Save Money on Car Rentals
In this tough economy, most hotels and airlines have cut prices to offer incentives to bring in customers. But car rental companies have done just the opposite…they’ve raised prices. Average rates have gone up double what they were last year.
Here are a few ways to beat the high prices. These may be unconventional but they will save the money.
Rent Away from the Airport
When you rent a car at the airport, you’ll not only be paying the high rent but also airport taxes and fees to boot. Leave the airport and rent a car in town. Most rentals will be cheaper and you won’t be paying the fees. The worst part is just getting back and forth to the airport.
Zipcar
Pay an annual fee of $50 and you can drive anything from Ford Escapes to Mini Coopers for as little as $6 an hour. Zipcar is located in more than 60 cities in North America and the U.K. Zipcar also lets you rent by the hour if you only need it a little while. And insurance and gas are included. You can make your reservation online and your plastic Zipcard acts as a universal key.
Rent from a Car Dealer
Many dealers will rent cars. In fact, about 70% of Toyota dealers and 35% of Ford dealers rent cars by the day. These cars are often brand new, and the rates are reasonable. But you have to contact dealers directly to find one who rents. It’s also a smart way to rent a car that you’re thinking of buying before you take that step.
Rent-a-Wreck
The oldest and largest used car rental company in the world, Rent-a-Wreck has over 150 locations. They may affectionately refer to their cars as wrecks, but their fleet of clean, well maintained and safety inspected vehicles has kept customers happy and safe for over 35 years. There’s one main difference between normal rental cars and theirs; their cars usually have from 40,000 – 80,000 miles on them. But when you save over 75% off the normal rental price, you’ll quickly forget about that.
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