Rental car trips don’t have to be expensive. That is why they are often an underestimated option for backpackers and flashpackers. In this post, I’ll tell you how to find the cheapest deals and what to look out for when renting.
For many years I only used public transport for my travels. Without thinking further, I assumed that renting a car was simply too expensive. That is not fundamentally wrong. At least not for solo travelers. But as soon as you share the rental costs with someone, you come to the area where you can get away cheaper as a self-drive.
You don’t only have the potential to save on transport, but also the follow-up costs. For example, it allows you to camp (wildly) every now and then – which is very difficult with buses and trains. But even if you are traveling on a larger budget, you will find cheaper accommodations in the pampas than in the city centers.
Here are the six important tips for cheap rental cars.
Tip 1: Use services to compare prices
Just like when researching cheap flights, you should also use so-called meta-search engines when looking for a cheap rental car. The trick is that their crawlers compare offers from different companies and give you the offers sorted according to the cheapest price.
This tip alone will usually save you a lot of money. This is the case because the search engines not only query the well-known international providers, but also many smaller, local companies that you would otherwise never come across. For example, I ended up at Drive on Holiday when I was on a rental car trip through Portugal a year ago.
Tip 2: Book early and be flexible
Although I have never noticed that there are massive early-bird discounts on rental cars, I still think it makes sense to reserve the car as early as possible. This is the only way to ensure that the class of car you want is actually available. Especially during the main travel season, there can be bottlenecks, and in the worst case, you will even be without a vehicle.
In general, you will find the cheapest offers where the competition is greatest. This is usually the case in the capital cities and at the main airports.
Tip 3: watch out for hidden additional fees
All rental car providers cook with water. That means that they basically have comparable cost structures so that the prices cannot vary insanely. With particularly cheap providers, you should, therefore, pay attention to hidden additional costs. The most common tricks are the following:
Tank filling: Depending on the provider, you have different tank regulations. The cheapest way to drive is if you take over a full tank and hand in a full tank. Some companies advertise their “full-empty” rule as being particularly customer-friendly, as it eliminates the need to drive to the gas station. However, very few tenants manage to leave the car really empty. So you will most likely give away a few liters of gasoline.
Double insurance: If you book your car via a comparison portal, you may choose an offer with fully comprehensive insurance with no deductible. This is the expensive option, but it effectively protects you from nasty surprises and is recommended, in my opinion. Nevertheless, it happens that the Car Rentals want to sell you another insurance on-site. These are unnecessary. So it’s best to take the fine print with you so you can see what you’re already insured for.
Additional driver: There is a risk of additional costs if you and your travel companion want to take turns driving. A second driver costs are extra with many rental companies. Regardless of whether a second driver is chargeable or not, you should definitely state this. Indeed, it does not violate road traffic regulations if your passenger gets behind the wheel. However, there is a risk that the insurance company will refuse to take over any damage.
One-way rentals: Most rental companies offer one-way rentals. That means you bring the car back to a different location than you received it. The lenders are happy to pay dearly for what looks attractive for travel planning. Important: Since the one-way rental has to be paid at the local provider, the additional costs are usually not shown on the comparison pages mentioned above. So if you are planning a one-way rental, you should take a look at the rental details of the local partner.
Unlimited kilometers: Some rental car companies stipulate the maximum number of kilometers you can drive. If you exceed this maximum, additional fees will apply. Here, offers with unlimited kilometers are to be preferred in any case and luckily almost a standard.
Vehicle condition: On the Internet, you can sometimes read reports about providers who want to pretend existing damage to a vehicle to their customers. Even if the majority of companies work seriously and honestly, you should prevent this type of fraud. It is best to have a fully comprehensive insurance policy without a deductible. In any case, you should check the vehicle carefully when you take it over and write down any damage and scratches in the report. Pay particular attention to stone chips in the windshield. If possible, return the car during the opening hours and have a confirmation of the absence of damage.
Tip 4: choose the right insurance
When it comes to renting a car, you shouldn’t save at the wrong end: insurance. In my opinion, it is essential to have good liability insurance that covers the damage – not only mandatory things. This is especially vital in countries with a flawed legal system, where “rich foreigners” are guilty on principle.
I also recommend insuring the car against theft and damage, including tires and glass damage. If you rent a car in Islamabad via a comparison website, it is best to book the insurance at the same time, as the online sites almost always offer better conditions than local rental companies. In addition, in the event of a legal dispute, it is easier if the insurance company is in the same country as you.
Tip 5: return the car on time
Typically you rent a car for 24 hours. If the vehicle does not return within this time, additional fees will apply. If you are lucky, you will be billed by the hour. Sometimes you have to pay for a whole day at once. How your landlord arranges this depends on his goodwill.
you should ask when you pick up what happens in the event of a late return. Above all, however, you should plan for traffic jams on the return trip or the possibility that you get lost on the way to the Rental Car Company. In short: make sure that you are on time too.
Tip 6: avoid expensive accessories
Accessories such as child seats, roof luggage, ski racks, and GPS are particularly lucrative for car rental companies. Check whether you really need these accessories (you can rent skis and snowboards anywhere without any problems) or whether you can bring the accessories with you from home.
Renting an external GPS in particular rarely makes sense, as every smartphone is now equipped with this function. I recommend using software that allows you to download the maps in advance, as this will save you data volume (see also my tips for avoiding the roaming trap when traveling ).
Conclusion
If you book through comparison sites on the Internet and are somewhat flexible about time and place, you have a good chance of a real bargain. Although I’ve never had any problems so far, there are also black sheep, especially with the smaller providers. With normal caution, you shouldn’t have any problems here.
DigiTexture 