The cost of renting a car depends on many factors, including your age, the type of car you want to rent, your car pickup location, the day of the week you pick up the car, and the number of days you will have the car.
When booking
Generally, the earlier you start browsing, the better the car rental deal you will get. Three to six months in advance is the ideal time frame. If you need to book a car for the next day, you will pay a significantly higher amount compared to when you allow more time for shopping before driving.
When driving
Car rental companies make most of their profits during weekdays, as they serve business travelers who need a car to get around in an unfamiliar city. Therefore, you are likely to get a better price if you rent a car for weekend travel instead of needing it for travel during weekdays.
Car pickup location
Renting a car at the airport is extremely convenient but significantly more expensive. If you are traveling to a large city with easily accessible public transportation or ride-sharing services or taxis, take advantage of searching for car rental deals outside the airport. This may save you a larger amount compared to taxi fares.
Return location
Returning the car to a different location than where you picked it up will likely cost you an additional amount. This is true whether you are on a cross-country trip or staying within the same town.
Duration of rental
Generally, the longer you book a car, the lower your daily rate will be. If you are planning a long trip, it may be best to rent the car for an entire week.
Type of car
Every car rental service has a different way of classifying the cars available for rent, but you can be sure that an upscale and larger car will cost you more. The economy car – which is relatively small and usually a very fuel-efficient vehicle – is always your cheapest option.
Refueling or not
It is always best to return the rental car with the same amount of fuel it had when you picked it up. It is annoying for rental companies to have to refuel their vehicles; they have to send an employee to a gas station and waste time that could be used to rent the car and make income. For this reason, if you return the car without fuel at the agreed-upon level, the rental company will charge you a refueling fee, which will increase the cost of fuel by several dollars per gallon.
Driver’s age
If you are under 25 years old, rental companies will charge you an additional fee – possibly $20 per day. Even if there is another driver aged 25 or older, you will still have to pay the extra fee if any driver is under 25. Additionally, drivers under 25 may not be able to rent certain classes of vehicles, such as sports cars.
Any extras you purchase
Regardless of where you rent from, the company will try to upsell you on extras to increase their profits. One of the most common add-ons is additional insurance. Many major credit cards will cover rental car insurance if you pay for it with that card. Thanks to these benefits and your standard insurance, you are unlikely to need to purchase extra coverage. However, it is a good idea to check with both your credit card company and your insurance agent beforehand. Note: Other add-ons may include GPS or satellite radio. The former may be handy, while the latter may not be worth the extra cost.
Questions
Repeated
What is the average cost of renting a car?
Given all the factors mentioned above, it’s difficult to determine a specific average. In general, you can expect to pay between $50 and $100 per day for a rental, although you may have to pay a higher amount. Discounts and deals can help reduce the price to below $50.
What age must a person be to drive a rented car?
Most major rental car companies set the minimum age at 21 years. Anyone younger than 21 will not be able to rent or drive a rented car in the United States.
How much does rental car insurance cost?
The rental car insurance is charged based on the type of coverage. Enterprise has several levels of insurance, for example. The basic insurance for accidents and personal effects will cost between $5 and $13 per day.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/average-cost-of-renting-a-car-4177232
Leave a Reply