Car rental trips don’t have to be expensive. that’s why they are an often underestimated option for back- and flashpackers. In this article, I tell you how to find the best deals and what to look out for when renting a car.
For many years, I relied exclusively on public transportation for my travels. Without thinking further, I assumed that renting a car would simply be too expensive. That is not fundamentally wrong. At least not for single travelers. But as soon as you share the rental costs with someone, you get into the area where you might get away cheaper as a self-driver.
The savings potential is not only in the transport, but also in the follow-up costs. so it is no coincidence that sarah in her guest article about cheap backpacking in iceland puts the rental car first. For example, it allows you to camp (wildly) now and then – which is very difficult with buses and trains. But even if you are traveling with a bigger budget, you will find cheaper accommodations in the pampas than in the city centers.
Some time ago I gave in a post 13 tips on how you can find cheap flights. Since this text is still read very often, I would like to show you today in a similar article, how you can find cheap rental cars and how you avoid the most important cost traps.
Tip 1: use services to compare prices
Just like when searching for cheap flights, you should also use so-called metasearch engines when looking for a cheap rental car. The trick is that their crawlers compare offers from different companies and give you the offers sorted by the cheapest price.
With this tip alone you will usually be able to save a lot of money. this is the case because the search engines do not only query the well-known international providers such as hertz and avis, but also many smaller, local companies that you would otherwise never come across. I ended up with drive on holiday, for example, when I was on a rental car trip through portugal a year ago.
The most important comparison portals for rental cars Are the following (it is sometimes worthwhile to briefly search for suitable offers at all of them, since not all of them cover the same partners):
Tip 2: book early and be flexible
I have never noticed that there are massive early booking discounts for rental cars, but I still think it makes sense to book the car as early as possible. This is the only way to make sure that the car class you want is actually available. Especially during the peak travel season, there can be shortages and, in the worst case, you may even find yourself without a vehicle.
cheap way to travel: for this ford fiesta i paid only 5 euro per day and person in portugal.
Generally, you will find the best deals where the competition is the greatest. This is usually the case in the capital cities and at the most important airports. However, smaller companies in the hinterland sometimes benefit from cheaper office rents and lower wages. A look at the offers at alternative locations does not hurt in any case. Play with the dates, as some providers offer weekend specials or other promotions.
Tip 3: watch out for hidden additional fees
All rental car providers boil with water. That means, they have basically comparable cost structures, so that the prices can not vary insanely. With the particularly cheap providers you should therefore watch out for hidden additional costs. The most common tricks are the following:
- Filling up the tank: depending on the provider you have different refueling regulations. The cheapest way to drive is to take a full tank and return a full tank. Some companies advertise their "full-empty" scheme as being particularly customer-friendly, as it eliminates the need for a trip to the gas station. However, very few renters manage to return the car truly empty. so you will most likely give away a few liters of gasoline.
- Double insurance: if you book your car through a comparison portal, you might choose an offer with a fully comprehensive insurance without deductible. This is the most expensive option, but it effectively saves you from unpleasant surprises and is, in my opinion, recommended. nevertheless, it happens that the landlords want to sell you another insurance on the spot. These are unnecessary. So it is best to take the small print with you so that you can check what you are already insured for.
- Additional driver: additional costs if you and your travel companion want to travel alternately. A second driver costs extra with many rental companies. Regardless of whether a second driver is chargeable or not, you should definitely specify it. it is not against the road traffic regulations if your passenger gets behind the wheel. But there is a great risk that the insurance company will refuse to cover any claims.
- One-way rental: most lenders offer one-way rentals. That is, you return the car to a different place than where you received it. What looks attractive for travel planning, rental companies are happy to make you pay dearly for. Important: as the one-way rental has to be paid at the local provider, the additional costs are mostly not shown at the above mentioned comparison sites. So if you are planning a one-way rental, you should take a look at the rental details of the local partner.
- Unlimited mileage: some rental car companies dictate how many kilometers you can drive at most. if you exceed this maximum, additional fees will apply. Here, offers with unlimited mileage are to be preferred in all cases and fortunately almost a standard.
- Car condition: on the internet, you can sometimes read reports about providers who try to foist existing damage to a vehicle on their customers. Even if the majority of companies work honestly and seriously, you should prevent this type of fraud. Best you are covered with a fully comprehensive insurance without deductible. In any case, you should check the vehicle carefully when you receive it and record any damage or scratches in the report. Pay particular attention to stone chips in the windshield. If possible, return the car during opening hours and ask for a damage-free receipt.
Tip 4: choose the right insurance
When renting a car you should not save at the wrong end: the insurance. in my opinion it is essential to have a good liability insurance, which covers damages up to one million euro – not obligatory everywhere. This is especially important in countries with a poor legal system, where "rich foreigners" are guilty as a matter of principle.
I also recommend insuring the car against theft and damage, including tires and glass damage. If you rent your car via a comparison website, it is best to book the insurance at the same time, as the online sites almost always offer better conditions than the rental companies on site. in case of a legal dispute it is easier if the insurance company is located in the same country as you.
Bad roads: a stone in the windshield can be expensive.
If you plan to rent a vehicle for a longer period of time or several times a year, you can also consider an insurance policy that covers the excess for you. Here I have found a provider who offers this protection for about 100 euros worldwide. Whether this is worthwhile for you, you must calculate yourself. Since this has never been worthwhile for me, I have no experience of my own. I would therefore be pleased about comments from users.
tip 5: return the car on time
Normally you rent a car for 24 hours. If the vehicle is not returned within this period of time, additional fees will be charged. If you are lucky they charge by the hour. But sometimes you have to pay a whole day extra. How your landlord will handle this depends on his goodwill.
To be on the safe side, when you pick up your car, you should ask what happens in case of a late return. Above all, you should plan for traffic jams on the way back or the possibility of getting lost on the way to the landlord. In short: be sure that you are on time.
Tip 6: avoid expensive accessories
Accessories such as child seats, roof luggage, ski racks and GPS are particularly lucrative for car rental companies. Check if you really need this equipment (skis and snowboards can be rented everywhere without any problems) or if you can bring the equipment from home at best.
especially the rental of an external gps is rarely useful, because meanwhile every smartphone is equipped with this function. I recommend using software where you download the maps in advance, as you can save data volume (see also my tips to avoid the roaming trap when traveling). I myself use the app maps.Me. Another good app for offline maps is citymaps2go.
Conclusion
I have now rented a car for several trips and will probably continue to do so in the future. If you book through comparison sites on the internet and are a little flexible with time and place, you have a good chance to find a real bargain. Although I have never had any problems so far, there are also black sheep, especially with the smaller providers. With normal caution, you should not get any problems here.
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