Car Rental Deals, Fees & Insurance

Car Rental Tips   » Who Can Rent A Car   » Car Rental Booking Concerns   » Car Rental Rates and Costs Tips   » Car Rental Deals and Fees   » Car Rental Agency Insurance Tips   » Rental Car Age Restrictions   » Auto Rental and Additional Drivers   » Dealing with Conflicts   » SUV Rental Tips   » Car Rental Coupons and Discounts   » Rent-A-Car Lingo   » Before Leaving with your Rental Car   » Automobile Rental Driving Tips   » Accident Tips   » After an Accident   » Rental Car SAFETY Tips   » Returning A Rental Car   » Discount Rental Cars-Choosing   » Cheap Car Rentals Descriptions   » Car Rentals Driving Tours   » Auto Rentals Vehicle Types   » Why Rent from an Independent Agency   » Rental Cars Travel Statistics   » Super Bowl Car Rentals   » Burning Man Car Rentals   » Reading Week Car Rentals

It is not a good idea to blindly rent a car without doing some research first. You could end up spending a lot of unnecessary money!

Choosing the right rental company for you is the most important decision. There are a couple of things you should think about before picking a company. Firstly, decide on the size of car you need to use, and how much you want to spend. If you determine these factors beforehand, you will probably save yourself from being pursuaded to rent something more expensive. Remember that vehicle sizes and classifications may vary between agencies. What one company considers a "compact", another may consider a "mid-size" or even "luxury".

Choosing a Rental Car Company
Before you commit to a rental comp any, do your research! Use the Internet, shop around, look at several different places and check with differentcar rental agencies to see who can give you the best deal. Make sure to ask about any special weekend or weekly rates. If your plans happen to be flexible, you may be able to save some money if you rent during a price break period. Also ask about possible blackout dates when the advertised price you may have seen is not offered.

It may be very difficult to rent a car if your driving record is less than perfect. It is a good idea to ask before reserving if the company checks the driving records of their customers. If you have made a reservation, but did not ask if driving records are checked, you may have trouble renting your car. Certain violations that are checked include seat belt law violations, accidents (no matter who is at fault) and driving with a suspended license.

Sometimes companies have hidden charges that can increase the base rate by a significant amount. Some of these charges may include Collision Damage Waiver fees (in certain states), damage deposits, airport surcharges, drop-off fees, fuel charges, mileage fees, taxes, additional driver fees, younger driver fees, out of state charges and equipment rental fees (for ski racks and child seats). It is always a good idea to ask about the cost of these extra fees before making the reservation. When renting with our independent agencies, the total pricing will tell you in advance what you will pay. That way there will be no surprises when you go to pick up your rental car.

Here is a brief explanation of some fees you should bear in mind.

A Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is an optional insurance charge that most companies will try to convince you to buy. It can cost up to $15 a day. However, it is technically not collision insurance. It is better described as a guarantee that the rental company will pay for any damage to the rental car,subject to a deductible. By declining a CDW, you accept full responsibility for all the damages inflicted on the car. A CDW does not cover personal injuries or damages to personal property. It is possible that your personal auto insurance or business insurance will cover you and the car, so it is a good idea to check with your insurance agent before purchasing the CDW coverage. Some credit card companies and motor clubs offer free rental protection when you use their cards to pay for the rental, but check to confirm what kind of coverage they provide. It is also possible for some CDWs to revoke coverage under certain circumstances, so be aware. You may not be covered if you are guilty of driving in a negligent manner, on unpaved roads, out of state, under the influence of alcohol or if a non-authorized driver was using the rental car.

Other types of insurance that you will be offered include:

• Personal Accident Insurance, which costs about $3 per day, will cover a portion of your medical bills should you be hurt in an accident.
• Personal Effects Coverage, which is another several dollars per day, will protect your personal belongings against damage.

A deposit or "refundable charge" may be required upon arrival. This is likely refunded once the rental vehicle is returned safely. This charge can vary greatly but is usually at least several hundred dollars. It is customary for the rental company to charge this to your credit card, but not process it unless there is a contract breach. However, this deposit may lower your credit card limit accordingly. For some companies, it may be possible to leave a cash deposit.

Charges such as airport surcharges and drop-off fees will increase the base rate by a significant amount. Airport surcharges (fees for airport use) may be avoided by renting a car from a company downtown rather than from a rental company close to the airport. Drop-off fees are sometimes applicable when you plan to drop off the car at a different location other than the one where you initially picked upthe car.

It is always a good idea to ask about fuel charges. Some companies will charge you for gas by asking you to return the car empty; they will charge you more for gas than the local gas station. Therefore, it is a good idea to deal with a company that will not charge you for gas but will ask you to bring the car back full. You will more likely save money this way.

Some companies will charge you for extra mileage over a set amount. It is always a good idea to ask an agent what the mileage limit is to determine if you will exceed that amount. If that is the case, you may want to think about using a different rental company or asking for a deal on mileage costs.

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about avoiding taxes; they are determined by the state or municipality where you are renting the car. Sometimes it may be possible to avoid higher taxes in an urban location by picking up the car at a suburban location.

There is usually an extra fee for each additional driver, and sometimes a fee is added if you are an younger renter (sometimes you will be charged if you are under the age of twenty-five).

If you leave the state where you rented the vehicle, there may be an applicable charge.

For an additional charge, it is also possible to rent additional equipment, such as ski racks or car seats. Some independent rental companies will not charge for this extra equipment. It is a good idea to request them at the time you reserve the rental car.