Thirteen Tips for Renting a Car

Thirteen Tips for Renting a Car

Thirteen Tips for Renting a Car if you ever need to while you are traveling to another country or if you need to do so in your country.

1. Take advantage of free car insurance coverage by your credit card company. During a trip to Africa, my rental car was damaged due to break-ins. Luckily, I booked the car with my Visa credit card, so I knew I was covered, but I wanted to get an idea as to how much the repairs would cost. I took the car to a shop for a written estimate, and I was quoted $1,600. When I returned the vehicle to the car rental agency, they billed me the dealer price of $6,500. After paying a $200 deductible, my Visa insurance reimbursed me the $6,500. Nonetheless, keep this in mind; if your car sustains minor damage under the deductible amount, then go to a local mechanic shop and have it fixed, or use the following strategy in case you didn’t use a credit card to book the car.

If you rent a car with a valid Visa card, you will have coverage for covered damage to the rental vehicle for up to 31 days outside of your home country and 15 days inside your country. MasterCard offers similar insurance but only covers you for 15 days regardless of where you are. For the coverage to be applicable, the cardholder must decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) or similar coverage offered by the auto rental company. The amount of coverage and deductible vary according to your credit card.

2. As soon as you receive your rental car, don’t drive away immediately. You don't want to get charged for pre-existing damage to a vehicle. Pre-existing damage to a vehicle is the most common way people get ripped off when renting a car. Take time to inspect the car and let the agent know of any damage before you sign any paperwork. First, take a video and pictures of the car, including its damage and the gas gauge. Take 360-degree photos of the vehicle using a free app like Record360 to document the condition of the car when you pick it up. Don't forget to bend down and get anything that might not be at eye level. Repeat this process when you return the car so that you have a record that no damage occurred while you had the car. Save your images or video for a few months after the rental to make sure you're in the clear. Keeping records will help protect you in case the rental company tries to blame you for damages you didn’t cause.    

While in Guadalajara, Mexico, I tried to return a rental car that I didn’t damage. When I picked up the car, it had several dents, and the agent said those had already been accounted for and not to worry (make sure you get it in writing and take pictures if this is the case). When I returned the car, another agent was working, and he insisted I was responsible for the damage. Because I had a flight to catch, I wasn’t able to stay arguing with him, so I signed “Under Duress” as my signature without telling the agent what I was signing. Don’t miss your flight because you’re there arguing over fees. Had I not signed, he would not have given me the paperwork stating that I had returned the car, and they would have continued to charge me as if I had not returned it. Do not sign your legal signature, or you’ll be legally bound to the terms of the agreement. Once I returned home, I disputed the charge with my credit card company and was successful.

3. Book your car ahead of time. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll get the best price by just showing up at the rental car counter. Do keep an eye on your car rental prices as prices vary depending on demand, and if there’s a price drop, you can cancel your reservation and rent at a lower price. 


4. Don’t prepay for gas as the car rental companies typically charge above-market rates for gas. Just fill-up the tank within 10 miles of your return location.


5. Ask for a grace period when you check out the car. The agent will typically give you two hours free grace period. If you ask for it at the end of your trip, the car rental companies are reluctant to provide it without charging a late fee. 


6. Most companies charge a one-way drop fee, but they may waive it if you ask them to do so before your trip starts.


7. Rental cars at airports are generally more expensive, so find another car rental agency, unless it’s too far, that may be cheaper.


8. Pay your toll charges. Renting an optional toll transponder will cost about $5 per day for the duration of the car rental.


9. Decline outdated GPS systems, which usually require $6 to $16 a day for the optional rental. Use your iPhone or Google maps instead.


10. Read the small print in your contract, and don’t leave the counter before reviewing your receipt for optional fees. Once you sign and walk away, it'll be difficult to get such charges removed.


11. Shop the travel websites like Orbitz or use your Costco membership to find the best deals.


12. Become an associate member of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), which allows you to get savings on car rentals hotels and flights. The annual membership is only $16, and members can join before they meet the age requirements. 


13. Consider some of the smaller car companies that sometimes have better rates.

These were my Thirteen Tips for Renting a Car

For more travel tips, check out my latest Amazon book:

How to Travel the World and Live with No Regrets.: Learn How to Travel for Free, Find Cheap Places to Travel, and Discover Life-Changing Travel Destinations