Whether you’re traveling for work or pleasure, renting a car can be a great way to explore your destination and make the most out of your trip. It’s much easier to rent a car today than it was just 10 years ago.
For example, if you are in Baltimore, you can pick a car of your choice from CARNGO (https://www.carngo.com/car-rental/usa-baltimore-van).
There are many options, and you can often shop for the best price. But with so many options comes some confusion: What questions should you ask? What should I be aware of? What could go wrong?
We’ve put together some tips to help you avoid unpleasant surprises when renting your next car.
1- Add up your costs before you book
When you’re booking a rental car, it’s important to know what the total cost will be. You’ll need to account for fuel and tolls, as well as taxes and fees that might not be included in your initial quote. You might also be charged an additional fee if you fall under the 18-25 age range.
Thus, before you book your car, make sure you have enough money on hand to pay for it—and keep in mind that if you don’t return the vehicle on time or with damage, there may be additional charges up until the point of late repayment or repair work.
2- Look into rental car insurance options
The first thing to understand is that rental car insurance is not included in the base price of your car. Yes, even if you’re renting a luxury vehicle for thousands of dollars per day.
Unlike most other types of travel insurance, auto rental coverage tends to be much more expensive than other options. It could cost between $15-$30 per day (or more), depending on how old you are, where you are going and how many drivers will be using the car during your trip (if there’s only one driver).
3- Book Ahead
When it comes to renting a car, booking ahead will get you more bang for your buck.
You can save up to 40% when you book in advance compared to paying at the counter. That’s because most companies offer discounts when they know nearly everything about your trip (yours and theirs).
They know that if they don’t have enough cars available in a particular location or class of car (e.g., a convertible), they still have time left before their fleet runs out of those options. Their incentive is to lower prices to fill empty cars before their competitor does.
4- Ask For Discounts and Benefits
You might qualify for some discounts that you didn’t even know existed. For example, if you’re a member of AAA, AARP, or another group that offers membership benefits, you may be able to get a discount on your rental car costs.
Additionally, there are special programs for seniors and students—and sometimes even military personnel—that can save you money on rental cars too. Therefore, before booking your next car rental reservation, ask for discounts and benefits (like free insurance).
5- Pay attention to pickup and dropoff times
When you’re picking up and dropping off your car, make sure that you’re not late. If you are late, the rental agency will charge a fee for keeping the car out past its scheduled time. Suppose you want to avoid this fee altogether. In that case, it’s best to plan ahead and arrive at the rental agency before any other customers—not only does this help ensure that they have time for your reservation, but it also means that there will be no confusion about where to drop off or pick up your vehicle.
6- Read the fine print
This is probably the most important thing you need to do before beginning your rental car process. By reading and understanding the terms and conditions, you can avoid signing on for something you don’t want or need. If there is anything unclear, ask questions until you understand it fully (and understand how it applies to you). If a representative doesn’t explain something in detail, don’t rent from them!
Conclusion
Whether you’re a first-time renter or a seasoned pro, there are still things that could surprise you when renting a car. We’ve compiled some of the most important tips to keep in mind before renting a car.
