Renting a car can come in handy when you need to go somewhere that isn’t within walking distance. Also, getting a rental can be cheaper than using messy and limited public transportation or cabs, not to mention that it’s waaay more comfortable. 😊 However, there are some tricks and hidden costs that car rentals don’t want you to know about. Here are our tips and 5 main things you should consider before renting a car to avoid additional fees and travel in the most cost-effective way.
1. Extra drivers
Having an extra driver can be convenient. If you’re traveling long distances or maybe drinking 🙂 , you might want the flexibility for a spouse or friend to take the wheel. Consequently, this will result in additional fees. Before you decide which option you’re going to buy, take into consideration that it’s essential to add any extra drivers to you rental contract. If the rental is involved in an accident and is driven by someone who isn’t listed in the contract, you might be in for a rude awakening. Your insurance might not cover the costs and you and your pal may end up with a sizeable bill at the end of the day.
2. Kids cost!
Just like in life, kids cost! Be aware that most rentals have a rule that states you must pay additional fees for your kids to drive or even yourself, if you’re under 21 or 25, depending which rental company you choose. Some extremely awesome rentals, like ourselves 😉, allow you to rent a car without additional surcharge for young drivers, though for the most part, age is simply not an advantage for rental car drivers. Make sure you check your rentals’ policy before you rent.
3. Stay insured
When renting a car, your credit card company may provide you with insurance coverage with no additional cost for everything you need while renting. However, some of them limit their coverage and not all of them offer it. With this in mind, always make sure you check if your credit card company covers your rental. Numerous rental drivers pay double the insurance not knowing that they’re already insured by their credit card company. You could potentially save some money, and remember, whatever you do, don’t drive uninsured. Hint, Express offers free liability insurance, so we got you covered. 😉
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4. Don’t go off road
Unless you’re trying to catch your kids’ kidnaper, you will probably want to stay on the paved roads. Not just because it’s easier to drive on road than off, but also because most car rental companies prohibit the use of their cars on unpaved roads. If you want to ride off road, your rental will probably charge you extra, usually with a collision damage waiver.
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5. Bring your own
Whenever possible, pack your own extras for travelling. You may already have a GPS system or child car seat. Let the rental know you brought your own and have them remove theirs so they don’t charge you for it. This way you will save some money even before you hit the road and enjoy your rental.
Now that you know our tips before considering a rental, check our list of 5 things you should NOT do when renting a car.
There are lots of other little tips and trick that can come in handy when opting for car rental so make sure to follow us on our Facebook page as we’re always posting something useful that can potentially save you a lot of money.
And of course, feel free to contact our team at Express Rent a Cheap Car San Diego and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.
Ride safe!
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