Our Vacation Adventures

Avoid Extra Car Rental Fees

When you’re traveling, there are a lot of things that can incur unforeseen expenses..and renting a car is no different.

Here are some tips to make sure that your dream car rental doesn’t turn into a nightmare that costs you extra money on your credit card.

1. Rental Insurance. Before you rent a car and take rental insurance out on it, make sure that this isn’t already covered on your regular auto insurance. Some better credit card issuers also offer car insurance for car rentals when you’re away from home.

2. Understand Your Rental Agreement. Many car rental places offer different rental options, some are based on miles driven, returning the car with a full tank of gas or have unlimited miles. Be sure that you know what kind of driving you’re looking to do before signing an agreement that you’re bound to.

3. Car Drop Off Locations. If you need to drop the car off at a rental agency than the one you rented from, make sure that you won’t be charged extra. Some car rental agencies can charge as much as $1,500.00 extra dollars to drop it somewhere other than the originating rental location.

4. Plan Ahead. Don’t wait until your standing at the airport to rent a car at the last minute. Many online travel websites offer a total pricing deal for driving a car off a rental lot. If you are traveling with children, things like a car seat will be an upsell. Other features like GPS, satellite radio or other add-ons can also add to the bottom line of renting a car.

I hope that these tips will help keep your car rental fees well within your budget the next time you travel!