Car Rental Tips

Many of the terms in our glossary may provide you with the information you need. We have provided some tips that we hope will make the car rental process easier for you, and more cost-effective. The most important piece of advice we can give you is to know in advance what all of your requirements will be and know what the policies of the rental company are before making a reservation.

Getting Started

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There are many factors to take into consideration when renting a car. These include:

• Rental company background
• Dates of rental
• Length of rental
• Type of car
• Car features
• Restrictions and requirements for renting a car (imposed by each rental company)
• Special requests
• Location of rental company
• Insurance

Have an idea of what you need before contacting rental car companies. Go to our ccQuotes page for examples of the kind of information you will need to provide.

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Check the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed.
Get references or referrals.

• Find out their policies for issues such as:
  • Minimum age
  • Cash rentals
  • Insurance
  • Additional drivers (are they allowed, and do they need to be listed on the agreement)
  • Mileage
  • Poor driving record
  • Out-of-state travel
  • Grace periods for picking up and returning the car
  • Penalties for no-shows

See if they offer additional services such as shuttles, courtesy pick-up or delivery of the car, after-hours drop-off, or drop-off to another location. Also confirm if their policies change from one vehicle class to the next.

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Most rental companies separate their fleet into categories, or classes. These include compact, economy, mid-size, standard, full-size, premium, minivan, SUV, and luxury. Different companies will have different definitions for each of these classes, so be sure to check with each company to find out which class will suit your needs. Some considerations for selecting a car are:

• Number of passengers (remember each will need a seatbelt)
• Trunk space (include enough room for gifts and souvenirs)
• Features such as air conditioning, automatic transmission, CD player, roof rack, air bags, and towing capacity.

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Some local rental companies will accept cash rentals, that is, rentals for which you leave a cash deposit, rather than using a credit card. Requirements for cash rentals may be different than for credit cards, so you will need to check with the rental company regarding their policies. Keep in mind that it may take several days for the rental company to give you the balance due on your rental. Some of the additional requirements for cash rentals are:

• Phone or other bills in your name, with a local address on it
• Credit check
• Cash deposit for an amount greater than the rental bill
• Purchasing their coverage or damage waiver
• Minimum or maximum number of days allowed for rental
• Limited cars available for cash rentals

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Find out if the rental company can accommodate any special needs you may have. Some of these can include:

• Car seats
• Nonsmoking cars
• Vehicle make
• Automatic versus manual transmission
• Air conditioning
• Luggage rack

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As stated earlier, make sure to have all of the necessary information available before making a reservation. This includes:

• Date and time you wish to pick up and return the car
• Size and/or class of car you want to rent
• Special requests (see below)
• Name of the person picking up the car
• Credit card number for non-cash rentals
• Discounts, specials, coupons

Find out the total for all charges, including fees, taxes, etc. before signing a contract. Make sure to get a confirmation number and see if the rental company will guarantee your reservation. Contact the rental company if you will be delayed in picking up your car.

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• Have your credit card (if applicable), driver’s license, and cash (if applicable) with you.
• Bring your confirmation number.
• Bring proof of insurance if using your own.
• Present coupons, discounts, or other promotional offers.
• If you have a confirmation and the rental company does not have the car available, ask for another car, check another location, or even have them call a competitor (and pay for the difference). If you are given a car from a lower class, make sure you are charged appropriately.
• See if you can upgrade for free (or for a minimal fee).
• Get contact information from the rental company if the car breaks down or if you need to keep the car longer.
• Thoroughly inspect the car with the rental company’s agent, and have them indicate in writing any dents, scratches, or other damages. Have the agent write his name on the document and keep a copy for yourself.
• Check the odometer and indicate the car’s mileage.
• Make sure everything works properly, including brakes, turn signals, headlights, taillights, windshield wipers, radio/CD player, and automatic windows.
• Check fluid levels, tire pressure, spare tire, jack, and owner’s manual.
• Check to see if the car has the rental company’s sticker or other identifying mark. If so, ask the company to remove it—criminals often target tourists, and a rental car is a an easy mark.

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• Check the car thoroughly for personal belongings before returning it. This includes the glove compartment, trunk, console, visors, under the seats, anywhere!
• Be sure not to leave your rental agreement in the car.
• If you put the rental car key on your key chain, be sure to remove it!
• Make sure you have a full tank of gas to avoid being charged inflated rates for refueling.
• Inform the rental company’s agent if there were any problems with the car.
• Have the rental agent inspect the car in your presence.
• Check your receipt to make sure you have been billed correctly, and that type of payment (cash or credit card) has been indicated.
• If you are due some money back (because of a deposit), have this indicated on the receipt as well.

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• When visiting CheapRentACar.com, utilize our ccQuotes to see who will give you the best deal.
• Our online rate quotes are effective when you want to compare standard rates.
• Being flexible with your travel plans increases your chances of saving some money.
• Book your reservation as far in advance as possible.
• If you are renting a car while yours is in the repair shop, check with your insurance company to see what they will cover for a rental allowance.
• It doesn’t hurt to simply ask the rental car dealer if they have any special rates or discounts for the following:
  • AAA
  • Longer rentals (e.g., weekly versus daily rates)
  • Smaller vehicles
  • Off-season
  • Weekday versus weekend
  • Vacation packages
  • Another location within the city
  • Travel packages with local hotel/motel/B&B or airlines
  • Senior citizen, military, student
  • Regular customers
• Make sure to check the company’s rates for insurance (if applicable), mileage, and any other items that may be additional.
• Find out what penalties may apply for late returns, empty gas tanks, underage drivers, etc.

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