5 Ways To Avoid Getting Ripped Off In a Rental Car

    • I simply despise when people get ripped off. It is sadly not that uncommon even when dealing with a so called reputable business.

    So how can we avoid it? Education my friends. Knowing these next few simple tips and you should be well on your way to a great rental car experience.

    Should You Buy The Insurance?

    The very short answer is usually no. While many may strongly disagree with me I will tell you why I feel this way. Normally whenever you pay your normal auto insurance premium there is a coverage called Comprehensive coverage. This will cover you in the event of fire/ theft/ vandalism/ storm damage. You also have Collision coverage which will cover you for those nasty little fender benders you cause. Now you may be subject to your deductible but that coverage normally extends to rental car vehicles.  (*it's always a good idea to call your agent before you rent a car and verify that the coverage is on your policy and that the state laws will also cover rental cars) 

    Never prepay for a rental!

    By now you know to book your flight about 47 days before your trip to maximize on the fare's value. Well, the rules of the road are different; rental car rates can vary and are largely driven by supply and demand. Whatever you do, don't prepay for a rental — even if the agency tempts you with 10% or 15% savings. The beauty of the rental car is that reserving one is basically risk-free; you can change or cancel it before you get to the counter. Keep an eye on your reservation rate (I recommend using AutoSlash) and there's a good chance the price will drop. AutoSlash notifies you if the rate changes — then, you can simply cancel your current reservation and rebook for the lower rate.

    Don't prepay for gas, either

    Before they hand you the keys, the rental agent is required to ask if you want to pre-purchase gas. Politely decline the offer — unless you're too lazy or rich to pump your own gas. Another key piece of advice I heard from those in the know: When you return your vehicle, fill up within 10 miles of the drop-off location and save your gas receipt. There's a good chance the drop-off agent will try to ding you with a refueling fee, even if the gas needle is slightly below full. Show them a gas receipt as proof that you filled up within the vicinity and you'll avoid the fee.

    Ask for a drop-off grace period in advance

    Are you late to pretty much anything in life? Be sure to ask the agent for a grace period before driving off the lot. Most agencies are pretty strict when it comes to timing — they'll slap a late fee on your bill if you're an hour or two beyond the return time. So before you go, ask nicely at the counter for a grace period; there's a good chance the agent will throw you a bone and give you an extra two hours for free.

    Watch out for those sneaky one-way drop fees

    Paying a drop fee for one-way trips is pretty unavoidable — we're talking a few hundred bucks added to your bill. But most drop fees are negotiable, and some companies, like Fox Rent A Car, are known for their low fees. A general rule of thumb from experienced agents: Call the rental car company to see if it'll waive it. Occasionally, drop fees vary depending on the type of car you get. If that's the case, book an economy car — they're the most common vehicles on the lot and will almost always have a lesser drop fee than, say, an SUV or sports car.

    Have you ever had a bad experience with a rental car company? If so what happened? Let us know in the comments below.

    Article Source: Thrillist

    Photo Source: Caribb



    Pages: 1 2

    *

    *

    Top