Save Money Renting a Car in the United States

Although some cities and metro areas have effective mass-transit systems, the United States remains very much a car-based culture. Especially if you plan to explore beyond the big cities, renting a car gives you the most flexibility for your travel plans. While the process of renting a car is usually easy, getting a good deal — including avoiding hidden fees and unnecessary extras — takes a bit more effort. But by planning ahead, negotiating, and using a little common sense, you can save money on your rental vehicle.

Steps

Shopping for the Best Deal

1. Check online travel sites. You can compare car rental prices online through most travel aggregators, such as Orbitz, Priceline, Expedia, Travelocity, and Kayak. Car rental prices can fluctuate wildly, so check multiple sites regularly, starting at least several weeks before you need the car.
   • If you combine your car rental with a flight and/or hotel booking, you can often save significantly more than by reserving them separately.
2. Compare prices directly from the major company websites. No one rental car agency consistently offers the best rates, so it pays to shop around. Major U.S. car rental agencies include Avis, Advantage, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Payless, National, Thrifty, Enterprise and Alamo.
   • Sometimes, booking from an aggregator like Expedia will save you more money; other times, going right to the Avis (or other) website will provide the best deal. If you have the time, check the various websites multiple times each.
3. Include newer, smaller, and local companies. While it's easier to find info and book a car from one of the major national companies, give some of the smaller and/or newer players a shot as well. Do an online search for “car rental Orlando” (for instance) and skim down from the top results.
   • You might also be able to get better rates by shopping with locally owned, independent car rental agencies. Often, the best way to find these is still to consult a phone book or ask the locals, but internet searches can work as well.
4. Look into membership discounts. To name one major example, members of AAA (American Automobile Association) often receive discounts on travel-related services, including rental cars. If you're a member of any roadside-assistance or travel associations in your home country, check whether they have discount partnerships with AAA or any American rental car companies.
   • Many non-travel related associations offer discounts as well; for instance, AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) in the U.S.
5. Search for discount codes. All the major car rental companies run a range of simultaneous promotions, discounts, and coupon offers. You can browse through the company websites to find them, or try searching for “discount codes Avis” (or similar).
   • Many websites exist specifically to provide discount codes for major retailers; some, however, require a membership.
6. Prepay for your rental with caution. It almost always makes sense to book a rental car earlier rather than later; however, prepaying for the rental is less certain to provide a good deal. Cancellations or changes in travel plans (even if they reduce the amount of time you need the car) can result in hefty fees.
   • The more certain you are that your plans will not change, the more likely it is that prepaying will save you money.
7. Book your car near, but not at, the airport. Airport car rentals are usually your most convenient option, but you'll always pay for this convenience. Airport rental agencies often tack on a double-digit percentage fee, in addition to the regular cost of the rental. However, with some quick internet searching, you can find rental locations very close to practically any major U.S. airport.
   • Consider renting your car from a non-airport location only if you can easily access it by mass transit, or via a quick (and relatively cheap) cab ride. If it costs too much or is too great of a hassle to get there, it probably isn't worth the savings.

