How to Get the Best Deal in Car Rentals
By Jackson Lewis
Finding a great deal on a rental car can make a golf vacation even more enjoyable. Getting a deal on a rental used to mean a lot of time spent on the phone with multiple sales representatives from the various companies, comparing prices. Now you can conduct similar research online and still end up with a bargain.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Start searching early for rental car deals. This will let you observe trends in prices across rental car companies in the area you are traveling. Starting your research on a Sunday or Monday will give you insight on any significant discounts released by the major rental companies.
Make a number of reservations as you find deals. Confirm the cancellation policy of each company before you make the reservation to ensure you can cancel without a fee or penalty. This way, you won't miss out on the best deals during your search. Don't forget to cancel the reservations you don't use.
Verify the available discounts through the rental car companies that you are searching. If you have a family member who works for a major rental car company, they might get you a significant discount. Most major rental companies will allow employees to make reservations for friends and family at a discounted rate. Other potential discounts are for members of AAA, CAA, AARP or other large organizations.
Confirm what the cost is with your private automobile insurance to use the coverage for your rental car. Many home insurance plans will cover rental car insurance so you don't have to pay an additional daily fee on your rental car. Make sure you call ahead, though, because if you assume your home automobile insurance will cover your rental car and you are wrong and have an accident, you could be out a significant sum of money.
Conduct one final search just outside of the cancellation window of the best rental car deal you have found so far. Many times the rental car companies will offer last-second, discounted deals on car rentals before you travel.
About The Author
Based in Memphis, Jackson Lewis has been writing on technology-related material for 10 years with a recent emphasis on golf and other sports. He has been freelance writing for Demand Media since 2008. Lewis holds a Master of Science in computer science from the United States Naval Postgraduate School.
