However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. But high demand means that supply for rental cars might be lower. But that convenience can come at a premium, thanks to airport surcharges. These charges are typically several dollars a day, but can often amount to a three-figure charge depending on the length of your trip.
Price out rental locations in the city and compare to what you can get at the airport. Make sure you factor in the cost of a taxi or rideshare to and from your rental location if you rent at a location away from the airport. Look at sites like Kayak, Priceline and Cheapcarrental.
Just keep in mind that rentals paid in advance are typically nonrefundable. Even after you book, keep shopping. Discount brands like Advantage, Payless, Thrifty and Dollar Rental are also vying for your business, often at a lower rate than big-name rental companies.
That savings multiplies over longer trips. Have a Costco membership? Use it to save money on your next rental car. An added bonus: You can often add a driver for free. AAA memberships are another great money-saving tool by providing discounts for Hertz rentals as well as no underage driver fees for AAA members ages 20 to Frequent-flyer programs also offer discounts on rental cars. Economy cars are typically the cheapest, and therefore the most likely to be booked. You can use this to your advantage, says Brett Graff, a family finance expert and author of a syndicated column called The Home Economist.
Not exactly the cozy vacation you had in mind, is it? According to Jonathan Weinberg, CEO and founder of car-rental site AutoSlash , that was the lowest price a customer could find for a trip this coming weekend in Arizona. But even deal wizards like AutoSlash can only make so much magic. According to Weinberg, the U. The car rental industry is experiencing big problems—and it's going to impact your wallet and your Demand was low, so car-rental companies kept their vehicle fleets at a very low level.
Complicating all of this are several factors: Americans are taking road trips in record numbers, driving instead of flying, renting cars instead of taking taxis and Ubers.
Plus, people are taking more domestic trips, including places like San Juan, Puerto Rico, which has seen big supply issues, too. With longer-than-ever wait times and lines at many locations, those special lines might come in extra handy.
Most car rental companies will happily supply quotes on their websites without too much information being required.
Third-party comparison sites are also very popular and can list dozens of options after entering personal information just once. Unfortunately, this is turning into a real possibility amidst ongoing rental car shortages. Always try to call ahead to confirm you're reservation and check to see if there are currently cars on-site at your rental location.
However, if you show up and your car isn't available you have a few options. First, ask if there's another car available in a different class than you originally booked. Ideally, you may be able to upgrade to a better car than you originally booked at no extra cost if the company is at fault for your car being unavailable.
However, if they only have cars available in a downgraded class, this may still be a better option for you than no car at all. Just be sure to get a credit or, at the very least, a voucher for the difference in price. You can also ask if the company has another nearby location where a car may be available.
If you do have to go to an alternative location, ask if the company will cover your taxi or Uber. If it's late in the day, you may also want to consider coming back earlier the next day to see if any cars have been returned. If no car with your original company is available at all, unfortunately, your only option may be to hunt around yourself at other rental companies or on a peer-to-peer site. You should always ask for a refund if this becomes the case, but be prepared for the fact that if you had a pre-paid reservation, you may need to hound the company and wait several weeks to get your money back.
Additionally, like hotels , rental car companies such as Enterprise , Alamo , National , Avis , and Budget have all announced new measures to combat the spread of COVID, and are stepping up their cleaning and sanitization procedures.
Our experts weighed in on the overall safety of such rental car policies and agreed that a well-sanitized vehicle is much less of a danger than being around infected humans. Strict checklists, new cleaning products, curbside and contactless pick-up, and the thorough cleaning and disinfecting of each vehicle when returned by a customer or transported by employees are all part of new levels of service designed to assuage concerns regarding COVID Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.
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