Cheap car rental offers are spread all over the web. But not all are good deals. There are a few things to keep in mind… or your cheap car rental offer could be much more expensive than you planned!
Here are some things you should not do:
* Forget to check the status of the car
When you pick up the car, be sure to check it carefully. Some companies will blame it for pre-existing scratches and dents. They know it needs fixing and they wait for a fool to pay for it. This is less likely with big name companies, but it can be avoided with these tips.
Check it with the delivery person, or when you go to pick it up. If you have a digital camera or camcorder, which you probably will if you’re going on vacation, then take a quick look at the car. So you can test the exact condition of the car when you first took it.
* Do not use the Internet to search for the best deals
Of course you will be looking for deals on the internet! That is probably where you are reading this article. But there are still people who don’t check and just accept the first offline offer they see. Check online and use one of the search engines that scan many different car rental deals.
* Don’t check Offline too
While the Internet is probably the best place to find car rental deals, it’s also worth checking offline. I’ve found that when looking for hotel deals, I often get the best deals by calling ahead and negotiating with the receptionist (it’s hard to negotiate with a website). However, with airline tickets, the best deals are often online, and phone/walk-in prices are higher and non-negotiable.
But with car rentals, if you want to cover all your bases, be sure to check online and offline. Your local car rental dealer may have a special offer that they forgot to update on the website, or maybe someone just canceled a reservation and you can grab it cheap on short notice.
* Do not carefully review the terms of your car rental agreement
Make sure you have unlimited mileage if you want to drive a long way. Some offers have a mileage allowance, after which you are charged a high dollar per additional mile. Unlimited works best most of the time.
Check the terms to see if you need to return the car’s gas tank full or nearly empty. I once made the mistake of returning it full when it wasn’t needed: the car rental company refused to refund the cost.
* Don’t clean the car if you really dirty it
It’s fine to return it dusty after driving a couple hundred miles, but if your child gets sick inside, or someone spills coffee, or drops a burger and fries, then clean it up! If you don’t, the rental car company will add an additional cleaning fee to your credit card.
Follow these tips and you’ll have a stress-free and relaxed car rental experience, all set to enjoy your vacation or business trip.