May 30th, 2021 | Updated on June 22nd, 2023
When it is time to rent a car, people consider renting the car if their dreams. Many people can not afford a convertible, a sports car, or a luxury car in real life, so when it comes time to rent a car, they want to splurge.
That is until they begin to look at the rental car pricing. If you do some due diligence, you may be able to secure discounted car rental pricing for the model you’ve always wanted to experience.
Rental Car Best Practices
There are some best tricks and methods for finding the discount car rental advantage. Follow these steps to get the best car at the most favorable price.
Define the Purpose of the Rental
Before getting started with researching rental car pricing, define the purpose of renting a car and what you will be using it for.
There are so many models of vehicles available at rental car companies, all at different price points. You want to find a car that suits your needs and budget.
Location of Rental Car Company
Most rental car companies are situated at a location close to the airport. With the number of passengers that go in and out of major airports, there is typically always a high demand for rentals at those locations. This could drive the pricing up.
In many cities, you may see rental car companies with a satellite location spread out throughout the city.
These locations may have less inventory because the demand is not as high, but the pricing may be better than the airport locations. It’s worth checking out.
Before Moving Forward…
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Compare Pricing at Several Rental Car Companies
To get the best pricing, you must compare pricing at the various rental car companies. Some companies are known as budget options, whereas other rental car companies are more standard.
No matter what type of rental car company it is, their pricing can fluctuate. You may find that you can get a better deal at a normal-priced rental car company rather than a budgeted company.
It all depends on the company’s supply and demand over the dates of your reservation.
Consider Various Vehicles Models
If budget is the number one factor in your car rental decision-making, you may want to explore all types of options.
By leaving the options open, you will able to compare various models, features of those vehicles, and the overall cost.
Take Advantage of Any Discounts
Rental car companies offer many various discounts. Locally, they may offer discounts like — rent three days, get the fourth free— or a discount for your affiliation with a club like AAA or Costco.
If you are a member of hotel awards programs or airline frequent flier programs, you may be able to book discounted rates through their programs.
In addition, some rental car companies will offer discounts to certain university alumni or membership with professional associations.
Reserve the Rental Car in Advance
Many rental car companies will allow a car rental reservation without having to throw down a deposit for the hold.
Reserving the rental in advance will allow the company to foresee their expected volume and move the inventory around locations when there is demand.
Reserving in advance will give you better pricing and more options for car models. If you are reserving days before the rental pick-up date, you will receive the least favorable pricing.
Drive Away in Your Rental
Now that you understand the best practices to rent a car, you can pick up your rental with an assurance that you locked in the best overall deal for your rental.
Enjoy the rental car as you drive around the city or your favorite vacation destination.
