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| The Basics | 9 ways to put the brake on car-rental costs
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Pretend you're a joiner
The truly intrepid travelers among you can use specialty discount codes for membership groups you don't belong to. Most people posting on Biddingfortravel.com message boards claim they've never been asked for membership cards when using codes that require membership in frequent-flier programs and affiliation clubs like AAA. It's probably best to stick to the codes that other people are successfully using and posting on the Biddingfortravel and FlyerTalk sites.
Watch those 'discount' coupons
The best kind of coupons, according to OneTravel.com, are "walk-up coupons." They can be applied to any rate when you get to the counter. Otherwise, you may find that 20% off is only valid for their highest rates.
Go against the crowd
Rental prices vary widely according to demand. The more cars on the lot, the more likely you'll get a good deal. This isn't just about avoiding busy metro airports on holiday weekends, it's going against the normal ebb and flow of traffic. Think New York City during the week and Washington D.C. at Thanksgiving. As one co-worker puts it, "No one's really from Washington, so the city empties out at the holidays."
Speak up at the rental counter
You know, the squeaky wheel and all that. Speak up and you may find yourself with a larger, nicer car for the nicer, smaller price. The flip side of this is to beware upgrades that you haven't asked for -- too often they come with added costs.
Also, before pulling out of the lot, give your car a thorough check for dents and scratches and have a rental agent note any damage in writing.
8 fees to avoid
The fewer add-ons, the better your chances of actually being billed the quoted price. Here are some of the fees you may be facing and how to avoid them.
| Rental car fees | | Type of charge | Sample amounts* | How to avoid it | | Mileage | 6-10 cents per mile. | Try to get a weekly or a weekend rate where mileage is included. | | Drop-off (at a different location than where you picked up the car) | Up to $1,000 | When you reserve your car, ask the rental company if it charges a drop fee on a one-way trip. Company-owned offices may not charge it. Franchise operators may want a fee to ensure getting the car back. Otherwise, plan your trip to drop your car off where you picked it up. | | Late drop-off | As much as a full day's rental charge | You often get a one-hour grace period, but, of course, the best way to avoid this is to be punctual. | | Additional driver | $25 per rental | These fees should usually be waived for the renter's employees, spouses or life partners, but check with the company. Nevada and California often have no additional driver fees. | | Young driver | $5-$25/day (Ouch! This can jump to almost $50 a day in New York.) | This typically affects renters under age 25. Check with your employer to see if it has any agreements with car companies to rent to underage employees. | | Child safety-seat | $8 per day in the U.S. | Bring your own. | | Airport | 10% or more | Pick up your rental at the downtown office or an off-site lot that is near the airport and is serviced by free shuttle. Public transportation can sometimes provide a cheap ride to the downtown locations. Renting a car from the downtown Phoenix Avis office versus the airport concession would have saved me $72.05 for a 3-day compact rental. (Total costs were $113.58 downtown vs. $185.63 at the airport due in part to a daily $3.50 "customer facility charge" and an 11.11% "concession recovery fee.") | | Refueling | As much as $3 a gallon, and often 20 cents to 50 cents more per gallon than you'd pay at a nearby pump. | Decline the chance to prepay for your fill-up -- you'll lose if you bring the car back with anything more than an empty tank. And the way most gas gauges work, even if you return it with the needle on E, youre probably still giving away close to $5 in gas. If, instead, you opt to return it full, youll find that it doesnt have to be absolutely full to put the needle on F. You can save yourself as much as $10 by choosing the fill-it-yourself option. |
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*Sources: Nolo.com, Fodor's, Avis, National, Hertz
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