Finding a good deal for a rental car can be challenging sometimes. Factors such as fuel price, hidden costs, and some extra fees might affect the total price. So, how to get the best price on a rental car, and what tips should you keep in mind?

Follow along as we provide some useful advice on how to find the perfect rental car while saving you precious time and money. Let’s start!

How to Get the Best Price on Rental Car

You should do some research in order to find the most affordable price for a rental car. Along the way, you need to consider several factors.

Aggregator websites, budget rental companies, upfront car rentals, and holiday packages are just some factors that can help you choose. So, we explained them thoroughly below.

However, when you’re securing the best price on a rental car, don’t overlook the importance of insurance. Decide if additional rental car insurance is necessary to strike a balance between cost and coverage for a smooth and secure rental experience.

That being said, if you want to experience comfort and top performance at affordable prices, consider luxury car rentals. Our Fisher Luxury Rental team will help you get the best deal and model to meet your expectations.

Aggregator sites

These types of sites are an ideal place to start your search for an affordable rental car. You get results from all major companies at once. Plus, you can easily compare the prices, conditions, and costs required for renting a car.

With such aggregates, you can search according to the type of fuel, type of car, fuel consumption, and policies of the rental companies. While these sites can get you a good deal, they shouldn’t be your only source of rental cars.

Official websites of the rental companies

Once you’ve found good deals on aggregator sites, comparing prices on official rental websites is a good idea. Even if you find a great option on aggregator sites, sometimes you can get better deals if you book directly with the rental company. Some of the rental companies may offer promotional rental car discounts on a daily or weekly basis.

Rent car upfront

Another factor that might save your budget is when you rent a car upfront. If you want a good deal, booking at least four to eight weeks before your planned trip is best. Although there are last-minute deals, early booking allows you to monitor prices and see if they start to drop more easily.

Meanwhile, you can negotiate with the rental company if you find a new, cheaper deal. Simply put, early booking is one of the smartest things you can do to get a good rental car price.

Budget rental companies

It’s also a good idea to check out budget rental companies when searching about how to get the best price on a rental car. Although many will advise you to look for the perfect deals with big companies, there are smaller ones that you should not exclude. 

You can find such companies that do not have offices in most states but can offer rental cars at affordable prices. Keep in mind that budget companies don’t always offer lower prices, but you’re more likely to find a good deal.

Pick an economy car

An economy car can be an ideal choice that can help your budget. You should consider the number of passengers, the size of the car, and the driving conditions before choosing this option.

If you plan to travel alone, there is no point in renting large cars. Usually, rental companies will try to offer you the expensive options first and explain their advantages. Economy cars are a good option if you are going on short distances and the road conditions are excellent.

Compare weekend vs weekday car rental prices

The rental price might greatly depend on the rent period. It is good to compare the periods of the week and see when renting is the most profitable.

Remember that most business trips take place during working days, so the rental price will likely be higher during that period. On the other hand, weekend rentals usually cost you less, so it’s best to choose this option.

In addition, check daily car rental prices and compare them with weekly rentals. Sometimes, renting a car for a week pays more even though you only need it for a few days. Before deciding on this option, check if there are additional costs if you return the car early.

Avoid a rental car with a GPS

Although it is a useful tool at first glance, the navigational system can cost you extra money per day. However, it is not worth it if you want to travel for a long time.

If you want to save, it is good to choose an option where the vehicle does not have satellite navigation and use your mobile phone instead. You can download a map application like Google Maps. 

Such applications can make your work easier as they do not require an internet connection. All you have to do is download the maps you need online and save them to your mobile phone. On the other hand, if you are into the old-fashioned way of traveling, you can always buy a physical map of where you plan to travel.

Vacation package

Some websites offer a hotel flight and rental car package that can be more affordable than booking individually. If you plan to go on vacation, this may be the cheapest way to rent a car for a week.

To check if this option is the most affordable, you should first look at the prices of the hotel, the flight, and the car you plan to rent individually. The vacation package might be a great choice if this price is higher than the package offered. You can save for the entire vacation besides the rental car discounts.

Consider the number of drivers

The rental cost can be higher if you include more than one driver in the rental agreement. Hence, consider including only one driver in the contract to avoid additional costs. 

Before signing the rental agreement, pay attention to the costs if an additional driver is a family member. Some states like Oregon, Illinois, or California allow you to add your partner as an additional driver without paying extra costs.

Driver’s age

The driver’s age can play a key role in creating the price of the rental car. Most companies may charge you extra if the person renting the vehicle is under 25 or 30 years old. When renting a car, ensure the main driver is someone over 30 years old.

Moreover, some rental companies take driving experience into consideration. In that case, the person with the most experience should sign the contract and be the main driver if you want to save money.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to get the best price on a rental car, you’re ready to hit the road. We hope that the tips we provided you will help you save money and choose the best rental car with which you will enjoy your trip. 

Our goal is to deliver the best possible quality and performance for the most competitive prices. Look no further for the finest deals on the best quality vehicles and customer care in town!