Car Rental Tips

Consider how many people will be riding in the car and how much luggage you will need to stow. I learned the hard way years ago to never rent a hatch-back car where other people can see the contents of the “trunk”.

When booking your car, confirm that you have unlimited mileage included in the rental. Also have all taxes and insurances figured in to get the total price before booking. Taxes and insurances can add anywhere from 30% - 100% to the cost, depending on the location and the coverage.

Other common charges may be added for car seats, pre-paid gas, additional drivers, and airport surcharges. Include insurance charges such as Loss Damage Waiver or LDW (which avoids liability for damages to the vehicle and usually runs from $10-$25 per day). Before you pay for LDW, check both with your personal insurance company and any credit cards you have to see if you’re already covered.

Keep in mind that you will need to return the car with a full tank of gas unless you’ve purchased the pre-paid plan. If you don't fill it up, you run the risk of paying substantially more for the gas they fill up your car with.

For international rentals, there are often even more taxes and insurance and it’s even more important to go with a known reliable company and get a written estimate before renting. I have learned to always take out the insurance in a foreign country to avoid any local laws you may not be aware of and any fine print in my own insurance that may not carry over to foreign countries.

Before you make the actual booking, check the internet for promotions or coupons you can enter in the booking. Just plug "car rental coupons" into Google and see what you can come up with! Also, always check for additional discounts for AAA or AARP or any other national organizations that may offer discounts.

Following are additional resources to help you make the best rental decision:

Car Rental Phone Numbers and Websites These are all the major car rental companies worldwide, along with some travel sites.

Chauffeur Driven Cars Sometimes hiring a chauffeur driven sedan is the best choice when traveling. Women arriving alone in a large city may prefer a “Meet and Greet” service at the airport. They are then escorted to their hotel or place of business.

Internationally, there are many sedan rentals where the “chauffeur” is actually a Tour Guide and can give you private tours of the city you are visiting, often at a very desirable cost.

Compare Rental Car Prices OneTime compares multiple travel sites at one time to find the best price on your car rental.

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