More Americans are hitting the road behind the wheels of rental cars according to Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The company is North America's largest rental car brand and says it has seen an increase of more than 20 percent in rentals at neighborhood locations this year compared to last year. "It's encouraging to see Americans planning getaways this summer," Steve Short, vice president of leisure business development for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, said in a news release. "The significant increase in our holiday weekend reservations shows that the road trip is alive and well."
If you're planning to travel via rental car this summer you'll probably already be devoting a good portion of your budget to gasoline. So make sure you're not over-paying for your rental car by getting stuck with sneaky fees like these:
Gas
Returning your rental with a full tank isn't just a nice gesture-- it's a smart financial move.
USA TODAY recently surveyed auto rental gas prices at 13 major airports and found car rental companies charging as much as $9.29 a gallon for gas.
That makes the $4 price tag popping up at filling stations seem like a bargain! At over $9 a gallon, filling a 35-gallon tank would cost more than $325. Bottom line-- make sure you fill up before turning over the keys.
Airport Fees
Studies show that car rental locations at airports charge much higher fees than those located in other areas. This one's easy to avoid-- just find a location off airport property.
Extra Drivers
Deciding whether other family members or friends will drive your rental car shouldn't be taken lightly. That's because every extra driver you add on will likely tack on another ten bucks in rental car charges.
Insurance
Before you agree to paying extra for insurance on your rental car, check with your auto insurance provider. You may already be covered. That would make paying around $20 extra a day for insurance from the rental car company a complete waste. If you're not protected by your insurance provider, then you'll definitely want to swing for the coverage.
Additional Days
Make sure you understand the cut off for returning your vehicle. In some cases, returning the car at noon will mean you're charged for a full day, a fee you may have been able to avoid by getting the car back a half hour earlier.
Child Safety Seats
If you're traveling with a little one you may want to consider bringing your own child safety seat. Rental car companies don't loan these out for free. In fact they can charge between $5 and $10 a day for these kind of equipment add-ons.
Rental cars can be a great way to reduce wear on your own vehicle or avoid paying for pricier forms of transportation. But just make sure you review your final bill and know exactly what you're signing up for before you get behind the wheel of a rental car.
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3 Responses to “Sneaky Rental Car Fees to Avoid”
Some credit card companies will cover rental car insurance too, as long as you pay for the rental with their card.
@Michelle
Wow, I wasn't aware of that at all. I'll have to look up more about that next time I'm renting a car.
I recently rented a car for a small trip and found the fees pile up. Just like regular car dealerships they sucker you in with an advertised price that you don't pay in the end. Be careful and ask questions about all the fees that were covered in this article. Be a smart shopper.