What are some ways to save money when renting a car?

Question

I recently flew to a city across the country and rented a small car for a few days. It amounted to almost $700!! What are some things I can do to cut down on the bill?

Answer 1

i'm not sure if you are in the US or not, but that is outrageous for a few days.  A lot of times they get you to purchase their insurance, that's where they make their money.  If you don't pre-purchase the gas, then you have to bring the car back full.  They charge nearly double the market price of gas if you don't.  Some places have a mileage limit, and some places don't allow you to take the car to certain cities or states.  Also if you are under 25 the rate will nearly double.  

Answer 2

First off, rent the smallest car you can manage as the smaller the car the less expensive it is.  Most people rent compacts or sub compacts.  If you are renting over a weekend you can often get upgraded to a larger car for the price of the car that you reserved.  I've had this happen to me 3 or 4 out of the 6 times I've rented a car.

Before you leave for your trip check with your car insurer to see if you're covered when you rent a car.  I've never purchased the rental company's insurance because I'm fully covered under my personal policy.  You may want to also check with your credit card company as they sometimes will cover up to X amount when you rent.

Shop around.  Many times you can find a less expensive car.  I prefer Thrifty, National and Dollar.  The cost of renting from Thrifty in Maui was almost half of the cost of renting from Avis.  Many companies have coupons on their websites that can be used when you pick up the car.  I've received a free day when I booked over a weekend one time, and saved $15 another time.

When you rent try to rent from the same company each time.  Many rental companies have loyalty programs for returning customers.  Perks can range from free upgrades, to discounted rates and even free days.

Always turn the car in on time.  Most companies will give you up to 2 hours grace before charging you for another day.  Also fill the tank up before returning the car.  When the rental company fills up the tank they inflate the price of fuel even when the gas station is within sight of the rental lot.

Edited to add:  Bring your own GPS or see if your cell provider offers a phone based GPS service.  Most rental companies have GPS for $10 or more a day.  I just rented a car today from Budget and they charge $14 a day for GPS.  I have TeleNav on my cell phone that costs $10 a month.