Planning family travel for the summer? Use these tips to save money on car rentals.
As the summer months are quickly approaching, vacation mode is going into high gear. Some hit the road for their vacation travels. Others decide to fly, but still need a car rental when they arrive.
If you aren’t careful, a car rental can be really costly. But it doesn’t have to be! There are many ways you can save on your car rental.
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How to Save Money on Car Rentals
Here are 5 ways to save big time on your car rental to give you a little extra spending money when you get to your destination.
Join a car rental loyalty program
Many car rental companies offer a loyalty program. You can join for free and begin to get specials and discounts just for signing up.
These programs normally allow you to accumulate points that you can use toward other discounts as well.
Search for coupons
When you go to the website for the rental company you are using, check to see if they have a page of coupons or promotions. You may find something to save you some cash or give you free upgrades.
Going to your favorite search engine and typing in the name of the rental company and “coupons” will often find you deals. This may find you promo codes that you can use online when you place your reservation.
Ask them for a discount
This may seem a little crazy, but give them a call and simply ask, “Do you offer any discounts?” You might be able to get a discount for a number of reasons, including the days you are renting, the type of vehicle, where you are employed, and so on.
You could even catch them on a good day where they will give you a discount just for asking. You’ll never know unless you ask!
Use a credit card with points back
There are many credit cards that offer points (or cash) back when you utilize them. If you have one of these, use it when you rent your vehicle so you will get some money back, even if you didn’t get a discount.
Rent outside of the airport
While it may be more convenient to pick up your vehicle at the airport, you can save 10-30% by picking up your vehicle away from the airport. It may be worth it to Uber from the airport and save quite a bit of money.
More family travel tips
Tips for Road Trips with Tweens
How to Save Money on Family Travel
