How to Save Money on Car Rentals: Tips and Tricks for Budget Travelers

Get our best car rental tips and ways to get discounts

Car rental is a perfect solution for convenient and flexible transportation when traveling. But it can be quite a task to find the right vehicle and secure the best price. In this blog we will share some of our tips for car rental deals, ways to get discounts and how to avoid extra fees. Buckle up and get ready to discover the secrets on how to save on car rentals.  

 

8 ways to maximize discounts on Budget car rentals

Fortunately, there are several savvy strategies you can employ to maximize your discounts on budget car rentals. First and foremost, booking in advance is key. Additionally, consider joining loyalty programs or signing up for newsletters from car rental companies to stay informed about exclusive discounts and promotional offers. Another effective tactic is to compare prices across different rental providers and use online coupon codes or promo vouchers to further reduce your costs. By combining these strategies, you'll be well on your way to unlocking the best possible discounts for your next budget car rental.    

Book early — especially during peak travel season

Peak travel season equals high prices on everything from plane tickets and hotels to car rental. But if you plan your trip well in advance and book early, you can often get better deals. If you have special wishes or requirements regarding your car for instance size, manual or automatic transmission etc. it is a really good idea to book as soon as you know your travel plans. Rental car companies don’t have an unlimited number of cars in their fleet, which means that if you want a small budget car but have not booked in time there may not be any left and you will have to go for a bigger and more expensive model. So one way to save money on car rental is to book well in advance.    

Consider Car Rental Location and Time

If your destination is a city with several possible pick up points for your rental car you should be aware of the prices. Maybe there is a difference for instance between picking up the car at the airport or in the city. The price may also differ from the center of the city to an office on the edge of town. You can also experience different prices depending on the day of the week and the time of the day. So if you’re flexible and not dependent on arriving at a specific time of day you can inquire with addCar Rental how to rent a car the cheapest way e.g. where and when to pick up with a discount.    

Book with a credit card that has rental car perks

Some credit cards have a long list of perks included. This could be travel insurance and sometimes car rental is also among the benefits of a certain card. Typically, there are three main requirements: The total cost of the rental must be paid with that specific card if you want its associated coverage and benefits. The primary driver must be the cardholder – but you can still add other drivers to the rental agreement. And in order to be covered by the credit card insurance, say no thanks to the insurance offered by the car rental company. Make sure to check your specific credit card to ensure that you take advantage of all the benefits that come with the card.  

Show your military ID

If you are currently a federal employee of the U.S government, active-duty member, retired employee or a veteran you can often get a discount on your rental car. Both on leisure and government official trips. Remember to bring your military ID as well as your valid driver’s license, valid ID with a photo – like a passport, valid credit card – debit cards are not accepted when paying for rental cars.    

Choose the Right Car

What is the right car? It depends on many different factors. And what is the right vehicle for you might not be the same as for your neighbor. To choose the right car, you must be clear about when you are going, where you want to pick up and drop off the car, what size of car you need based on the number of passengers and amount of luggage. You could also have requirements for transmission to be either manual or automatic. Define your demands and make your booking.    

Understand Insurance Options

You never know what circumstances you could run into so you should always have insurance. Also when driving in a foreign country in a rental car. With addCar Rental three types of cover are included in the rental agreement: damage cover, theft cover and third-party cover. The degree of coverage is standard and you are encouraged to check the specific details. Often your holiday insurance policy covers injuries, some medical expenses and accidental death as well as assistance and rescue in relation to an accident. Check the terms and feel free to buy extra insurance from addCar.  

Also make sure that you have cancellation insurance in case of sickness or if you are running late to pick up your car due to cancellation of flights for instance. With cancellation insurance you don’t risk being charged the full amount of the rental even though you cannot be there to pick up the car.    

Avoid Extra Fees

When you travel, you often set a budget for the trip. You know how much your tickets, your accommodation and your rental car cost and it would not be part of the plan to pay extra fees. That’s why it is a good thing to know in what situation extra fees could be added.  

When renting a car you sign a rental agreement and you should read it through to ensure that you understand it so you can comply with it. With addCar you agree about what day and what time you should return the car. If you are running late you should always get in contact, otherwise you could be charged for an extra day of rental.  

You have free mileage in all addCar vehicles but you pay for fuel yourself. The tank is full when you pick up the car and if you don’t return the car with a full tank as well you will be charged an extra fee. Parking fines could also end up as an extra fee if you don’t pay it yourself. If you leave it to be paid by addCar you will be charged subsequently with an administration fee added to the amount of the fine. So be aware when you park, and if you get a fine, that’s fine – just pay it.    

Loyalty Programs and Discounts

You don’t have to be a frequent car rental user to join a loyalty program that will give you discounts on your rental. Such programs are often offered by your credit card, an airline company or the rental companies themselves. And usually you just have to sign up to be a member or sign up to a newsletter to start getting the good deals and save money on car rental.    

Conclusion

Traveling on a budget doesn't mean compromising on convenience or missing out on exploring new destinations. If you use some of the tips and tricks we’ve shared in this blog post, you can save money on your car rentals and stretch your travel budget further. Remember to plan ahead, compare prices, leverage membership benefits, and take advantage of discounts and promotions. Additionally, be mindful of additional fees, fuel policies, and insurance options to avoid any unexpected surprises.

So go ahead, embark on your next adventure, and make the most of your budget travel experience with these money-saving car rental strategies. Happy travels!