The cost of renting a car is determined by various factors, including your age, the type of vehicle you want to rent, your pickup location, the day of the week you pick up the vehicle, and the number of days you plan to keep it. Because there are so many variables, it's a good idea to shop around and compare several different car rental companies. Remember that renting a car is, in many ways, similar to purchasing an airline ticket. Prices change all the time, even from minute to minute, so if you see an especially low price, don't hesitate to book it because you won't see it again for at least an hour.
When You Make a Reservation
In general, the sooner you start looking, the better the car rental deal you will find. The best time frame is three to six months ahead of time. You will pay a lot more money if you need a car the next day rather than allowing more time to shop around before you need to drive.When You're Driving
Car rental companies make the majority of their money during the week when business travelers require a vehicle to get around a new city. As a result, if you rent a car for a weekend trip, you are more likely to get a better deal than you would if you need it for a weekday trip. Note: During the holidays, rental car companies have another excellent opportunity to make money. You'll need to budget more money if you want to rent a car around Christmas or Thanksgiving.Pickup Locations
Renting a car at the airport is both convenient and expensive. Consider looking for rental car deals outside the airport if you are flying into a large city with readily available public transportation, ride-sharing services, or taxis. You could save a lot more than just the cost of the taxi. Some companies charge a concession fee to cover the amount they must pay to the airport for having a rental counter there contributes to the higher cost of an in-airport car rental. At airports, for example, Thrifty may charge you a concession fee, while Budget may charge both a concession and a facility fee.Drop-Off Locations
Returning your car to a rental location other than where you picked it up will almost certainly cost you more. Regardless of whether you're traveling across the country or staying in the same city, this holds. According to National Car Rental, this situation is known as a one-way car rental, and the additional fee is known as an inter-city fee or drops the charge. Note: National usually does not charge an inter-city fee for a one-way rental between airport locations.How Long Do You Plan to Drive?
The lower your per-day rate is, in general, the longer you book a car. If you're going on a long trip, renting for a week might be a better option.Type of Vehicle
Every car rental company classifies its vehicles differently, but you can be sure that the fancier and larger the vehicle, the more you'll pay. The most cost-effective option is almost always an economy vehicle, which is a small car that is typically very fuel-efficient. A luxury sports car can cost up to 50% more to rent, while an SUV can cost nearly twice as much.Whether You Should Refuel or Not
Returning your rental car is always a good idea with the same amount of gas as when you first picked it up. It is inconvenient for rental companies to refuel their vehicles; they must send an employee to a gas station, wasting time when the car could be out and about earning money. That's why, if you don't return the car refueled to the agreed-upon level, the rental car company will charge you for refueling, effectively raising the cost of gas by several dollars per gallon.What Is the Driver's Age?
The rental company will charge you an additional fee if you are under 25 years old—perhaps $20 per day. Even if another driver is over the age of 25, you must pay if one of the drivers is under the age of 25. Furthermore, drivers under the age of 25 may be unable to rent certain types of vehicles, such as sports cars.Any Additional Items You Purchase
Regardless of where you rent, the company will try to upsell you on extras in order to boost their profits. Extra insurance is one of the most common. Many major credit cards will cover the cost of a rental car if you use their card to pay for it. It's unlikely that you'll need to purchase additional coverage because of this benefit and your standard insurance. First, it's good to double-check with your credit card company and your insurance agent. GPS or satellite radio are two other options for add-ons. The former may be useful; the latter may not be worth the additional cost. It's possible that car rental companies will charge you for using a toll transponder. Ask if you can use yours instead if you already have one.Most Commonly Asked Questions (FAQs)
On average, how much does a car rental cost?
It isn't easy to pin down a specific average because of all of the aforementioned factors. You can have to pay between $50 and $100 per day for a rental in general, though you may pay more. Discounts and special offers can help bring the price under $50.What age do you have to be to rent a car?
The majority of major rental companies set the age limit at 21. In the United States, anyone under the age of 21 will not be able to rent or drive a car.What is the cost of insurance for a rented car?
The coverage type usually determines the cost of rental car insurance. For example, Enterprise has various levels of coverage. Accident insurance and personal effects coverage will set you back between $5 and $13 per day.