple.
Avoid Rental Car Booking Hassles By Doing These 7 Things First
Saving money on rental cars isn’t difficult. Rental car problems are easily preventable.
They happen when people skip steps that take two minutes to complete but save hours of headache and real dollars.
Steps that seasoned travelers don’t forget to do.
Compare Prices Across Multiple Platforms
Booking your first price from the first website you land on is the number one mistake travelers make.
Different rental car platforms offer different prices. Sometimes wildly different prices.
Checking multiple suppliers separately takes way too much time. Instead, use a car rental aggregator.
A car rental aggregator is a platform that compares offers from multiple rental companies in one place. Sites like EconomyBookings, DiscoverCars, or Rentalcars pull pricing from hundreds of suppliers then display them all side by side.
That way, you can easily compare car rental prices, vehicle type, insurance included, and rental conditions in one single search rather than hopping from page to page.
Doing this simple two-minute task is the easiest way to save $20 to $50 (or more) on the same rental car.
It also gives you a baseline price if you intend to book directly through a supplier.
Know What You’re Actually Paying For
Rental car pricing can be broken down into three categories. Know these before booking and you’ll avoid most surprises.
Quote price. This is the advertised daily or weekly rate. It generally includes local taxes, basic insurance (CDW), and often includes young driver fees, one-way rental fees, and airport surcharges.
Optional add-ons. As advertised. GPS units, child seats, additional drivers, upgraded protection levels.
Supplier-imposed fees. Fees the supplier chooses to charge you based on your travel plans. Cross-border charges, toll transponders, fuel charges, and certain insurance requirements fall into this category.
The breakdown and details of what’s included are visible on sites like EconomyBookings before you book.
The trick is to look.
Read the Rental Conditions (Seriously)
There’s a reason this is the first tip in every car rental article. People skip it. Always. And then wonder why they’re suddenly being charged fees they weren’t expecting.
Rental conditions contain everything the supplier will and will not charge you. Deposit amount. Mileage policies. Fuel policies. Cross-border restrictions. Insurance requirements.
Two minutes of your time. Seriously.
Important things to look for:
- Fuel policy. Are you required to return full to full? Does it cost less?
- Mileage. Is there a mileage limit? Or is unlimited included?
- Deposit. How much will they hold on your card?
- Cross-border. Can you drive outside of the rental country? If so, how much does it cost?
- Insurance. What, if any, insurance is included with your rental? What insurance is optional?
If you know what to expect before you arrive at the counter by reading the conditions upfront, nothing will surprise you.
Know What Insurance You’ll Need BEFORE Arriving at the Counter
Counter agents upselling insurance to travelers is the single easiest way to end up spending more than expected.
Agents are trained to upsell. And after you’ve traveled all day, you just want your car keys.
Don’t leave your insurance decision up to the counter. Decide what you need (if anything) before you even leave home.
Ask yourself these two questions:
- Does your credit card include rental car coverage? Many premium credit cards offer rental car insurance as a cardholder benefit. Either primary or secondary CDW.
- Does your personal auto insurance policy cover rentals? Nearly every auto insurance policy will cover rental vehicles within the same country they’re rented.
If you answered yes to either of these questions, you can safely decline most of what’s being offered to you at the desk. That could save you $15 to $30 per day.
If you need additional coverage, many booking platforms (including EconomyBookings) offer supplemental rental car insurance you can purchase before your trip starts. It’s almost always cheaper than purchasing at the desk.
Book in the Golden Window
There’s an ideal time to book your rental car based on actual booking data.
Booking data from EconomyBookings suggests booking 2 to 31 days out from your rental pickup date will find you the lowest prices.
Book more than 1 month out? More likely than not you’re paying more than necessary. This goes against popular belief but the data supports it.
Book last minute? Not ideal, but you likely won’t get locked out completely. Your rate will be higher, but availability should still be there.
Airport Pickup Locations Aren’t Always More Expensive
This is one of the most common rental car myths.
EconomyBookings ran an analysis across several countries comparing airport vs. off-airport pricing. In many countries, airport locations were cheaper on average.
So before you take an expensive cab to save $10 on your rental, make sure to compare both options. You might find the airport location is cheaper.
Compare at Least Two Aggregators
No single comparison site has 100% of deals.
EconomyBookings prices will usually be within 5% of DiscoverCars or Rentalcars prices. But every once in a while one will surface a supplier or rate the others don’t show.
Leave yourself five minutes and check two or three sites. A small amount of research is a small price to pay for peace of mind.
Take Pictures at Pickup
This step doesn’t happen before you book. But it’ll save you headaches later.
When you pick up your rental car, take the time to walk around it and take pictures.
Get pictures of every scratch. Every dent. Every possible defect on the vehicle. Wheels, bumper, roof. Leave nothing uncovered.
Same thing on return.
This takes three minutes of your time and can save you hundreds if the supplier tries to claim damage that existed before your rental. This advice holds true for any supplier, anywhere.
FAQs
How do I get cheap rental cars?
Compare suppliers on a car rental comparison platform like EconomyBookings. Know what’s included in your price. And book your rental 2 to 31 days before you need it for the best pricing.
Why do rental prices change when I get to the counter?
Because suppliers may offer or require services you didn’t account for when booking. Additional insurance, toll transponders, cross-border fees, and fuel charges are all common examples. These costs are set by the supplier, not the booking platform.
Do I have to buy insurance at the rental desk?
No. Check your credit card benefits and personal auto insurance first. Many people travel without realizing they already have coverage. If you need additional insurance, it’s usually cheaper to purchase through the booking platform before your trip starts instead of getting it at the counter.
Is it cheaper to rent cars at the airport?
Not always, but often yes. While most people assume airport locations are always more expensive, a study by EconomyBookings found that airport locations were actually cheaper on average in many countries.
Bottom Line
Car rental problems rarely occur because of a low-quality platform or a bad supplier choice.
They occur when people skip the basics. Comparing multiple platforms. Reading the conditions. Knowing what insurance they need. Documenting vehicle condition at pickup.
These are simple steps. But they work every time.
