The average price of gasoline in the U.S. is almost $4 per gallon. However did you know it will cost more than double per gallon needed if you do not return the rental with a full tank? This and other “hidden” fees can cost you a fantastic deal of money. Go to the rental car counter armed with knowledge and save.
Rental car gasoline at $9.29 per gallon
Dollar and Thrifty is charging $8.99 a gallon to top of the gas tank while Hertz is charging $9.29 a gallon on average according to a USA Today survey of 13 large U.S. airports with rental vehicle businesses. If a customer pays the rental company ahead of time, the price goes down a lot, however this is one way consumers’ get money stolen by rental companies all the time.
Thinking about the other fees to avoid
1. Additional driver fees – Most rental companies charge an additional $10 per driver.
2. Insurance – If you already have driver’s insurance, especially comprehensive, don’t purchase extra insurance. You may even want to check with the credit card company. It might insure against losses.
3. Early/late return fees – It pays to be on time when returning your rental car, as it can cost $10 or more for each day late. Early returns usually require a $15 fee too.
4. Child car seats – Make sure you bring your own vehicle seats into your rental. Otherwise, you’ll pay about $7 per day for each child safety seat rented through the business.
5. Toll bypass – Some rental companies will sell you an electronic toll road pass. If you already have one of these for your daily commute or are not worried about this choice, just say no.
6. Mileage – Be careful of the miles you put on. If you know you’re going to be driving long distances, opt for an unlimited mileage rental or be prepared to pay an exorbitant amount per mile over the limit.
7. Cleaning – Don’t smoke in the car and clean up your mess. Cleaning fees are always expensive. Sometimes it can cost too much.
Ways to get a cheap car for a while
There are easy ways to discover deals on rental automobiles. Just go to Priceline.com, Hotwire.com, Travelocity.com and Expedia.com. Plan ahead and you also may even be able to discover a good rate that comes as part of a package deal with airline tickets and hotel. You may be able to conserve even more with entertainment coupon books and online websites like RetailMeNot.com. Make sure you rent for what you need. Don’t go any longer. As long as you don’t have too much stuff, you might be okay with an economy compact which will get you there safely.
Citations
Bankrate.com
bankrate.com/financing/cars/rental-car-gas-costs-9-a-gallon/
MSNBC
today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23471992/ns/today-money/t/secrets-renting-car-without-overspending/
Dollar Rent-A-Car was caught red-handed
youtube.com/watch?v=ZY4A-EJAbZs
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