Saving on Fuel, Insurance, and Extras

1. Choose “Return Full” with fuel — and do it. Pay close attention to the gasoline portion of the rental agreement when you book the car. You're often given the choice of returning the car with a full gas tank, or paying a set gasoline fee for the privilege of not having to return the tank full.
   • The set gasoline fee is usually much more expensive than refilling the tank yourself. But if you forget to fill the tank up before you return the car, you'll incur even higher fees.
   • If you do choose “Return Empty,” try to do exactly that (without sputtering out before you get to the lot) — you've already paid for them to refill the whole tank at an exorbitant rate regardless.
2. Keep an eye out for cheaper fuel prices. Gas stations located on or adjacent to airport property nearly always charge higher prices than those just a bit further down the road. Go ahead and top off your tank at one of these stations if you've chosen “Return Full,” but try to do most of your fueling at stations further afield.
   • Gasoline prices can vary widely in the U.S. from one town (or highway exit) to the next. Use your eyes, but also internet searches and/or fuel price comparison apps, to find the best prices in your vicinity.
3. Deny the insurance if you have alternatives. Before arriving to pick up your car, verify whether your personal auto insurance — whether U.S.-based or not — will cover you while driving a rental vehicle. Do your own homework instead of trusting what the person at the rental counter says — they may be getting paid a commission for selling (often unnecessary) extras.
   • If your personal insurance doesn't cover you, check with your travel insurance and/or the credit card you plan to use. If neither source offers coverage for a rental car, you should probably play it safe and get the offered insurance.
   • If your car insurance, credit card company, or travel insurance offers rental car coverage, bring proof of that coverage with you to forestall any paperwork hassles.
4. See if you already have roadside assistance protection. Investigate whether your own auto insurance or roadside assistance company offers coverage while in the United States. Roadside coverage is not mandatory, but if you're already covered you won't need to worry about whether to pay for extra coverage directly from the car rental agency. Not surprisingly, they charge a premium for this convenience.
5. Bring your own extras. Rental companies are happy to offer you the “convenience” of adding numerous extras to your tab, including, for instance, GPS driving guidance devices and child car seats. The rental costs, however, are usually exorbitant.
   • Any decent smartphone can work quite well as a driving guidance system. However, if you're traveling from abroad, make sure your phone will work in the U.S.
   • If you're traveling with a child, bring your own car seat if possible. You'll know its history and safety standards, and you can include it as checked baggage on a flight.
6. Take pictures of the car. Before you get into the car you've rented, walk around it and take several photos of its exterior. Do the same with the interior. Make sure the pictures include a time stamp and background evidence that the car is still in the lot. This simple step can save you a lot of hassle if you're later accused of (and charged for) having caused damage to the vehicle that was already there.
   • If given the opportunity to write up a pre-rental inspection report, be meticulous in your description of the car's condition. Don't let a rental agent convince you that it's unnecessary.

Getting More Car for Your Money

1. Pick the smallest car that will suit your needs. Upgrades can never be guaranteed, but, at least in the U.S., you've got a good chance of getting a midsize instead of the subcompact you booked. Even if you've had good luck before, though, don't take a chance — if you know a subcompact can't hold your traveling party or your stuff, don't book one and bet on an upgrade.
2. Ask for an upgrade or discount at the counter. Rental car counter agents may act as if — and even say that — they have no leeway in giving you a better deal or a better car, but that isn't always the case. And you'll never know if you don't ask. At worst, they'll say “no” and that's that; at best, you'll get better value for your rental dollar.
   • You could, for instance, mention a promotion a competitor is running — and if you can produce printed evidence, all the better.
3. Don't pay for an upgrade before a car is actually offered to you. Some agents will badger you to pay for an upgrade while they type away, saying things like “I'm sorry, it really looks like you're going to end up with a subcompact.” Wait until they actually identify a car and offer it to you. Pay to upgrade if you must, but don't be shocked if you hear “Oh, it looks like it's your lucky day — we're out of subcompacts.”
4. Consider car rental alternatives. There are more ways than ever before to hit the road in the U.S. If you won't be driving long distances and car rentals or taxis are too pricey, look into ride share companies like Uber or Lyft. If you'll be traveling a bit further afield, consider car share services such as Zipcar.
   • Especially consider alternatives if you don't have a primary driver who's at least 25 years old. Many U.S. rental agencies charge substantially higher rental fees to drivers under 25, and others may refuse to rent to them at all.

Tips

• Expect to drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission; most large rental car companies in the United States don't offer standard-transmission vehicles for rent.
• Nominate one person to do all the driving. Adding extra drivers might cost you a fee per extra driver.
• Look for a last-minute rental as a means of saving money at your own risk. You might be stuck with no car available at all, or be forced into renting a larger and thus more expensive vehicle because it's the only thing available.
• Rent during the off-season, or less-traveled tourist season, for the locations you're visiting. Fees are often much cheaper. If you want to visit common tourist attractions, travel in the shoulder season when tourist season is just beginning or just ending to get the best rates.

References

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