One of the biggest travel trends since the COVID-19 pandemic is the return of road trips. However, the high demand means that the supply of rental cars could be less. Unsurprisingly, rental car prices are through the roof, and that's if you can find a rental car.
The good news is that you don't have to spend your entire vacation budget on car rentals.
These 7 tips will help you find a cheap rental car for your next road trip, whether it's a quick weekend getaway or a cross-country odyssey.
1. Skip the airport
Renting at the airport is convenient when flying to a new city. But that convenience can be expensive, thanks to airport surcharges. These surcharges are usually fixed dollar numbers, typically listed as a "customer setup fee." You can also find them as a percentage of the total amount of your rent, and sometimes you owe both. These fees are usually several dollars per day, but can often add up to hundreds of dollars depending on the length of your trip.
Calculate rental locations around town and compare them to what you can get at the airport. Be sure to factor in the cost of a taxi or carpool to and from your rental location if you are renting from a non-airport location.
2. Buy online
Visit sites like Kayak, Priceline, and Cheapcarrental.com to compare your options and find the best deal.
Then go directly to the car rental company's website. You can find an even bigger discount this way, especially with the Pay Now options. Just remember that prepaid rentals are generally non-refundable.
Continue shopping even after booking. If you have not reserved a non-refundable rental, you can cancel your reservation if you find a better price.
3. Approach discount brands
Enterprise, Hertz and Budget aren't the only companies in town. Discount brands like Advantage, Payless, Thrifty, and Dollar Rental also compete for your business, often at a lower price than big-name rental companies.
On any given day, our research revealed that the cheapest rental from Advantage, Dollar and the like was at least $5 cheaper than the cheapest rental from a premium brand, depending on the city. These savings are multiplied on longer trips.
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4. Use memberships
Do you have a Costco membership? Use it to save money on your next rental car.
"I find Costco always beats full-price car rentals from online travel agencies," said Clem Bason, chief executive of travel website goSEEK.com and formerly of Hotwire.com.
You can often add a controller for free.
5. Opt for cheap cars
Economy cars tend to be the cheapest and are therefore the most likely to be reserved. You can use this to your advantage, says Brett Graff, an expert on household finances and author of a column called The Home Economist.
"When I rent a car, I reserve the smallest, most affordable vehicle possible because I know there's a chance it won't be on the lot and I'll get an upgrade," Graff says.
Just don't book anything too small for your party, or you could be stuck stuffing five people plus luggage into a two-door coupe. Not quite the cozy vacation you were hoping for, right?
6. Stick to one driver
Most car rental companies will charge you a daily fee for adding an additional driver. This fee is typically $12 per day for Enterprise and National Car Rental and $13 per day for Budget and Avis, but may vary by location.
However, there are ways to avoid the fee. Some companies, like B. Enterprise waive the additional driver fee for a spouse or domestic partner, but both must have the same address on their driver's licenses. Others, including National, waive the fee for spouses, partners, and immediate family members when you sign up for their membership program.
7. Use your own insurance
Have your parents add you as a driver to their insurance. If you have a good driver's license, it probably won't cost you anything extra.
Many credit cards also include basic insurance coverage if you use the card to pay your rent. So you can skip it and save up to $30 a day on
